Vaccine News

Vaccine news brought to you by Precision Vaccinations.

Feb 5, 2025 • 12:48 pm CST
Heathrow Airport 2025

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed another Clade 1b mpox case in England, the United Kingdom's ninth since late 2024.

Previous mpox cases were confirmed in the great London area.

Beginning in 2024, clade one mpox cases were reported from countries beyond the Central African Region. 

On February 4, 2025, the UKHSA reported this mpox patient had a history of travel to Uganda, a hot spot for mpox outbreaks.

Mpox is an infectious disease caused by virus infection. It was first discovered in 1958 during outbreaks of a pox-like disease. The first human case of clade one was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In May 2022, a global outbreak of clade two mpox was confirmed.

Mpox is a vaccine-preventable disease, with approved vaccines available in the UK, the United States, and various other countries in 2025.

 

 

 

Feb 5, 2025 • 9:48 am CST
by Craig Clark

Various Canadian public health officials are reporting excessive measles outbreaks in 2025. This is essential news as Canada's provinces are preferred destinations for international travelers. 

As of February 5, 2025, 81 cases (54 confirmed and 27 probable) of measles had been reported in Ontario in 2024 and 2025. 

Quebec is facing its second measles outbreak since 2024, with 16 confirmed cases in Laurentides, Montréal, and Laval.

And Manitoba public health officials recently confirmed five measles cases in 2025.

In 2024, 141 measles cases and one congenital rubella were reported in Canada.

Since most of these measles cases are related to unvaccinated people, Canadians are encouraged to consult travel health notices for information on areas where measles is circulating.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported measles cases in 30 countries last year.

Seperately, the U.S. CDC identified 59 countries reporting measles cases and issued a Travel Health Advisory. Measles vaccination services are generally offered at clinics and pharmacies in the United States.

Feb 5, 2025 • 5:25 am CST
ECDC - Feb. 2025

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported that since the beginning of 2025, and as of late January, over 5,000 Chikungunya virus disease (CHIKVD) cases and two related fatalities have been reported in three countries in the Region of the Americas (Brazil, Paraguay, and Colombia) and one in Europe.

While the ECDC has not had any autochthonous (local) cases of CHIKVD in mainland Europe in 2025, 138 cases have been reported from the French overseas department of La Réunion, located off the east coast of Africa.

In 2024, about 620,000 CHIKVD cases and 213 related fatalities were detected in countries in the Americas (15), Asia (6), Africa (1), and Europe (1).

As of February 5, 2025, one Chikungunya vaccine has been approved in Europe, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Valneva SE's IXCHIQ® Chikungunya vaccine is recommended for most travelers visiting outbreak areas.

 

Feb 4, 2025 • 2:29 pm CST
by Gerd Altmann

The U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced today that it has approved Valneva SE's IXCHIQ® vaccine chikungunya vaccine (live) to protect adults against chikungunya disease.

On February 4, 2025, Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access, released a press release stating, "Patient safety is our top priority, which is why I am pleased to confirm the approval of the first vaccine in the UK to protect adults 18 years and older against Chikungunya disease."

This approval is essential as about 900,000 U.K. travelers visit India annually, and over five years, India recorded the second-highest number of chikungunya cases worldwide.

Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), commented in a press release on February 5, 2025, "Today's MHRA approval of Valneva's IXCHIQ® vaccine is an important step forward in protecting UK citizens traveling to affected countries—but the fight is not over."

"Our work now focuses on expanding access to vaccine doses, at an affordable price, in those endemic regions."

"As a major investor in CEPI, the UK Government is providing vital support to advance this goal, helping to make the vaccine accessible to those in Low- and Low-income countries who are most at risk from the disease while also protecting their population."

The IXCHIQ® vaccine has already been approved in the United States, Europe, and Canada.

Note: This news article was updated on Feb. 5, 2025, to include CEPI's quote.

Feb 4, 2025 • 12:38 pm CST
by Alexandra Koch

A research study was recently conducted to assess the safety and tolerability of the tetravalent live-attenuated dengue vaccine, which is commercially known as Qdenga®. The study provides important insights into reactogenicity and may help improve vaccination strategies in dengue-naïve populations.

The study results were published in the Journal of Travel Medicine on February 2, 2025. Vaccine-related reactions were frequently reported, predominantly after the first dose in dengue-naïve participants.

While vaccine coadministration was a common strategy, it did not significantly increase side effects.

After the first dose, 51% of the participants reported systemic reactions, such as headache (40% (190/474)), weakness (40% (189/474)), and malaise (32% (154/474)), which were most pronounced between days 7 and 11 after vaccination.

After the second dose, localized signs and symptoms such as pain at the injection site (22% (n = 55/250)) were more common. Fever was more common after the first dose (20% (96/474)) vs. 2% (6/250) after the second.

A total of 334 (28%) coadministrations were reported, whereby AEs were reported in 47% (157/333) of participants, with the highest prevalence observed when combined with the Japanese encephalitis vaccine (56.8%, (42/74)).

Differences in age groups were observed, with decreased reactions in older people (≥ 65 years).

As of February 2025, Qdenga is not offered in the United States and is in limited supply globally. 

Later this year, Butantan Institute's single-dose, tetravalent, live attenuated Butantan-DV dengue vaccine may become available in Brazil, where it conducts phase 3 clinical trials.

Feb 4, 2025 • 4:25 am CST
rom Pixabay

As the world reopened following the recent pandemic, international travelers sought innovative vaccines to protect themselves from infectious diseases.

For example, Bavarian Nordic A/S announced results for 2024 today, stating that its travel health business demonstrated strong growth of 22% in vaccine sales. Rabipur®/RabAvert® (rabies) and Encepur® drove this performance.

Paul Chaplin, President and CEO of Bavarian Nordic, released a press release on February 3, 2025, stating, "Our (vaccine) portfolio continues to grow, and we are truly excited to launch our chikungunya vaccine for travelers over 12 years old in Europe and the U.S. later this year."

"We are also continuing to expand our partnerships to improve access to critical vaccines for vulnerable populations around the globe."

Research reveals that about 1.4 billion air passengers traveled in 2024, a number that may increase by 9.9% annually through 2028.

Furthermore, last-minute travelers deferred about 18% of protective vaccines because of insufficient time before departure. 

Feb 3, 2025 • 1:27 pm CST
Google Maps Feb. 2025

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services of the Republic of Fiji announced today a dengue fever outbreak in the Western Division.

As of February 3, 2025, about 200 dengue cases have been reported for the Western Division since the beginning of this year. Most cases from the Western Division belong to the 10-29 age group.

The Ministry wrote in a press release, 'More cases of dengue fever are expected during the rainy season, which lasts until April 2025.'

In 2024, over 2,033 dengue fever cases were reported in Fiji.

The U.K. Travel Health Pro advises' taking usual precautions' when visiting Fiji. However, the U.S. CDC does not list Fiji in its Global Dengue Outbreak notice.

The U.K. says dengue is a mosquito-transmitted infection caused by the dengue virus. There are four types: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4. A second-generation vaccine has been found effective against three types but has limited availability in 2025.

Located in the South Pacific Ocean, north-northeast of New Zealand, Fiji is an archipelago of about 100 inhabited islands. It is a tourist hot spot, welcoming over 900,000 visitors in 2024, many from Australia, New Zealand, and North America.

Should U.S. citizens need local assistance, the U.S. Department of State's embassy is located at 158 Princes Rd, Tamavua Suva, Fiji Islands.

Feb 3, 2025 • 9:53 am CST
Walgreens Flu Index 2025

The U.S. CDC recently published an Influenza Surveillance Report highlighting key updates for Week 4 of the current flu season in the United States.

As of January 31, 2025, the CDC reported sixteen pediatric deaths associated with seasonal influenza virus infection, bringing the total for the 2024-2025 season to 47. The CDC did not disclose these children's vaccination status or health conditions.

Last flu season, 207 children died from influenza infections.

Mortality surveillance data for all U.S. residents indicate that 1.6% of the deaths during Week 4 were due to influenza. 

From a geographic perspective, the Walgreens Flu Index lists the top ten markets reporting influenza activity. These cities are primarily located in the south-central region:

  1. Oklahoma City, Okla.
  2. Columbus-Tupelo-West Point-Houston, Miss.
  3. Waco-Temple-Bryan, Texas
  4. Jackson, Miss.
  5. El Paso, Texas (Las Cruces. N.M.)
  6. Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
  7. Montgomery-Selma, Ala.
  8. Bakersfield, Calif.
  9. Knoxville, Tenn.
  10. Austin, Texas

As of February 3, 2025, the CDC encourages most people to get an annual flu shot. Clinics and pharmacies in these ten cities and most others will offer flu shots to children and adults.

Feb 3, 2025 • 5:06 am CST
Victoria - 2025

The Victoria Department of Health (VDH) recently confirmed that a human case of Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) had been identified in a resident of northern Victoria.

This is the first case in Victoria in 2025.

On January 20, 2025, Dr. Christian McGrath, VDH's Acting Chief Health Officer, issued an alert stating that residents and visitors to northern Victoria, mainly inland riverine regions and near the Murray River, are potentially at higher risk of infection and should take measures to prevent mosquito bites.

Victoria is Australia's second-most-populated state, with a population of over 6.9 million. In 2024, it welcomed about 12 million visitors, many visiting the city of Melbourne.

Since January 2021, 45 people in Australia have been infected with JEV outbreaks, resulting in seven deaths.

In June 2023, the Joint National Japanese  Encephalitis Virus Outbreak Response Plan became effective.

"Historically, the risk of contracting JE in Australia has been limited to the Torres Strait region near Papua New Guinea. However, since 2021, new cases have been confirmed in southeastern Australian states, including Victoria, where infections have occurred in rural areas surrounding the Murray River," Jeri Beales, MSN, RN, informed Vax-Before-Travel News.

"If your vacation itinerary takes you to popular tourist areas in major Australian cities, you most likely do not need the JE vaccine."

"But if you plan to stay in risk areas for weeks to months, then vaccination is recommended," added Beales, MSN, RN, leads Destination Health Clinic, a Boston-area travel health provider specializing in health education and vaccination for international travelers.

Since JEV is a vaccine-preventable disease, Valneva SE's JESPECT® vaccine is offered free of charge in Australia for specific groups at higher risk of exposure to the virus. However, due to the significant global demand for the vaccine, access is restricted to those most at risk.

In February 2025, IXIARO® will be the only JEV vaccine commercially offered at travel clinics and pharmacies in the United States. The vaccine requires two doses for U.S. travelers, usually given four weeks apart. 

To protect its military staff from this mosquito-transmitted disease, the U.S. Department of Defense recently ordered $32.8 million worth of IXIARO.

Note: This VBT News article was updated on Feb. 4, 2025, to include a vaccine expert insight.

Feb 1, 2025 • 1:06 pm CST
Maps Feb. 2025

After a record-setting 2024, São Paulo state in Brazil is on pace to report a significant Dengue virus outbreak in 2025.

In the first month of 2025, São Paulo's Dengue dashboard shows over 108,000 cases and 25 related fatalities.

The state of São Paulo is a tourist hot-spot, welcoming over 6 million visitors last year.

Nationally, the Pan American Helath Organization reported Brazil had confirmed about 194,000 probable Dengue cases in January 2025.

The U.S. CDC says that Dengue is a year-round risk in various countries in the Region of the Americas. And the agency has identified a higher-than-expected number of Dengue cases among U.S. travelers returning from those countries.

To alert international travelers to this health risk, the CDC republished a Level 1 Travel Health Advisory in 2024, identifying 12 countries in the Americas reporting Dengue outbreaks. The CDC strongly recommends avoiding mosquito bites when visiting Dengue-endemic areas in Brazil.

While other countries have approved a second-generation Dengue vaccine in 2025, the U.S. has not.

Feb 1, 2025 • 12:31 pm CST
Google Maps February 2025

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has confirmed local transmission of the Zika virus in countries and territories in the Region of the Americas for several years.

As of February 1, 2025, 303 Zika cases were reported in the Americas this year, with cases reported in Brazil, Bolivia, and Colombia. 

Last year, the PAHO reported a 13% increase in cases.

Over 42,127 ZIka cases and two related fatalities in the Americas in 2024.

In 2024, very few cases were reported in the United States. The CDC's preliminary data show 19 travel-related cases and nine locally acquired cases in U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico.

While the CDC does not recommend any Zika vaccine candidate, Valneva SE's VLA1601 second-generation purified, inactivated, whole Zika virus vaccine candidate is the most advanced Zika vaccine in development. However, this innovative vaccine will probably not be commercially available in 2025.

Feb 1, 2025 • 10:52 am CST
US CDC Jan. 31, 2025

During the summer of 2024, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued several alerts that revealed a spike in Oropouche disease cases, including fatalities, in the Region of the Americas.

As of January 31, 2025, the U.S. CDC confirmed recent outbreaks of Oropouche in Espírito Santo, Brazil, and Darién Province, Panama. To notify travelers of this health risk, the CDC issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice.

It says all travelers to these areas should prevent bug bites during travel to protect themselves from infection. They should also prevent bug bites for 3 weeks after travel to avoid possibly spreading the virus to others if they are in areas where mosquitoes and biting midges are active.

Furthermore, healthcare providers should inform women who are pregnant and considering travel to areas with reported Oropouche virus transmission of the possible risks to the fetus. If a pregnant woman decides to travel, counsel her to prevent bug bites.

This new Travel Health Notice follows a Level 1 alert issued in 2024.

The CDC says there is no evidence of Oropouche virus transmission in the United States, but various states (Florida) have reported cases detected in international travelers.

In 2024, 108 neuroinvasive and non-neuroinvasive Oropouche cases were reported in six U.S. jurisdictions. The CDC also says that the extent to which the Oropouche virus could spread in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is unknown.

From a prevention perspective, since no approved vaccines are available in February 2025, avoiding bug bites is a person's best option.

Feb 1, 2025 • 4:44 am CST
from Pixabay 2025

While Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) cases are rare in the United States, this mosquito-transmitted virus is the leading cause of viral encephalitis in many countries of Asia and Pacific countries, with an estimated 100,000 clinical cases every year.

To ensure its military personnel are fully protected from JEV infection, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) initiated a new $32.8 million contract with Valneva SE to supply its Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine, IXIARO®. The new contract will commence immediately.

Under this one-year contract, the DoD can purchase additional doses during twelve months.

Dipal Patel, Chief Commercial Officer of Valneva, commented in a press release on January 30, 2025, “We are honored to continue our long-term relationship with the DoD. The U.S. military has trusted IXIARO® for over ten years to help protect military personnel, their families, civilian government service personnel, and government contractors from this potentially deadly disease.”

Deliveries of IXIARO® doses have continued in 2024 under the DoD supply contract signed in September 2023.

According to the World Health Organization, JE is fatal in approximately 30% of those who show symptoms and leaves half of survivors with permanent brain damage. The disease is endemic in Southeast Asia, India, and China, regions with more than three billion populations. 

In 2024, JEV was detected in mosquitoes in various areas in Australia.

NSW Health Dr. McAnulty commented in a related press release, “These detections indicate the risk for mosquito-borne virus transmission is widespread, particularly in the NSW local government areas at higher risk of JE in the inland regions."

“I encourage anyone planning to spend time outdoors in these higher-risk areas to take steps to protect against mosquito bites."

Since millions of international travelers visit Australia annually, the U.S. CDC suggests travelers speak with a travel vaccine expert about immunization options before traveling abroad. In the U.S., IXIARO® is commercially offered at travel clinics and pharmacies.

Jan 31, 2025 • 1:21 pm CST
from Pixabay 2025

Merck announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended the approval of CAPVAXIVE™ (Pneumococcal 21-valent Conjugate Vaccine) for active immunization for the prevention of invasive disease and pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in individuals 18 years of age and older.

Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. There are about 100 types of pneumococcal bacteria, and they can affect adults differently than children.

“Invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumococcal pneumonia remain critical public health challenges worldwide,” said Dr. Paula Annunziato, senior vice president of infectious diseases and vaccines, Global Clinical Development, Merck Research Laboratories, in a press release on January 31, 2025.

The CHMP’s recommendation for marketing authorization in the European Union (EU), Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway will now be reviewed by the European Commission. A final decision is expected by the second quarter of 2025.

If approved in the EU, it would mark the fourth authorization of CAPVAXIVE for preventing invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumococcal pneumonia in adults.

CAPVAXIVE was first approved in the U.S. in June 2024, Canada in July 2024, and Australia in January 2025. It is being reviewed in Japan, and other worldwide regulatory filings are underway.

In the U.S., pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for most people and are available at most community pharmacies. These vaccines may not work for everyone.

Jan 30, 2025 • 3:30 pm CST
from Pixabay 2025

During 2024, the United States reported several measles outbreaks primarily related to unvaccinated international travelers. According to new reports, the State of Texas may lead this unfortunate list in 2025.

Today, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) announced two confirmed measles cases in Gaines County residents, located southwest of Lubbock, Texas. Both instances involve unvaccinated school-age children who were hospitalized in Lubbock.

As of January 30, 2025, these children have been discharged.

These newly identified cases are in addition to two confirmed measles cases reported in Harris County in 2025.

The Houston Health Department (HHD) identified two confirmed measles cases associated with international travel. Both adults were unvaccinated against measles.

HDD says anyone exposed to measles should monitor themselves for symptoms, including a rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Symptoms can appear 7 to 21 days after exposure. If you show symptoms of measles, call your healthcare provider to make arrangements for evaluation and treatment.

On January 23, 2025, HHD stated, 'Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional (measles) cases may occur.'

Houston and Harris County are home to about 5 million people and are gateway cities with two international airports.

Crockett Tidwell RPh, CDCES, CTH, informed Vax-Before-Travel News, "Measles is extremely contagious; nine9 out 10 people in the same room will become infected if they do not have immunity."

"All it takes is one international traveler to infect every vulnerable person they come in contact with when they come home," added Tidwell, Clinical Services Manager, International Society of Travel Medicine Certificate in Travel Health™.

To alert travelers of the global measles risk, the U.S. CDC recently updated a Travel Health Advisory, which identified 59 countries reported measles cases. The CDC recommends people speak with a travel vaccine expert about immunization options before visiting these countries in 2025.