Travel Vaccine Breaking News

The Lancet Infectious Diseases recently published results from a  phase 1 clinical trial of a Lyme disease vaccine candidate, showing that Valneva's VLA15 produces a strong but waning immune response against six common strains of the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium found in Europe and the United States.

Valneva Austria researchers led this company-sponsored, partially randomized, observer-masked study of the novel, multivalent outer surface protein A (OspA) subunit vaccine candidate.

OspA is one of the most dominant surface proteins expressed by the bacteria when present in a tick.

VLA15 produced immune responses for all strains, but responses were greater in the higher-dose adjuvanted groups. And one month after the third dose, responses declined, reaching baseline by one year.

And a booster dose given 13 months after the first dose triggered a strong immune response for about six months.

This study's findings are good news since Lyme borreliosis is the most common tick-borne disease in the northern hemisphere.

In Europe, there are estimated to be more than 200,000 cases each year. And in the U.S., approximately 30,000 patients per year.

In a related commentary also published by The Lancet, Nicole Bézay, and colleagues reported Valneva's novel vaccine represents a milestone in our fight against Lyme disease."

Initially developed by France-based Valneva SE, New York-based Pfizer, Inc. is VLA15's current development and commercialization collaboration.

Pfizer previously indicated it could submit a Biologics License Application in 2025 and Marketing Authorization Application in Europe in 2026, subject to positive data.

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that 12 African countries will receive about 18 million doses of an approved malaria vaccine over the next two years.

On July 5, 2023, the WHO confirmed GSK's Mosquirix™ RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine will continue in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi.

The first vaccine doses are expected to arrive in countries during the last quarter of 2023, with countries starting to roll them out by early 2024. 

The Mosquirix vaccine has been administered to over 1.7 million children since 2019. It has been shown to be safe and effective, resulting in a substantial reduction in severe malaria and a fall in child deaths.

Mosquirix allocations were also made for new vaccine introductions in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.

These allocations were determined by applying the principles outlined in the Framework for allocating limited malaria vaccine supply.

Malaria remains one of Africa's deadliest diseases, killing nearly half a million children under five and accounting for approximately 95% of global malaria cases in 2021.

A second malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M™, developed by Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, could also be prequalified by WHO soon.

As of July 5, 2023, these malaria vaccines are not offered in the U.S. (Florida) or Costa Rica.

U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Thom Tillis introduced the Disease X Act of 2023 to develop the necessary medical countermeasures (MCMs) to combat future pandemics.

The legislation filed on June 28, 2023, provides $40 million per year for five years specifically for Disease X MCMs and requires products developed using funding from the Disease X Program.

Even though deadly infectious disease epidemics can dramatically affect the American public, military personnel, and our economic and national security, there is currently no sustained funding, program, or strategy dedicated to accelerating the development of medical countermeasures for previously identified infectious disease threats with the greatest pandemic potential, referred to as Disease X, wrote these senators.

"The Disease X Act of 2023 empowers Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to invest in modern technologies that will lead to new vaccines and drugs against pandemic–capable viruses."

The Disease X Act of 2023 protects Americans by establishing a Disease X Medical Countermeasures Program at BARDA in the Department of Health and Human Services by the following:

• Providing funding of $40 million per year for five years specifically for Disease X MCMs;
• Clarifying the HHS may award contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements, or enter into other transactions, to promote the development of Disease X MCMs;
• Directing BARDA to accelerate and support the advanced research, development, and procurement of countermeasures and products to address Disease X threats; and
• Requiring products developed using the Disease X Program funding be substantially manufactured in the United States.

"This Act would be a major leap forward in our collective efforts to stay ahead of the ever-evolving threat landscape," commented Anita Cicero, Deputy Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, in a press release. 

"The Disease X Act of 2023 empowers BARDA to invest in modern technologies that will lead to new vaccines and drugs against pandemic–capable viruses."

The Tico Times recently reported the Republic of Costa Rica increased its value-added tax (VAT) rate established in Law No. 9882.

Beginning on July 1, 2023, the local VAT was increased from 8% to 13% on the tourism industry.

The list of services for which VAT must be charged is available at the Ministry of Finance (www.hacienda.go.cr). A VAT is a consumption tax assessed on the value added in each good or service production stage.

The Association of Tourist Transporters of Costa Rica (ASTRONATUR) president describes it as “painful” for businesses and consumers, emphasizing that it will take a toll on the tourism sector’s finances.

Regarding health concerns, the U.S. CDC issued a Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions Travel Health Notice in April 2023 regarding a malaria outbreak in Costa Rica.

Other Costa Rica travel news regarding vaccinations, safety, and malaria and dengue outbreaks is posted by Vax-Before-Travel.

Reuters recently reported the European Commission secured purchase agreements with New York-based Pfizer Inc. and several European drugmakers to reserve the capacity to produce up to 325 million vaccines per year in case of a future global health emergency.

On June 30, 2023,  Reuters confirmed this new agreement covers mRNA, vector-based and protein-based vaccines and does not relate to existing COVID-19 vaccine agreements.

The Commission helps to shape the European Union's (EU) overall strategy, proposes new laws and policies, monitors their implementation, and manages the budget. It also plays a significant role in supporting international development and delivering aid.

To facilitate safe free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU established the EU Digital COVID Certificate in 2023, based on the EU Global Health and World Health Organization (WHO) Global Strategies on digital health.

On July 1, 2023, the WHO took up the EU system of digital COVID-19 certification (passports) to establish a global system that will help protect citizens worldwide from on-going and future health threats, including pandemics.

Measles is an ongoing risk worldwide in the summer of 2023, often due to low vaccination rates, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

To alert travelers, the CDC recently reissued and expanded its Level 1 - Practice Usual Precautions, Global Measles Travel Health Notice.

On June 29, 2023, the CDC identified 38 countries with active measles outbreaks, which are declared when the number of cases is higher than expected.

The unfortunate leaders are India (73,536) and Yemen (19,312).

Historically, measles outbreaks in the U.S. are rare, generally related to unvaccinated travelers.

However, in 2019, 1,274 measles cases were confirmed in 31 U.S. states.

This year, the CDC reported 15 measles cases in jurisdictions such as Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and Utah.

Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.

The measles virus can live for up to two hours in airspace after an infected person leaves an area.

People can spread measles up to four days before and four days after a rash.

Several groups are more likely to suffer from measles complications, including children younger than five years of age, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems, such as leukemia or HIV infection, says the CDC.

The good news is measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, and approved measles vaccines are generally available at health clinics and community pharmacies in the U.S.

Furthermore, the CDC suggests confirming with a healthcare provider international travelers need an extra measles vaccination before visiting an outbreak country.

The BMJ Journal recently published an Editorial confirming the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STI) are rising in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States (U.S.)

Published on June 30, 2023, these researchers stated ...We have the tools to respond (to these increases) and must deploy them urgently!

In June 2023, the U.K. Health Security Agency reported a 23.8% increase in STI diagnoses in 2022 compared with 2021, including chlamydia (24.3%), gonorrhea (50.3%), and syphilis (15.2%).

Similar trends have emerged in the U.S., where syphilis diagnoses rose by 28.6%.

And in Canada, where rates of syphilis rose by 20%.

This situation is important for a few reasons, wrote Patrick O’Byrne, full professor and nurse practitioner, University of Ottawa, School of Nursing, Lauren Orser, doctoral candidate, and Abigail Kroch, director, Ontario HIV Treatment Network.

Firstly, STIs cause harm, including pelvic inflammatory disease, disseminated gonococcal infection, and neurosyphilis.

Secondly, drug-resistant gonorrhea is now being reported internationally, showing the spread of antimicrobial resistance. 

To read the full editorial, please visit this BMJ link.

Furthermore, there have been frequent reassurances of mpox cases and vaccine (JYNNEOS® (MVA-BN, IMVANEX®) breakthrough confirmations in 2023.

As of Ju;y 2023, mpox outbreaks have been identified in Chicago, Denver, London, New York, Paris, Seoul, and Tokyo.

In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration has approved vaccines that can prevent certain sexually transmitted diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. As of July 2, 2023, a STI vaccine overview was updated by Precision Vaccinations.