Vaccine News

Vaccine news brought to you by Precision Vaccinations.

Apr 25, 2025 • 12:47 pm CDT
Taiwan CDC April 2025

Since Chikungunya was listed as a notifiable infectious disease by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (TCDC) in October 2007, a few travel-related and locally acquired cases have been reported most years.

As of April 25, 2025, the TCDC reports 11 Chikungunya cases this year, indicating a potential increase over last year's total of 20 cases.

And may approach 2019's record when 116 total cases were confirmed.

Previously, to identify infectious travelers, fever screening was conducted at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.

The TCDC states that Chikungunya fever is rarely fatal; however, some patients may experience severe joint pain for several weeks, months, or even years. 

In the Asia Region, Chikungunya outbreaks have been recorded as early as 1824 in India.

As of April 25, 2025, the World Health Organization reports that Chikungunya transmission has occurred in approximately 110 countries, many of which are in the Americas, including Argentina and Brazil.

From a health perspective, this mosquito-transmitted disease can be prevented with U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccines, which are commercially available at travel clinics and pharmacies in the United States.

Apr 25, 2025 • 11:47 am CDT
Florida Health April 2025

With the continued overlapping incidence of chikungunya, dengue, malaria, Zika, and yellow fever diseases in the Region of the Americas, should international travelers be vaccinated before arriving in Florida?

According to the Florida Department of Health (FDH) Arbovirus Surveillance update #16, dated April 19, 2025, numerous travelers have been diagnosed with vaccine-preventable diseases this year, particularly in the Miami and Tampa areas.

To notify people of these health risks, FDH has missed alerts for Hillsborough, Manatee, Miami, and Pasco counties in 2025.

For example, last year, 11 instances of chikungunya were reported in individuals with a travel history to Brazil (five), India (five), and Pakistan.

In 2025, sixty cases of dengue fever had already been reported among individuals who had traveled internationally, and one locally acquired case of dengue (DEN-3). During 2024, 1,016 travel-associated dengue cases were reported, primarily among visitors from Brazil, Cuba (567), and Puerto Rico.

Furthermore, 91 locally acquired dengue cases were reported from ten counties, including Miami-Dade (50), in 2024.

In 2024, 72 cases of travel-related malaria were reported in individuals with a history of visiting malaria-endemic areas, such as Africa (Nigeria) and Central and South America. 

As of April 25, 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Canada Health, and the United Kingdom have not issued vaccination requirements for visiting Florida.

Of these mosquito-transmitted diseases, chikungunya vaccines are commercially available at most pharmacies and are recommended by various health agencies.

Apr 24, 2025 • 11:43 am CDT
by Mircea Lancu

Merck today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, which included a significant decrease in sales of its cancer prevention human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines.

On April 24, 2025, Merck reported that GARDASIL/GARDASIL 9 vaccine sales declined 41% to $1.3 billion in 2025.

This decline is primarily due to lower demand in China, partially offset by higher demand in most international regions, particularly in Japan, as well as higher pricing and demand in the U.S.'

'Excluding China, sales grew 14%, or 16% excluding the impact of foreign exchange.'

Robert M. Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck, commented in a press release, “We are working with focus and urgency to both realize the full potential of our near-term opportunities and to rapidly progress the next wave of innovation that will positively impact the lives of patients and drive future value creation for all of our stakeholders.”

The GARDASIL-9 vaccine remains the leading HPV vaccine in the United States, recommended by the U.S. CDC, and offered at most pharmacies.

 

Apr 24, 2025 • 11:21 am CDT
Pixabay 2025

Novavax Inc. recently stated that it believes its Biologics License Application for its protein-based COVID-19 vaccine is approvable, based on conversations with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from April 1, 2025, to April 24, 2025.

In its press release on April 23, 2025, Novavax announced that the FDA had issued a formal request, asking the company to provide a postmarketing commitment to generate “additional clinical data” for the COVID-19 vaccine.

'We look forward to engaging with the FDA expeditiously to address the PMC request and move to approval as soon as possible,' concluded Novavax.

The World Health Organization granted the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine (Nuvaxovid™) Emergency Use Listing on December 17, 2021, and it remains available today in numerous countries.

Apr 23, 2025 • 5:00 pm CDT
by Michelle Pitzel

Belize's Ministry of Health & Wellness recently announced the confirmation of locally transmitted malaria cases in Santa Elena Town and Cristo Rey Village, located in the Cayo District.

The initial case was detected on January 17, with additional instances detected on March 11 and April 5, 2025. Of the four confirmed cases in 2025, three are attributed to local transmission, and one is classified as imported from Guatemala.

Enhanced surveillance has been activated along the Western border, particularly in the Santa Elena neighborhoods of Santa Cruz and Hillview, as well as Cristo Rey Village.

As of April 23, 2025, these malaria cases mark the first instances of local transmission in over six years. However, other Central American countries have also reported outbreaks of malaria.

While this development is of concern, Belize remains committed to maintaining its malaria-free status, which was first achieved in June 2023.

The Ministry says malaria is a febrile disease caused by parasites, transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. Infected individuals typically experience episodes of fever with chills and sweating every 48 to 72 hours. 

The Ministry is actively testing individuals who currently have, or recently had, a fever within the past 30 days.

While malaria cases may continue in April, vaccines are not yet offered in the Region of the Americas.

Apr 23, 2025 • 4:42 pm CDT
Google Maps April 23, 2025

According to recent travel advisories issued by the United States government, visiting the Republic of Uganda is not encouraged in 2025.

On April 23, 2025, the U.S. Department of State reissued a Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory for Uganda, a country home to approximately 32 million people, located in East Africa.

The State Department says visitors should exercise increased caution in Uganda due to security risks and ongoing civil unrest.

If you decide to travel to Uganda, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive alerts from the U.S. Embassy in Kampala. This free digital offering makes it easier to locate people in an emergency.

From a health perspective, Uganda is confronting multiple disease outbreaks in 2025.

Building on sustained U.S. technical support to Uganda since the first day of the 2025 Ebola outbreak, the United States government has now donated 100 vials of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to the Uganda Ministry of Health. As a breakthrough in medical science, mAb has the potential to significantly improve survival rates in patients with Ebola.

U.S. Ambassador Popp stated in a press release on April 14, 2025, “Providing these groundbreaking treatments demonstrates the United States’ strong commitment to innovation, scientific excellence, shared prosperity, and global health security. As we respond to outbreaks like Ebola, we build stronger global health security partnerships that benefit us all.”

And will enhance the ongoing efforts to end the current Sudan Ebola Virus outbreak in Uganda, as no vaccines or therapeutics have been approved for the prevention or treatment of SVD in 2025.

Additionally, the CDC has included Uganda in its polio and mpox travel advisories and recommends pre-arrival vaccinations for several routine and travel-related diseases, such as yellow fever, mpox, and cholera.

Travel vaccines for these diseases are commercially available at clinics and pharmacies in the United States.

Apr 23, 2025 • 3:02 pm CDT
ECDC April 2025

When the World Health Organization announced polio outbreaks remained a Public Health Emergency of International Concern for an additional three months, other health agencies reacted with more detailed disclosures focused on outbreaks.

For example, on April 22, 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reissued a Global Polio Alert—Level 2 advisory regarding polio outbreaks and poliovirus detections in 38 countries.

And the updated European CDC dashboard revealed that vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) was detected in wastewater systems of 14 cities across five European countries in 2025.

In the Pacific Ocean area, a cVDPV2 environmental sample has been reported from Lae City, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. Located north of Australia, this country previously confirmed that poliovirus was circulating in 2018.

Both the CDC and ECDC recommend that adults who have previously completed the routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine before traveling to any destination listed.

In the United States, the IPV polio vaccine is available for purchase at most pharmacies.

Apr 23, 2025 • 2:27 pm CDT
WHO April 22, 2025

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published its multi-country outbreak of cholera, external situation report #25, which indicates various countries continue to be severely impacted by this vaccine-preventable disease.

This year, a cumulative total of 116,574 cholera cases and 1,514 deaths were reported from 25 countries across three WHO regions, with the African Region recording the highest numbers.

In the Caribbean, a total of 1,298 suspected cholera cases, including 19 deaths, were reported in Haiti, especially noted in Cité Soleil and Arcahaie.

In March 2025, 517 cholera-related deaths occurred, highlighting an 8% decrease from February 2025.

The WHO announced some positive news on April 22, 2025: the average stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) had stabilized at 5.2 million doses, marking the fourth consecutive month with a stockpile above the five million doses needed for the emergency stockpile at all times.

However, the growing global demand continues to exceed supply, hindering efforts to control cholera outbreaks, respond rapidly to the disease’s spread, and implement preventive campaigns, according to the WHO.

In the United States, travel clinics and pharmacies currently have ample access to OCVs.

Apr 22, 2025 • 1:53 pm CDT
US CDC Polio map April 22, 2025

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) recently reported that one Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) positive environmental sample was collected in March 2025 from Lae City, Morobe Province, the Independent State of Papua New Guinea (PNG).

As of April 22, 2025, GPEI reported that no associated cases of paralysis have been detected. 

Nevertheless, PNG health authorities in the country are treating this event as high risk and have officially notified the World Health Organization (WHO) through the International Health Regulations, implementing measures to address the situation.

In April 2025, the WHO announced that the spread of the poliovirus remained a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The WHO states that cVDPV2 poses a public health threat, affecting 27 countries across four regions.

PNG is classified as a developing nation, located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean north of Australia, with a land border with Indonesia. The Indonesian government reported a polio outbreak in Aceh province, linked to cVDPV2 in 2022.

Papua New Guinea previously confirmed that poliovirus was circulating in 2018.

To alert international travelers, the U.S. CDC reissued a Global Polio Alert—Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions Travel Health Notice on April 22, 2025, regarding polio outbreaks and poliovirus detections in 38 countries, including Indonesia, but not PNG.

The CDC recommends that travelers to these areas be fully vaccinated against this severe disease.

 

 

 

Apr 22, 2025 • 11:55 am CDT
Brazil Ministry of Health April 22, 2025

The Ministry of Health for the Federative Republic of Brazil recently confirmed a total of 1,019,033 dengue cases and 681 related fatalities this year.

As of April 12, 2025, São Paulo had reported the most dengue cases, at 590,850.

As of April 22, 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified more cases of dengue (1,481) than expected among U.S. travelers returning from countries with dengue outbreaks

In 2025, 54 travel-associated and one locally acquired dengue cases were reported in Florida.

Of dengue's four types, DENV-3 is the most common serotype identified, accounting for 84%.

To alert travelers to Brazil and other areas, the CDC reissued a Global Travel Health Notice on April 15, 2025, regarding Dengue outbreaks in the Americas. Additionally, the CDC encourages healthcare providers to increase testing of patients with symptoms related to dengue. 

Currently, dengue vaccines are unavailable in the U.S.

Apr 22, 2025 • 3:30 am CDT
Google Maps April 22, 2025

The epicenter of the measles outbreak in Texas appears to have moved about 120 miles east of Dallas to the sparsely populated Upshur County.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and a health department Facebook post, about 19 confirmed cases of measles were reported at a single location in Upshur County.

All cases involve individuals over the age of 17, with unknown vaccination status, who were linked to two individuals who visited Upshur County from outside the state. As of April 19, 2025, all affected persons were isolated from the public and are following all the appropriate guidelines.

These measles cases have not included any Upshur County residents, and there are no reports of measles in any of our Upshur County public schools, public buildings, county operations, or medical facilities.

DSHS stated that it is gathering additional information to determine the residency status of these cases and whether they are related to the West Texas measles outbreak in 2025, which has reached 597 cases.

Other counties in Texas have reported 10 measles cases in 2025.

Throughout the United States, 25 jurisdictions have reported about 800 measles cases this year.

Apr 21, 2025 • 1:58 pm CDT
ECDC April 15, 2025

Recent maps released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) indicate hotspots for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Europe.

There are three distinct subtypes of tick-borne encephalitis virus: European, Far Eastern, and Siberian. They are found in different areas and cause disease of varying severity.

While the virus is already present in many European countries, as of April 15, 2025, the Central, Eastern, and Northern European regions have recently reported their first human cases of TBE or have noted an increase in infections.

In Europe, ticks become infected when they feed on small rodents that have the virus in their blood. People can become infected through the bites of infected ticks.

TBE is a vaccine-preventable disease that affects the central nervous system. Vaccination is an effective means of prevention.

In addition, taking personal protective measures, such as wearing long clothing, using tick repellent, avoiding tick-infested areas, and promptly removing any ticks from the skin, can significantly reduce the risk of infection.

According to the U.S. CDC, the TICOVAC tick-borne encephalitis vaccine is available in the United States and is approved for use in persons aged 1 year and older.

As of April 21, 2025, the CDC recommends that TICOVAC be considered for some travelers visiting high-risk areas.

Apr 21, 2025 • 5:20 am CDT
US Dept of State April 21, 2025

According to recent travel advisories issued by the U.S. government, it is advisable to delay trips to the Republic of Colombia in April 2025 due to ongoing crime and an unexpected yellow fever outbreak.

On April 17, 2025, the U.S. Department of State updated its Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory for Colombia, citing ongoing civil unrest in various areas of the South American country.

The State Department has confirmed that visitors should not travel to the Arauca, Cauca (excluding Popayán), and Norte de Santander departments due to concerns about crime and terrorism.

Additionally, do not travel to this area for any reason to the Colombia-Venezuela border region, which is affected by crime, kidnapping, conflict between armed groups, and the risk of detention is elevated.

If you decide to travel to Colombia, the U.S. suggests enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive digital alerts from the local Embassy in Bogota and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

From a health perspective, Colombia's current yellow fever (YF) outbreak has raised public health concerns as cases have been reported in areas where the disease had not historically occurred, including in Caldas.

To alert residents and visitors, Columbia's National Government declared a YF public health emergency on April 17, 2025.

In 2025, YF cases are distributed in nine departments: Tolima (59 cases), Putumayo, Nariño, Caquetá, Huila, Vaupés, Cauca, Meta, and Caldas. The total number of confirmed YF-related deaths in Tolima is 23.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), yellow fever is a vaccine-preventable disease. Sanofi Pasteur YF-VAX® vaccine is commercially available at travel clinics and pharmacies in the United States.

And vaccination certificates, which are required for entry into designated countries, are issued upon completion.

Apr 21, 2025 • 3:49 am CDT
Pixabay 2024

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently issued a 'Stop Work Order' for GeoVax's investigational COVID-19 vaccine, GEO-CM04S1, which was being developed under a government-sponsored initiative.

According to GeoVax's press release on April 16, 2025, the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has decided to withdraw its funding, originally granted under Project NextGen (PNG), a $5 billion effort started under the previous U.S. administration to support the development of next-generation vaccines and therapies.

Of note, GEO-CM04S1 was the only multi-antigen/polyvalent COVID-19 vaccine candidate selected under the PNG initiative.

"While the recent HHS/BARDA Stop Work Order action was disappointing and surprising, our commitment to protecting vulnerable populations remains unchanged, and our clinical momentum is strong in support of our ongoing Phase 2 GEO-CM04S1 programs," commented David Dodd, Chairman and CEO of GeoVax.

GeoVax remains committed to addressing the critical medical need for GEO-CM04S1, particularly among the more than 40 million immunocompromised Americans and over 400 million people globally who remain inadequately protected by the current authorized COVID-19 vaccines.

Apr 20, 2025 • 5:48 am CDT
by Jan Vašek

Chikungunya, an arboviral disease previously unknown in the Americas, became an epidemic in the Region after its first indigenous case was reported in December 2013. 

Since that time, the mosquito-transmitted virus has spread throughout most of the Region, and remains a key factor when planning summer vacations in 2025.

As of April 20, 2025, the Pan American Health Organization has confirmed 103,659 chikungunya cases and two related fatalities. Last year, over 420,000 cases and 236 fatalities were reported in the Region.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists countries and territories with evidence of human-to-human transmission within the last five years.

The U.S. CDC states that most people infected with the chikungunya virus develop symptoms. People at risk for severe disease include newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults, and people with medical conditions.

To prevent this disease, effective chikungunya vaccines have been approved by the CDC and the U.S. FDA, and are commercially available at travel clinics and pharmacies as of 2025.