Vaccine News

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.

The Chilean Ministry of Health recently confirmed the country's first case of human infection with the avian influenza A(H5N1) virus.

This is the second human "H5N1 bird flu" virus infection reported in South America; Ecuador reported the first in December 2022.

Globally, this is the 11th human case of H5N1 reported since January 2022.

The prior 10 H5N1 cases also had exposure to poultry.

Bird Flu (Avian influenza) is a disease caused by influenza type A viruses that occur naturally among birds.

Detection of human infection with H5N1 bird flu in another country in South America is not surprising, wrote the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on March 29, 2023.

A recent CDC H5N1 technical report noted that "because of …the wide global prevalence of HPAI A(H5N1) viruses in wild birds and poultry outbreaks, continued sporadic human infections are anticipated."

As of early March 2023, H5N1 viruses (clade 2.3.4.4b) have been detected in mammals, wild birds, or poultry in 16 Latin America, the Caribbean, the United States, Canada, and most of the countries in the world.

In the U.S., about 6,300 people in 52 jurisdictions have been monitored since 2022, and only one human case has been identified in Colorado.

The CDC notes the annual flu shot does not offer protection from this type of influenza. However, there is an approved bird flu vaccine (Audenz™) should a human-to-human outbreak occur.

The World Health Organization's (WHO) Weekly epidemiological update on the COVID-19 pandemic indicates further decreases in cases and related fatalities.

As of March 30, 2023, Edition #136 reports nearly 3.6 million new cases, and over 25,000 deaths were reported in the last 28 days, a decrease of 27% and 39%, respectively, compared to the previous period.

Despite this overall downward trend, it is essential to note that several countries, such as India, have recently reported an increase in COVID-19 cases. 

At the country level, the highest numbers of new 28-day cases were reported from the United States of America (678,002 new cases; -38%), the Russian Federation (333,073 new cases; +6%), the Republic of Korea (270,378 new cases; -23%), China (255,961 new cases; -52%), and Japan (242,894 new cases; -68%).

With the new slogan "health for all, everyone's task," Equatorial Guinea Health intends to involve the entire population in the surveillance of the Marburg virus, reported ahoraEG.com.

A new action plan will require passengers, especially those coming from the city of Bata, with over 200,000 residents, to fill out a form to enter location information so that they can be located quickly and on time in case of any suspicion.

Obama Nve has indicated that filling out the Marburg virus control form is a civic duty for anyone, "we want to beg the population that we are going to demand that they fill out a small file, not to bother because we do it to safeguard public health in our country."

As of March 29, 2023, about 459 contacts have been followed up since the Marburg outbreak was declared in mid-February 2023.

In an interview on national television, the member of the Technical Committee for Health Emergencies, Maricamen Andeme Ela, assured that we are in a drastic situation because we have not wanted to comply with the measures imposed since the appearance of the first case, "Marburg exists, and we are seeing it, and unfortunately, it is taking human lives."

WHO Director-General's opening remarks at a media briefing on March 29, 2023, included the number of officially reported Marburg cases remaining at nine, with seven deaths, in three provinces. 

However, the WHO is aware of additional cases, and we have asked the government to report these cases.

Breaking news regarding the Marburg outbreaks in Burundi, Tanzania, and Africa is posted at Vax-Before-Travel.

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced it had certified the countries of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan for eliminating malaria in their territories. The certification follows the two countries' sustained, century-long effort to stamp out this vaccine-preventable disease.

As of March 29, 2023, a total of 41 countries and one territory have been certified malaria-free by WHO, including 21 countries in the European Region.

"The people and governments of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan have worked long and hard to eliminate malaria," Tweeted WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"Their accomplishment further proves that eliminating malaria is possible with the right resources and political commitment. I hope that other countries can learn from their experience."

The final decision on awarding a malaria-free certification rests with the WHO Director-General, based on a recommendation by the independent Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification. For more on WHO's malaria-free certification process, visit this WHO link.

Malaria vaccines are available in certain countries in 2023. However, the United States has not approved a vaccine yet.