Vaccine News

Vaccine news brought to you by Precision Vaccinations.

May 20, 2025 • 2:01 pm CDT
WHO May 9, 2025

While neighboring countries Singapore and Hong Kong have confirmed surges in COVID-19 cases in May 2025, Malaysia's Health Ministry recently reported that the situation remains below the alert level.

As of May 20, 2025, the Health Ministry's website reported that over 11,000 COVID-19-19 cases have been recorded this year, with a continuous downward trend since the start of 2025.

COVID-19-related hospital admissions in Malaysia have decreased in the past few weeks, with a 7-day average of 37 admissions compared to 45 in late April 2025.

This positive news compares with Singapore's 28% increase in COVID-19 cases in early May 2025.

The WHO's Bi-weekly COVID-19 Situation Update, published on May 9, 2025, revealed that eight countries and areas in the Western Pacific Region reported a COVID-19 positivity rate of 8.1%.

And the relative frequency of circulating variants in the Western Pacific Region was JN.1 at 51.3% and B.1.1.529 at 48.3%.

In the United States, the CDC estimates that COVID-19 infections are growing or likely to grow in 2 states, declining or likely declining in 30 states, and not changing in 14 states, as of May 13, 2025.

From a disease prevention perspective, Malaysia, the WHO, and the U.S. CDC recommend that at-risk people speak with a healthcare provider about vaccination options.

May 20, 2025 • 10:01 am CDT
NEA May 2025

As the global number of Dengue cases began to mount in 2025, several countries in the Pacific Region, such as the Republic of Singapore, are reporting weekly increases.

The island country and city-state of Singapore in Southeast Asia has recorded several recent Dengue outbreaks.

As of May 20, 2025, Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) wrote, 'Collective community action and vigilance are critical to help prevent a surge in Dengue cases this year.'

NEA reported 104 Dengue cases in the week ending May 17, 2025, 1 case fewer than the previous week.

Furthermore, there are 16 active Dengue clusters, of which there were with red alerts,

Persistent transmission has been noted in the cluster at Hougang Avenue 1 (106 cases). The large clusters at Begonia Drive/Dedap Road (33 cases) and Woodlands Avenue 1/Woodlands Street 31 (30 cases) have relatively fast transmission rates, with an increase of 10 and 12 cases, respectively, from the previous week.   

Among the four Dengue virus serotypes circulating in Singapore, Dengue virus serotype 2 has been predominant in Singapore since September 2023.

Globally, data indicates that over 2.5 million Dengue cases and 1,305 related fatalities have already occurred in 2025, with the U.S. reporting 1,760 travel-related Dengue cases and one local case this year.

While a second-generation Dengue vaccine is available in about 40 countries, it is unavailable in Singapore and the United States in 2025.

The U.S. CDC does recommend various routine and travel vaccinations before visiting Singapore.

May 20, 2025 • 8:59 am CDT
ARS Mayotte May 2025

As the Chikungunya virus outbreak continues in the Indian Ocean countries, the French Department of Mayotte has become another hotspot for this mosquito-transmitted, vaccine-preventable disease.

As of May 16, 2025, Regional Health Agency (ARS) Mayotte reported 205 confirmed Chikungunya cases, including 34 imported cases, 109 locally acquired cases, and 62 cases currently under investigation.

From a severity perspective, these infections have led to eight hospital admissions during this year's outbreak.

'Given the evolving situation and the risk of an epidemic in the coming weeks, Mr. Sergio Albarello, Director General of ARS Mayotte, in consultation with Mr. François-Xavier Bieuville, Prefect of Mayotte, has decided to activate today the transition to level 2B of the ORSEC plan,' wrote ARS Mayotte.

Furthermore, ARS says it is also possible to get vaccinated against Chikungunya in Mayotte at various locations. Valneva's IXCHIQ® Chikungunya vaccine is recommended to combat severe forms of the disease for people aged 18 to 64 with comorbidities. The latter is available upon medical prescription and free of charge for these people.

In the United States, the CDC recommends that certain international travelers be vaccinated before visiting Chikungunya outbreak areas in 2025. 

May 20, 2025 • 4:26 am CDT
from Pixabay May 2025

Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) today formally adopted the world's first Pandemic Agreement.

Announced on May 20, 2025, the decision by the 78th World Health Assembly culminated in more than three years of negotiations launched by governments in response to the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regarding national sovereignty, Agreementent states that: "Nothing in the WHO Pandemic Agreement shall be interpreted as providing the Secretariat of the World Health Organization, including the Director-General of the World Health Organization, any authority to direct, order, alter or otherwise prescribe the national and/or domestic law, as appropriate, or policies of any Party, or to mandate or otherwise impose any requirements that Parties take specific actions, such as ban or accept travellers, impose vaccination mandates or therapeutic or diagnostic measures or implement lockdowns."

The new Agreement was driven by the goal of making the world safer and more equitable in response to future pandemics, such as Disease X.

According to the WHO, Disease X represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease. 

On April 4, 2025, the WHO's Global Health Emergency Corps announced a framework designed to strengthen countries' emergency workforce, coordinate the deployment of surge teams and experts, and enhance collaboration between governments, which was tested.

Disease X was first included in the WHO Blueprint for Epidemics in February 2018, aiming to accelerate the development of medical countermeasures. It is expected to be caused by a "pathogen X," likely a zoonotic disease or infection that can be transmitted between humans and animals.

In the United States, the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) developed a Pandemic Preparedness Plan to prepare for future public health emergencies caused by infectious diseases.

While it is recognized that pathogens other than viruses could lead to public health emergencies, the NIAID Pandemic Preparedness Plan focuses on viruses that could cause epidemics or pandemics.

May 19, 2025 • 9:15 am CDT
WHO DON570 May 16, 2025

Researchers believe the yellow fever virus has existed in the Region of the Americas since the 17th century and is now considered one of the most dangerous mosquito-transmitted infectious diseases.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO, DON570), as of May 16, 2025, the YF virus has become endemic in tropical areas of 13 countries in the Americas.

During 2025, five countries in the Americas reported 212 confirmed human cases of yellow fever, including 85 deaths (CFR 40%).

The YF cases were reported in the Plurinational States of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

The WHO writes that the 'occurrence of yellow fever outside of the Amazon basin contributes to the overall classification of YF risk in the Americas, especially in endemic countries, as high.'

WHO emphasizes that vaccination remains the primary means for preventing and controlling yellow fever.

The WHO continues to support countries in expanding Sanofi Pasteur YF-VAX® vaccination coverage through routine immunization programs and mass vaccination campaigns, enhancing population immunity and reducing the risk of outbreaks.

In the United States, the CDC recommends yellow fever vaccination at least ten days before visiting outbreak areas. YF vaccination appointments are at travel clinics and pharmacies in May 2025.

May 19, 2025 • 5:27 am CDT
WHO Report 52, May 2025

India has retrospectively reported ten cases of mpox due to clade Ib mpox virus detected between December 2024 and March 2025.

According to the WHO's Multi-country outbreak of mpox, External situation report #52, as of May 14, 2025, all clade 1b cases reported in India had a recent history of travel to countries in the Gulf or contact with travellers from those countries.

Outside Africa, 16 countries have reported travel-related cases of mpox due to clade Ib: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (12 cases), Germany (10 cases), China (seven cases), Belgium (five cases), Qatar (five cases), Thailand (five cases), the United States of America (four cases).

Globally, Cases of mpox due to clade Ib continue to be reported primarily in Africa, where ten countries have reported community transmission of this strain, reaching over 14,000 cases in 2025.

Reported #52 discloses that mpox vaccination in countries in the African Region has more than 668,000 doses of MVA-BN (Bavarian Nordic A/S JYNNEOS®) vaccines administered in seven countries.

From the total number of JYNNEOS doses, 87% have been administered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In the United States, the JYNNEOS vaccine is commercially available at many pharmacies.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially approved JYNNEOS for smallpox prevention in September 2019. And on March 31, 2025, the FDA approved the freeze-dried formulation of JYNNEOS.

May 19, 2025 • 4:57 am CDT
CHP May 14, 2025

The latest surveillance data (Week #19) from Hong Kong showed that the overall local activity of COVID-19 has continued to increase, with some surveillance indicators having surpassed their highest levels in the past year. 

In week 19, the weekly number of newly recorded positive nucleic acid test laboratory detections for the SARS-CoV-2 virus was 1,042, compared to 972 in the preceding week.

And COVID-19 outbreaks occurring in schools/institutions affected 52 people last week.

Furthermore, since January 2023 and May 10, 2025, the cumulative number of fatal cases with cause of death preliminarily assessed to be related to COVID-19 was 1,437.

As of May 14, 2025, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has been closely monitoring the local prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the neighboring regions of Hong Kong, including Singapore.

Sewage surveillance data showed an increasing trend in the prevalence of XDV in Hong Kong. XDV is a JN.1-related variant.

The latest information does not suggest that XDV will cause a more severe disease than JN.1, XBB, and their descendant lineages.

The public (and visitors) are advised to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to protect themselves against infection and prevent the spread of the disease. 

Additionally, public members are advised to note the latest recommendations on using COVID-19 vaccines in Hong Kong. High-risk priority groups are recommended to receive a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at least six months since the last dose or infection, regardless of the number of doses received previously. For more details, please visit this CHP link.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China on the southern coast. Recent data indicates over 40 million people visited Hong Kong last year.

If you depart from the United States, the CDC writes, ' Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine and travel vaccines, such as chikungunya and typhoid, before visiting Hong Kong in May 2025.'

May 18, 2025 • 1:05 pm CDT
from Pixabay May 2025

With over 16 million visitors in 2024, the Republic of Singapore has become a tourist favorite destination. However, before visiting this city-state in Southeast Asia in May 2025, it is highly recommended that you protect yourself from COVID-19.

Like most other countries, Singapore has experienced multiple waves of COVID-19 since the first confirmed case in January 2020. 

According to the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Communicable Diseases Agency, COVID-19 infections have significantly increased in the Spring of 2025. 

The MOH estimated the number of COVID-19 cases from the last week of April to May 3, 2025, at 14,200, compared to 11,100 cases in the previous week.

The 28% increase in cases could be due to several factors, including waning population immunity.

Currently, LF.7 and NB.1.8, descendants of the JN.1 variant, are the main COVID-19 variants circulating in Singapore, accounting for more than two-thirds of locally sequenced cases.

JN.1 is also the variant used in formulating the current COVID-19 vaccines, which remain effective in protecting against severe illness.

Singapore's MOH wrote that 'individuals at increased risk of severe COVID-19, such as those aged 60 years and above, medically vulnerable individuals, or residents of aged care facilities, are recommended to keep updated with vaccinations, and receive an additional dose around one year after their last dose.

In the United States, the U.S. FDA recently approved Nuvaxovid™, a non-mRNA, JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine that is active against current circulating strains, including KP.2 and KP.3. This vaccine, and other travel vaccines, are offered at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

May 18, 2025 • 6:11 am CDT
Google Maps May 18, 2025

The Government of Papua New Guinea recently reported two circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases in two healthy children from Lae, Morobe Province.

As of May 18, 2025, Papua New Guinea confirmed that cVDPV2 is a rare form of the virus that can emerge in under-immunised communities. The detection was made through routine environmental testing of wastewater collected from Bowerbird Road, China Town, Lae, in March 2025.

In a Facebook post, Health Minister Elias Kapavore described the situation as serious but manageable.

“We’ve dealt with this before and know what works,” Mr Kapavore said. “Vaccination is safe and effective, and we’re acting quickly to protect children.”

The planned response includes at least two rounds of nationwide vaccination. Parents and caregivers are strongly encouraged to bring their children for immunization during the upcoming campaigns.

If enough people in a community are immunized against polio, the virus will be deprived of susceptible hosts and will die out. 

Furthermore, the Government stated it is 'committed to maintaining Papua New Guinea’s polio-free status.'

Last week, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) reported poliovirus cases and positive environmental isolates detected in Pakistan, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan. As of May 14, 2025, more information on the countries and others is posted at this GPEI link.

May 18, 2025 • 4:14 am CDT
by Gerd Altmann

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it has approved Novavax's Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine.

As of May 17, 2025, Nuvaxovid is indicated in the U.S. to prevent COVID-19 in those aged 65 years and older and for those aged 12-64 years who have one or more underlying conditions that put them at a high risk of developing COVID-related severe outcomes.

On December 17, 2021, the World Health Organization granted an Emergency Use Listing for Novavax's vaccine, and it has been available under an emergency use authorization in the United States.

As of May 18, 2025, Novavax's vaccine is the only non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine available at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

May 16, 2025 • 6:56 am CDT
by Gerd Altmann

As the United States prepares for the next wave of COVID-19 disease, the government is taking steps to clarify what changes to the formula of preventive vaccines are needed.

The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) recently confirmed it will meet on May 22, 2025, in open session to discuss and recommend selecting the 2025-2026 formula for COVID-19 vaccines for use in the U.S.

This VRBPAC meeting will be held virtually, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET, and is open to the public to attend digitally.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) intends to make background material available to the public no later than two business days before this meeting.

Recently, the new FDA Commissioner Marty Makary stated that Vinay Prasad, the director overseeing vaccines, intends to clarify the FDA’s expectations for vaccine development and approval.

For example, the FDA has asked Novavax Inc. to conduct a new randomized controlled trial for its non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Earlier this week, the World Health Organization (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition advised manufacturers that monovalent JN.1 or KP.2 vaccines remain appropriate vaccine antigens; monovalent LP.8.1 is a suitable alternative vaccine antigen.

The WHO wrote, 'Overall, ' the currently approved monovalent JN.1 or KP.2 vaccines continue to elicit broadly cross-reactive immune responses to circulating JN.1-derived variants.'

As of May 16, 2025, COVID-19 vaccines are available at various clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

May 15, 2025 • 4:16 pm CDT
by Mustafa Shehadeh

With the various countries reporting chikungunya virus outbreaks in 2025, the U.S. government has announced reassuring news regarding disease prevention.

In April, the independent vaccine committee issued recommendations for using chikungunya vaccines. Effective May 13, 2025, the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary adopted the recommendations, which are now the official recommendations of the U.S. CDC.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends the live attenuated chikungunya vaccine for persons aged ≥18 years traveling to a country or territory with a chikungunya outbreak. In addition, the live attenuated chikungunya vaccine may be considered for persons aged ≥18 years traveling or residing in a country or territory without an outbreak but with elevated risk for U.S. travelers if planning travel for an extended time, such as 6 months or more.

Additionally, the ACIP recommends the virus-like particle chikungunya vaccine for persons aged ≥12 years traveling to a country or territory where there is a chikungunya outbreak. In addition, the virus-like particle chikungunya vaccine may be considered for persons aged ≥12 years traveling or taking up residence in a country or territory without an outbreak but with elevated risk for U.S. travelers if planning travel for an extended period, such as six months or more.

As of May 15, 2025, travel vaccination appointments are commercially available at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

 

May 15, 2025 • 12:22 pm CDT
by Mario Ohibsky

Led by a team from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the findings from a study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases demonstrated the feasibility of assessing seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) using linked immunization and laboratory data from public health surveillance systems.

Published on May 13, 2025, among 1,382,142 laboratory reports, 129,253 persons (9%) (129,253) had a positive influenza test result, of whom 415,390 (30%) had documented influenza vaccination ≥14 days before test date. VE against laboratory-confirmed influenza was 41% (95% confidence interval (CI), 40%–42%). VE was 32% (95% CI, 31%-33%) against influenza A, 68% (95% CI, 66%-69%) against influenza B.

Among older adults aged 65 years or more, flu shot VE was 26% (95% CI, 24%–29 %).

The authors wrote, "Differences in viral evolution may contribute to waning vaccine effectiveness or immune escape."

"Age-related factors contributing to lower VE might include diminished adaptive immune response, increased prevalence of comorbidities, and frailty."

They also noted that the flu shot's lower VE estimates with increasing patient age are consistent with a meta-analysis of test-negative studies conducted from 2004 to 2015.

As of May 9, 2025, the U.S. CDC confirmed that seasonal influenza activity for 2024-2025 is declining. And the CDC continues to recommend that everyone ages 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine as long as influenza viruses are circulating.

 

May 15, 2025 • 10:29 am CDT
WHO May 2025

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently confirmed that 13 African countries have reported confirmed or probable yellow fever cases since the start of 2023.

As of May 2025, the east African country of the Republic of Uganda has taken aggressive action to reduce the impact of this vaccine-preventable, mosquito-transmitted disease.

GAVI reported on May 12, 2025, that Uganda, with a population of about 46 million and located in the so-called African yellow fever belt, introduced routine immunisation in October 2022.

In 2025, a campaign targeted 4.3 million people aged 9 months to 60 years in 19 districts across Uganda's eastern region, hoping to reduce the impact of this epidemic disease.

But national vaccine coverage has remained low, at 39%.

Other countries in this Yellow Fever Belt are also at risk.

Uganda’s eastern neighbour, Kenya, whose yellow fever vaccine coverage rates hover at only 6%, declared a yellow fever outbreak. 

When visiting these countries, the U.S. CDC recommends getting vaccinated at least ten days before traveling abroad. Yellow fever vaccination appointments are offered at travel clinics and pharmacies in the United States.

May 14, 2025 • 1:10 pm CDT
Google Maps May 14, 2025

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health recently highlighted a noticeable increase in the Chikungunya outbreak in the Colombo and Kotte areas.

As of March 14, 2025, Weekly Epidemiological Report #12 revealed 173 chikungunya cases had been reported in Colombo, Gampaha, and Kandy.

Local media reported that Acting Consultant Community Physician Dr. Kumudu Weerakoon stated that the Chikungunya virus spread to Sri Lanka in 1960. After several years of low transmission, medical experts said in May 2025 that an effective way to control the spread of Chikungunya is to eliminate as many mosquito breeding sites as possible.

While Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia in the Indian Ocean, it is located thousands of miles to the east of the Chikungunya outbreaks in Mayotte, Mauritius, and Réunion.

International travelers departing from the United States and Europe can receive a preventive vaccine when visiting these Chikungunya outbreak areas in May 2025.