Travel Vaccine Breaking News

Results from a recent real-world evidence (RWE) study across three consecutive flu seasons in the United States showed that vaccination with cell-based influenza vaccines resulted in lower test-confirmed influenza rates than traditional egg-based vaccines. 

This retrospective test-negative designed study showed the clinical value of cell-based quadrivalent influenza vaccines (QIVc) compared with traditional egg-based quadrivalent influenza vaccines (QIVe) in preventing outpatient test-confirmed influenza. 

The analysis found that QIVc showed a clinical benefit compared to QIVe in the prevention of test-confirmed influenza in the outpatient care setting, with estimated relative vaccine effectiveness (rVEs) (95% CI) of 14.8% (7 – 22) in 2017–-18, 12.5% (4.7 – 19.6) in 2018-–19 and 10% (2.7 – 16.7) in 2019–-20.

"Vaccines remain one of our greatest tools for fighting influenza, a disease that continues to result in substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide," commented Raja Rajaram, Head of Global Medical Strategy, CSL Seqirus, in a press release on September 19, 2023.

"At CSL Seqirus, we are committed to advancing the science of influenza prevention, and these studies show the benefits of innovative vaccine technologies, including cell-based and adjuvanted influenza vaccine technology, on reducing the burden of flu."

The RWE study was conducted over three consecutive influenza seasons characterized by different circulating influenza viruses and degrees of egg adaptation and aligned with previously published QIVc relative effectiveness studies for the same seasons.

This review of real-world data allows for evaluating trends in the effectiveness of QIVc over time and the context of season-over-season changes, given the variability of influenza viruses.

This data complements randomized controlled trial research, assessing influenza vaccine effectiveness continually and providing an ever-growing data set on real-world outcomes.

Influenza is a contagious seasonal respiratory disease that may cause severe illness and life-threatening complications in some people. Influenza can lead to clinical symptoms varying from mild to moderate respiratory illness to severe complications, hospitalization, and, in some cases, death, says the U.S. CDC.

Study: Stein AN et al. Superior Effectiveness of Cell-Based Versus Egg-Based Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccines Against Outpatient Test-Confirmed Influenza Over Three Consecutive Seasons in the U.S. Presented at ESWI 2023.

As the global mpox outbreak continues impacting people in 2023, a leader in mRNA vaccines intends to enter the market with an innovative vaccine.

This announcement is essential since numerous vaccine breakthrough cases related to currently approved mpox vaccines have been reported worldwide in 2023.

BioNTech SE today announced a strategic partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to advance the development of BNT166 for the prevention of mpox.

CEPI will provide up to $90 million to support the development of mRNA-based vaccine candidates.

BNT166 is part of BioNTech's efforts to develop novel prophylactic vaccines for various infectious diseases with a high medical need.

BioNTech aims to develop a prophylactic mRNA-based mpox vaccine with a favorable safety profile that can be manufactured at scale.

"The 100 Days Mission aims to accelerate the development of a vaccine against a novel virus with pandemic potential to just 100 days. BioNTech's world-class scientists, technology, and facilities can make a vital contribution. Achieving this mission and potentially preventing the next pandemic will require gathering a wealth of knowledge and data about the performance of the latest vaccine platforms, like mRNA, which can enable rapid responses to emerging infectious threats across a broad range of viruses," commented Richard Hatchett, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of CEPI in a press release on September 18, 2023.

The BNT166 vaccine candidates encode surface antigens expressed in the monkeypox virus's two infectious forms to efficiently fight virus replication and infectivity.

The phase 1/2 clinical trial will evaluate the safety, tolerability, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of two mRNA-based multivalent vaccine candidates for active immunization against mpox.

This study will enroll participants with and without prior known or suspected smallpox vaccination history.

Since eradicating smallpox in 1980, the global population-level immunity against the Orthopoxvirus viral family, including mpox, has been waning. 

Mpox is a vaccine-preventable, sexually transmitted disease caused by a member of the Orthopoxvirus viral family, an infectious disease that can lead to severe, life-threatening complications.

BioNTech and CEPI also confirmed today that they are committed to enabling equitable access to the outputs of this partnership. Any licensed vaccines developed due to this strategic partnership are expected to be available at affordable prices in low- and middle-income countries.

China has now classified mpox as a Class B infectious disease as cases surged in August 2023.

The South China Morning Post reported on September 15, 2023, that The Class B category also includes diseases such as COVID-19, HIV/Aids, dengue, and rabies.

The National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China announced the change would take effect next week with upgraded prevention and control measures against mpox spreading in the local population.

Data from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) website indicates there were 501 confirmed mpox cases across 25 provinces in August 2023. That compared with 491 cases in July and 106 in June.

The CCDC website says Mpox is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV) and is characterized by fever, a rash, and swollen lymph nodes. The virus was first isolated from a specimen of a suspected smallpox patient from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970.

Suspected and confirmed cases of mpox should be promptly transported to medical institutions for isolation and treatment. If their clinical symptoms improve significantly and the lesions have scabbed, they can opt to stay at home in China until the scabs fall. 

During home quarantine, patients should reside in a single room and avoid immediate contact with family members, says the CCDC.

The website says there is no vaccine available on the Chinese mainland to prevent mpox as of September 2023.

As of September 2023, over 1.2 million (1st and 2nd) JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN, IMVANEX®, IMVAMUNE®) vaccine doses had been administered in the U.S.

Mpox outbreaks in 2023 include countries in Africa, the Americas, France, Japan, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, and Taiwan. And in cities such as Chicago, Denver, London, and New York City.

There was one state reporting above-average influenza detections last week.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) week #36 report, last week's seasonal flu rates were low nationally, with 253 (.07%) positive specimens.

However, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported (1.01%) of influenza samples tested were positive as of September 15, 2023.

The number of Texas regions reporting increased flu activity was four, while three reported decreased activity.

While the 2023-2024 flu season has not officially begun, the current season continues producing related fatalities.

As of September 14, 2023, the National Center for Health Statistics Mortality Surveillance listed pneumonia as an underlying or contributing cause of death on 1,029 death certificates and 12 listed influenza last week.

During the current flu season, 174 influenza-associated pediatric deaths have occurred.

Last season, Texas reported a total of 9,871 pneumonia and influenza-related deaths.

For most persons older than six months, only one dose of an influenza vaccine is recommended by the CDC. And vaccination should ideally be offered during September or October.

However, the CDC says vaccinations should continue throughout the flu season as long as viruses are circulating.

CSL Seqirus today announced new data will be presented at the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza Conference taking place from 17-20 September 2023 in Spain.

Data from various studies, including real-world evidence, economic and cost-effectiveness modeling, and clinical studies across seasonal and pandemic influenza, will be shared as posters and oral presentations.

"At CSL Seqirus, public health protection is at our core and is what drives us to safeguard at-risk communities against seasonal and pandemic influenza threats," said Raja Rajaram, M.D., Head of Global Medical Strategy, CSL Seqirus, in a press release on September 15, 2023.

"Delivering on our promise means continually gathering and analyzing data to assess the value and impact of our vaccines, and we look forward to sharing results from many of these studies at ESWI that emphasize the national, regional, and global impact."

Influenza is a contagious seasonal respiratory disease that may cause severe illness and life-threatening complications in some people.

On September 4, 2023, the World Health Organization published Influenza Update N° 453, indicating that influenza detections remained low globally, with activity in many Southern Hemisphere and Oceania countries.

As of September 15, 2023, the new flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus seasons have begun to impact people in the United States.

An updated overview of influenza vaccines targeting the 2023-2024 flu viruses is posted at Precision Vaccinations.

The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport of the Netherlands recently notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of a laboratory-confirmed human case of infection with a swine-origin influenza A(H1N1) variant virus.

This is the first human swine flu case reported in the Netherlands this year.

As of September 7, 2023, there were no symptomatic contacts of this case; the person has recovered, and no further detections have been reported.

Therefore, the likelihood of community-level spread among humans and/or international disease spread through humans is considered 'low,' says the WHO.

Zoonotic influenza infections are caused by germs, bacteria, parasites, and fungi, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These germs cause illnesses in people, birds, and animals, ranging from mild to severe infections.

When a swine influenza virus is detected in a person, it is called a "variant influenza virus."

As of September 14, 2023, the CDC says annual 'flu shots' do not prevent zoonotic influenza infections such as swine flu (H3N2) or avian influenza (Bird Flu).