Vaccine News

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Jan 3, 2023 • 2:57 pm CST

Iraq Travel Advisory Updated

U.S. Dept of State

The U.S. Department of State reissued its Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for the Republic of Iraq. As of January 3, 2023, this travel alert indicates significant civil unrest and Mission Iraq’s limited capacity to support U.S. citizens.

Furthermore, U.S. citizens in Iraq face high risks to their safety and security.

Due to risks to civil aviation operating in the Baghdad Flight Information Region, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has extended its Special Federal Aviation Regulation for an additional two years, prohibiting certain flights at altitudes below 32,000 feet.

Because of security concerns, U.S. government personnel in Baghdad are instructed not to use Baghdad International Airport.

U.S. citizens should consult the FAA Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices website for more information.

For local assistance, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad is located at Al-Kindi Street, International Zone, Baghdad, Iraq.

From a health perspective, the U.S. CDC publishes travel vaccine recommendations at this link.

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Don Hackett

Jan 3, 2023 • 12:35 pm CST

Maharashtra Vaccinates Millions of Children Against Measles

Google Maps

In response to a significant measles outbreak at the end of 2022, the state government of Maharashtra confirmed it would continue vaccinating children with a measles vaccine.

On January 3, 2023, the IndianExpress reported as many as 4.74 lakh young children were identified to receive an additional dose of vaccine against measles.

The first phase of the immunization program was completed in late December, and the second phase is scheduled to begin on January 15, 2023.

Maharashtra is a highly populated state located on the Deccan plateau in the western peninsular part of the subcontinent.

Maharashtra has seven domestic airports located in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Juhu, and Nanded.

And it has four international airports, with Mumbai International Airport being one of the busiest airports in India.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the country of India reported the most measles patients in 2022.

Other measles outbreak news 2023 is posted at Vax-Before-Travel.com/Measles.

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Staff Review

Jan 3, 2023 • 8:04 am CST

Personalized Cancer Vaccine Program gets a Green Light

by Gerd Altmann

Evaxion Biotech A/S today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") determined that the Company may proceed with its Phase 2b clinical trial of EVX-01.

The study (EVX-01 plus Pembrolizumab 25 MG/ML) was first initiated in Australia in September 2022.

EVX-01 is a peptide-based cancer therapy intended for the first-line treatment of various metastatic and unresectable melanoma.

In November 2022, the Company submitted an Investigational New Drug Application ("IND") along with a Fast Track designation application to the FDA for a

On December 22, 2022, the FDA issued approval for the Company to proceed with its Phase 2b clinical trial of EVX-01 in combination with KEYTRUDA® for treating patients with metastatic melanoma.

"Receiving a green light from the FDA is a tremendous boost for our personalized cancer vaccine program. EVX-01 is already actively enrolling patients in Australia, and the FDA approval expands our ability to move forward quickly with our lead program in malignant melanoma," commented Erik Heegaard, Chief Medical Officer at Evaxion, in a press release on January 3, 2022.

"Moreover, the FDA is a universally recognized national authority, and its endorsement is an important step towards demonstrating a clinically meaningful benefit of our first personalized cancer vaccine,"

The Phase 2b study will be conducted at clinical sites across the U.S., Europe, and Australia. It is carried out in collaboration with Merck, supplying its PD-1 inhibitor KEYTRUDA®.

The U.S. NIH says melanoma is the third most common cutaneous malignancy after basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

The treatment modalities currently used for metastatic melanoma include surgery, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and chemotherapy.

The treatment paradigm of metastatic melanoma has changed dramatically within the last few years with the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapy, says the NIH.

Evaxion Biotech A/S is a clinical-stage biotech company developing AI-powered immunotherapies.

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Staff Review

Jan 2, 2023 • 10:28 am CST

New China Travel Requirements Become Effective on Jan. 5th

U.S. Dept. of State

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced that beginning early January 5, 2023, there are new requirements for air passengers two years of age and older traveling to the U.S. from China, Hong Kong, or Macau.

And these requirements apply to those traveling from Seoul, Toronto, and Vancouver who have been in China, Hong Kong, or Macau to the U.S. in the past ten days.

The CDC's Alert - Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions, issued on December 28, 2022, says to reconsider travel to China, Hong Kong, and Macau due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases and limited healthcare resources.

These changes are created to China ending its Zero-COVID policy in late December 2022.

In addition to COVID-19 vaccinations, the CDC suggests various travel vaccines before revisiting China.

Previously, the U.S. Department of State revised its Level 3: Reconsider Travel on December 22, 2022.

This travel advisory says mainland Peoples Republic of China visitors should prepare to be tested for COVID-19 and to quarantine at a government-designated location upon arrival.

U.S. citizens in China can visit a local embassy for assistance, such as the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, located ta No. 55 An Jia Lou Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600, China.

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Don Hackett