Vaccine News

Pfizer Inc. recently announced that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) unanimously voted to recommend PREVNAR 20® (20-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine) for routine use to help protect infants and children from invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) caused by the 20 Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes covered by the vaccine and for the prevention of otitis media in infants six weeks through five years of age caused by the original seven serotypes contained in PREVNAR®.

These provisional recommendations will be reviewed and finalized by the director of the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services.

“We are thrilled with today’s ACIP decision as it recognizes the increased level of protection that PREVNAR 20 will provide to millions of infants and children against pneumococcal disease,” said  Luis Jodar, Ph.D., Chief Medical Affairs Officer, Vaccines/Antivirals and Evidence Generation, Pfizer, in a press release on June 22, 2023.

Previously, the European Medicines Agency approved the brand name Apexxnar in February 2022.

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) in Sarasota and Manatee Counties recently confirmed a second locally-acquired malaria case.

As of June 19, 2023, this patient was being treated for this mosquito-cause infection.

This case has been identified as the P. vivax malaria species, which is not as fatal as other species.

In response, a mosquito-borne illness alert was issued for Sarasota and Manatee counties.

On May 26, 2023, DOH released information on the first confirmed local malaria case, who was treated and recovered.

Effective treatment is readily available through Florida hospitals and other healthcare providers.

The Florida Department of Health confirmed aerial and ground mosquito spraying is being conducted in these counties to mitigate the risk of further transmission.

Malaria is not transmitted from person to person.

Only infected Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria to humans.

Malaria infects approximately 219 million people each year, with an estimated 660,000 deaths, mostly children in Africa. 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently stated the risk of locally acquired malaria in the U.S. is extremely low. 

About 2,000 malaria cases are diagnosed annually in the U.S., most in international travelers.

However, Florida has had malaria outbreaks in the past.

In 2003, eight locally acquired P. vivax malaria cases were reported in Palm Beach County, FL. 

From a prevention perspective, malaria vaccines have already been approved.

The World Health Organization recommended the Mosquirix™ malaria vaccine in 2021, and the R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine was approved for use in Africa in 2023.

Invivyd, Inc. recently announced positive initial data from its ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of its lead investigational monoclonal antibody (mAb) candidate, VYD222.

VYD222 is a broadly neutralizing, half-life extended mAb candidate in development for the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19 in vulnerable populations, such as immunocompromised people.

Initial Phase 1 data show that a single administration of VYD222 was generally well-tolerated at all three dose levels tested, with no serious adverse events reported to date.

At the lowest VYD222 dose tested (1500 mg), geometric mean serum neutralizing titers were 3245.1 (95% CI: 1882.5, 5594.0) against Omicron XBB.1.5 at Day 7, with a geometric mean 38.87-fold rise (95% CI: 10.3, 146.8) from baseline to Day 7 (n=8).

Greater VYD222 dose levels are designed to provide greater protection from any potential loss of neutralization activity as SARS-CoV-2 evolves.

Dave Hering, chief executive officer of Invivyd, stated in a press release on June 22, 2023, "Based on previously published clinical data from randomized controlled clinical trials, we believe that mAb directed against the receptor binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein offer an attractive safety profile, even at higher doses, and that strong serum neutralization activity would be predictive of clinical benefit."

Additional COVID-19 monoclonal antibody news is posted by Precision Vaccinations.

Throughout 2023, Chikungunya outbreaks have been reported in various countries in the Region of the Americas.

On June 22, 2023, Susan Hills, MBBS, MTH, led the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) Chikungunya Vaccines Work Group presentation, highlighting the ongoing outbreak in the Republic of Paraguay.

As of June 4, 2023, 167,239 Chikungunya cases and 263 related deaths in 2023.

Furthermore, Paraguay's geographic neighbors Argentina, Brazil, and Uraguy have been impacted.

To alert international travelers, the CDC issued a Level 1 - Practice Usual Precautions Travel Health Notice in April 2023.

From 2006–2021, 4,590 chikungunya cases in travelers were confirmed in the U.S.

Chikungunya outbreaks are caused by the chikungunya virus and is spread to humans through mosquito bites. The CDC stated that people at risk for severe disease include infants, older adults, and those with comorbidities.

People should seek medical care if they develop fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.  

Unfortunately, the CDC has not recommended a preventive vaccine in 2023.

There are two Chikungunya vaccine candidates conducting late-stage clinical trials.

The VLA1553 monovalent, single-dose, live-attenuated vaccine candidate has been assigned a U.S. FDA Prescription Drug User Fee Act review goal date at the end of August 2023 and has filed a regulatory application with Health Canada.

Additionally, the CDC reviewed surveys on June 22, 2023, regarding awareness of chikungunya and the value of a chikungunya vaccine among travelers.

Only 18% had heard of chikungunya before the survey, and few were aware of pending vaccine approvals.

The U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) today announced COVID-19 surveillance data indicates hospital admission rates in the U.K. have decreased in almost all age groups in week #24 compared with the previous week.

On June 22, 2023, the Respiratory Datamart reported that SARS-CoV-2 positivity decreased to 4.2% compared with the previous week.

Overall, through syndromic surveillance indicators, emergency department attendance for covid-like illness remained stable nationally.

This UKHSA report is based on data from week 24 (between June 12 and June 18, 2023) and, for some indicators, daily data up to June 20, 2023.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently confirmed an outbreak of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid fever continues to occur in 2023.

As of June 16, 2023, the CDC's Level 1 - Practice Usual Precautions notice says cases of XDR typhoid fever have been reported worldwide, mostly among travelers returning from Pakistan.

If you are visiting Pakistan or other countries in South Asia where typhoid is common, protect yourself by getting a typhoid fever vaccination before your trip.

In the U.S., two types of typhoid fever vaccines are available. 

If you were vaccinated in the past, ask your doctor or pharmacist if it is time for booster vaccination, says the CDC.

And take extra care to follow safe food and water guidelines during your trip and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating or touching food.

Do not prepare food for others if you become ill.

If you get sick while traveling, seek medical care. 

The strains (kind) of Typhi that cause XDR typhoid fever do not respond to most antibiotics used to treat the disease, says the CDC.

Visit Getting Health Care During Travel to learn how to connect with a doctor or medical services during your trip.

If you get sick after returning to the U.S., seek medical care, and tell your healthcare provider where and when you traveled.

As of June 21, 2023, typhoid fever vaccine news is posted by Vax-Before-Travel.

The U.S. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) workgroup focused on polio and poliovirus today proposed updated guidance regarding vaccinations in the U.S.

The ACIP began debate on updating its vaccination recommendation following one paralytic polio case in an unvaccinated adult in Rockland County, NY was confirmed in 2022.

Furthermore, wastewater testing confirmed poliovirus detections in several New York counties in 2022 and 2023.

The CDC stated this finding likely indicated about 1 to 2 thousand people in southern New York had mostly asymptomatic infections.

As of June 21, 2023, the ACIP committee is voting on this language: Adults who have received a primary series of tOPV or inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) in any combination and are at increased risk of poliovirus exposure may receive another dose of IPV.

And the available data do not indicate the need for more than a single lifetime booster dose with IPV for adults.

Sanofi Pasteur's single-antigen Imovax Polio® (Ipol®) is a highly purified IPV with enhanced potency, says the U.S. FDA

Furthermore, this CDC guidance would apply to adults at increased risk of exposure to poliovirus, including travelers who are going to countries where polio is epidemic or endemic.

Globally, several countries have reported polio outbreaks in 2023. To alert international travelers, the CDC recently reissued a polio alert.