Vaccine News

CBS News recently reported scientists in the U.S. are preparing to test the first poultry vaccine against bird flu (avian influenza). 

Biden administration officials informed CBS News on February 9, 2023, they have now begun weighing an unprecedented shift in the U.S. strategy to counter the outbreak of bird flu since 2022.

The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) previously confirmed the Eurasian H5N1 strain appeared in North America in January 2022. 

Since then, APHIS reported over 6,000 H5N1 detections in wild birds affecting 47 states and losing over 58.3 million birds as of February 8, 2023.

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a bird flu vaccine for people, there is not one available for birds.

A spokesperson for Merck Animal Health indicated to CBS News the company has an "extensive, ongoing research program" developing vaccines that can work with Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated (DIVA) strategies.

This approach systematically searches for the virus among vaccinated flocks to prevent undetected spread among immunized birds.

The DIVA strategy uses an inactivated oil emulsion vaccine containing the same haemagglutinin (H) subtype as the challenge virus but a different neuraminidase (N).

The possibility of using the heterologous N subtype to differentiate between vaccinated and naturally infected birds was investigated by developing an "ad hoc" serological test to detect specific anti-N1 antibodies.

In addition, the FDA confirms the annual flu shot is not designed to protect people from avian influenza viruses.

Other bird flu vaccine news is posted at PrecisionVaccinations.

Nykode Therapeutics ASA today announced a collaboration with the GOG Foundation, Inc. to conduct a clinical trial of VB10.16 in combination with an immune checkpoint inhibitor for treating advanced cervical cancer in the U.S.

VB10.16 is a potentially first-in-class off-the-shelf therapeutic cancer vaccine candidate in development for treating human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16)-positive cancers.

The VB-C-04 trial will evaluate the combination therapies in patients with cervical cancer that have progressed following first-line treatment.

Nykode previously reported positive interim data from the Phase 2 VB-C-02 trial in Europe with women with heavily pre-treated advanced cervical cancer.

“Based on the positive interim data and in line with our potential registrational trial strategy, we look forward to starting the VB-C-04 trial in the U.S. The trial aims to provide a fast path to making VB10.16 available to patients,” stated Klaus Edvardsen, Chief Development Officer of Nykode Therapeutics, in a press release on February 10, 2023.

The cancer vaccine is designed based on Nykode’s Vaccibody™ technology platform of targeting antigens to antigen presenting cells.

VB10.16 has reported positive interim data from a Phase 2 trial in heavily pre-treated cervical cancer patients (NCT04405349).

The analysis demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with responses observed in both PD-L1 positive and negative patients (ORR 27% and 17%, respectively).

The vaccine-induced significant HPV16-specific T cell responses were associated with clinical responses.

The candidate has also demonstrated favorable clinical data in a Phase 1/2a study in pre-cancerous HPV16-induced high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (HSIL; CIN 2/3), demonstrating a statistically significant correlation of immune responses and clinical responses.

Since 1970, the GOG Foundation has conducted more than 350 clinical trials in the U.S. with 400 participating sites and 115,000 patients. The results of the GOG Foundation’s clinical trials have influenced the standard of care for numerous malignant gynecologic neoplasms.

Additional HPV vaccine news is posted at PrecisionVaccinations.com/HPV.

The Bayelsa State Government in Nigeria recently announced it would do everything within its power to ensure that Bayelsans have access to yellow fever (YF) vaccines.

Nigeria offers the Stamaril® live, attenuated YF vaccine.

The Tribue Online reported on February 3, 2023, Commissioner for Health Dr. Pabara Newton Igwele stated the YF disease was more frightening than COVID-19 as it does not have any special drugs for curative measures.

He further noted that YF is caused by a virus transmitted through bites of infected mosquitoes.

And a life-threatening disease, explaining that its symptoms manifest in bleeding from the mouth, eye, and nose, which, if not properly managed, could resolve to death.

According to the U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has been reporting yellow fever outbreaks in multiple states (Bauchi, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, and Enugu) since 2020.

Beginning in late January 2018, more than 25 million people were scheduled to be vaccinated in Nigeria.

As of 2023, the CDC says travelers to Nigeria should take steps to prevent yellow fever by getting vaccinated at least ten days before travel and taking steps to prevent mosquito bites.

The Stamaril vaccine is not offered in the U.S. However, certified clinics and pharmacies offer the YF-Vax® vaccine in the U.S.

Following vaccination, the yellow fever card (International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis) becomes certified.

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced 18 meningitis-related fatalities (3.2% of cases) had been reported in the Zinder Region, southeast of Niger, over the past three months.

The vast majority of cases are due to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C (NmC).

The WHO confirmed on February 8, 2023, a reactive vaccination campaign with the trivalent ACW meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine has been implemented.

Niger has been affected by several meningitis epidemics resulting in 1,369 deaths (6.6% of cases) since 2015.

Niger is located mainly in the African meningitis belt, with seasonal outbreaks recurring yearly.

However, the ongoing outbreak shows an increased number of cases and an increased growth rate compared to the previous seasons.

Furthermore, the Zinder region shares a border with Jigawa State in Nigeria, where an NmC outbreak is also ongoing.

The WHO assesses the risk posed by the current meningitis outbreak in Niger as high at the national level, moderate at the regional level, and low at the global level.

And the WHO does not recommend any restriction on travel and trade to Niger based on the current event.

Separately, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination for travelers two months old or older visiting areas of Niger that are part of the meningitis belt during the dry season.

While the CDC has not issued a Travel Alert for Niger's latest meningitis outbreak, it previously issued notices for polio and measles outbreaks.

These travel vaccines are available at select clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Turkiye announced a large 7.8 earthquake that occurred on February 6, 2023, in the southeast region, near Gaziantep, affecting several provinces and the broader Central Mediterranean region.

Large aftershocks continue and are likely through the coming days.

U.S. Citizens should avoid traveling to areas affected by the earthquake, and if already there, we advise not to enter damaged buildings until Turkish authorities deem them safe.

The U.S. government is deferring all non-essential travel to U.S. Consulate Adana’s district – Adana, Adiyaman, Batman, Bingol, Bitlis, Diyarbakir, Elazig, Gaziantep, Hakkari, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Malayta, Mardin, Mersin, Mus, Osmaniye, Sanliurfa, Sirnak, Siirt, Tunceli, and Van.

Please note that there are reports of extensive damage to infrastructure including roads in these provinces.

U.S. Citizens in Türkiye in need of immediate, emergency assistance should call Turkish authorities using the phone number 112.

All other inquiries regarding U.S. citizens impacted by the earthquake should be directed to U.S. Embassy in Ankara at [email protected].

Note: This is a developing tragedy, with news updates are required.

The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) Covid Vaccine Monitor announced today found 38% of people say their households were affected by this winter’s triple threat of respiratory viruses, with someone getting sick with influenza, COVID-19, or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

And 46% of the survey respondents say the news of these three viruses spreading has made them more likely to wear masks or take other precautions to avoid getting sick.

At the same time, 69% of the U.S. public says they are “not too” or “not at all” worried about getting seriously ill from COVID-19, though 31% still say they are worried.

That’s more than people say about the seasonal flu (26%) or RSV (25%).

The flu affected the largest share of households over the past month or so (27%).

With smaller shares saying someone in their homes got sick with COVID-19 (15%) or RSV (10%).

While various flu and COVID-18 vaccines are available in the U.S., RSV vaccine candidates have yet to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2023.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a fundamental cause of various cancers, anogenital warts, and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis that vaccination can prevent.

Beginning in 2019, U.S. guidelines recommended shared clinical decision-making (SCDM) for HPV vaccination among adults aged 27–45.

Researchers recently conducted a narrative review of existing literature on HPV vaccination in this mid-adult population.

The Open Forum Infectious Diseases published this analysis on January 11, 2023, concluding the available evidence demonstrates that HPV vaccination in mid-adults is safe, efficacious, and likely to benefit both HPV-naïve mid-adults and those with previous infections.

These researchers found universal mid-adult HPV vaccination in the U.S. could avert 20,934–37,856 cancer cases over 100 years, costing $141,000–$1,471,000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained.

The wide variation in these estimates reflects uncertainties in sexual behavior, HPV natural history, and naturally acquired immunity.

'Greater awareness among clinicians and mid-adult patients and broad implementation of SCDM may accelerate progress toward eliminating HPV-associated cancers and other diseases,' wrote these researchers.

HPV vaccines are generally available at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S. during 2023.