Vaccine News

The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed expectations for public health, especially the speed at which credible health information is delivered, wrote the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Throughout the pandemic, the CDC has been improving the timeliness, completeness, and quality of critical data for the response.

Through the Data Modernization Initiative, the CDC empowered 'data to move faster than a disease.' 

Updated on March 31, 2023, a series of Weekly Review issues coinciding with the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (May 2023) and what it means for CDC and the data reported.

The first issue was published on February 24, 2023, and the final two issues will publish on April 14 and May 12, 2023.

To view current and historical maps of COVID-19 vaccination by demographics in the U.S. as of April 2, 2023, please visit this webpage: Maps of COVID-19 Vaccinations by Age and Sex over Time.

Lucira Health, Inc. recently announced the nationwide launch of its Lucira COVID-19 & Flu Home Test in the United States.

The COVID-19 & Flu Home Test is the first and only combination COVID-19 & Flu test granted emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use at home and other non-laboratory sites.

The Lucira COVID-19 & Flu Home Test is a molecular test, not an antigen test, that demonstrated similar performance for COVID-19 and Influenza compared to highly sensitive lab-based PCR tests in clinical trials.

The easy-to-use, all-in-one combination test delivers results in 30 minutes or less from one shallow nasal swab and as of March 28, 2023, can be purchased in the U.S. for $34.99 at www.lucirahealth.com/flu.

A recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances indicates that the protease inhibitor Paxlovid could soon become less effective in treating COVID-19 infections.

This new research shows that simple single amino acid changes in SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus main protease could severely undermine the efficacy of antiviral drugs. 

To lower the risk of resistance, the researchers say protease inhibitors must be carefully designed to avoid simple resistance mutations. 

Announced on March 29, 2023, and conducted by the Midwest Antiviral Drug Discovery Center in Minnesota, this study shows that drug-resistant variants have appeared multiple times independently in different parts of the world, with regional clusters providing evidence for person-to-person transmission.

Further research will likely develop additional next-generation protease inhibitors with different resistance profiles and drugs targeting other viral processes, such as replication or cell entry.

A multi-drug approach—like existing therapies for HIV and Hepatitis C virus — could further help to protect against resistance and cure SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals, wrote these researchers.

The Region of the Americas has seen a significant surge in dengue cases and, in 2023, “is showing intense dengue transmission,”  stated the World Health Organization on March 23, 2023.

By early March 2023, 342,243 dengue cases, including 86 deaths, were reported in the Americas.

At this pace, 2023 may easily eclipse the results seen in 2022.

In 2022, over 2.8 cases of dengue, including 1,290 deaths, representing a two-fold increase in patients compared with 2021.

Unfortunately, this trend is being realized in the state of Florida.

The Florida Health Department reported as of week #12, there had been 52 travel-associated dengue cases, and one locally acquired dengue case confirmed this year. 

This compares with 903 travel-associated and 68 locally-acquired dengue cases reported in 2022, primarily in southern Florida.

The good news is that dengue is a vaccine-preventable disease, and two vaccines are becoming more available for international travelers in 2023.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today announced four additional influenza-associated pediatric fatalities have occurred during the 2022-2023 flu season in the United States.

A total of 138 pediatric flu deaths have been reported so far this flu season.

The good news is the CDC FluView week #12 report confirmed seasonal flu rates were low nationally last week, with outpatient respiratory illness below baseline, and eight of 10 HHS regions are below their respective baselines as of March 31, 2023.

Previously, the World Health Organization published Influenza Update N° 401 on March 20, 2023, stating most indicators of influenza activity decreased to levels similar to or below levels typically observed this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere.

The CDC suggests anyone traveling to the Southern Hemisphere in April 2023 speak with a healthcare provider about potentially getting an additional flu shot for protection.

Flu shots remain available for most people over six months at most clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

As of March 4, 2023, about 173.37 million influenza vaccines had been distributed during the 2022-2023 flu season. 

NSW Health today announced a Western Sydney infant infectious with measles spent time in locations in Parramatta and Westmead on March 27, 2023.

The infant, too young to be vaccinated against measles, acquired the infection in India before returning to Sydney.

NSW Health also confirmed a local measles case in September 2022.

Dr. Christine Selvey, Director of Communicable Diseases, NSW Health, commented in a press release on March 29, 2023, "Measles is a highly contagious infection, and the most vulnerable are infants under 12 months, who are too young to be vaccinated against it, other members of the community who are not fully vaccinated and people with a weakened immune system."

Measles cases increased worldwide by about 80% during 2022 compared with 2021.

Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease that quickly spreads in the air through coughing or sneezing by someone unwell with the disease.

"It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure, so it is essential to stay vigilant if you've been in the above locations, and if you develop symptoms, please call ahead to your GP to ensure you do not spend time in the waiting room with other patients," Dr. Selvey added.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the intramuscular route of administration for M-M-R®II and ProQuad®. In addition, the FDA approved the Priorix vaccine for use in the U.S.

Measles outbreak news for 2023 is posted at Vax-Before-Travel.

The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson recently disclosed that after assessing the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine landscape, the Company would discontinue its RSV adult vaccine program.

“By periodically refocusing our portfolio, Janssen ensures that we are deeply invested in products that have the power to transform patients’ lives,” said Bill Hait, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Chief External Innovation and Medical Officer and Interim Head, Janssen R&D., in a press release on March 29, 2023.

The decision to discontinue the RSV adult vaccine program is part of a broader effort to make strategic choices for its investments to focus on medicines with the greatest potential benefit to patients. 

As of March 31, 2023, the U.S. FDA has not approved any RSV vaccine candidate.

However, the FDA previously approved monoclonal antibody therapies for infants.