Vaccine News

Over the past decade, numerious herpes zoster cases were prevented with two doses of a U.S. FDA-approved vaccine that contains an adjuvant. According to new research, there may be an additional, measurable benefit from vaccination.

A Brief Communication published by NPJ Vaccines on June 25, 2025, reported a lower risk of dementia associated with AS01-adjuvanted vaccination against shingles.

In propensity-score matched cohort studies involving 436,788 individuals, both the AS01-adjuvanted shingles and respiratory syncytial virus vaccines, administered individually or in combination, were associated with a reduced risk of dementia at 18 months.

AS01 may protect against dementia through specific immunological pathways.

In particular, stimulation of toll-like receptor 4 with monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL; one of the components of the AS01 system) has been shown to improve Alzheimer’s disease pathology in mice.

In addition, the two main ingredients of AS01, MPL and QS-21 (a purified plant extract derived from Quillaja saponaria), act synergistically to activate macrophages and dendritic cells, triggering an age-independent cytokine cascade that culminates in the production of interferon gamma (IFN-γ).

IFN-γ might attenuate amyloid plaque deposition (as seen in mice) and is negatively correlated with cognitive decline in cognitively unimpaired older adults.

These neuroprotective mechanisms may reach their full potential at or below the dose of AS01 administered within a single vaccine, so that administering both the AS01 shingles and RSV vaccines does not provide any additional benefits.

This saturation effect could also explain why the level of protection against dementia appears similar between the AS01 shingles vaccine (which is given in two doses) and the AS01 RSV vaccine (administered as a single dose).

No difference was observed between the two AS01-adjuvanted vaccines, suggesting that the AS01 adjuvant itself plays a direct role in reducing the risk of dementia.

A previous study found similar cross-protection benefits.

 In July 2024, a University of Oxford-led study concluded that receiving the recombinant Shingrix® vaccine was associated with a 17% increase in diagnosis-free time, translating into 164 additional days lived without a diagnosis of dementia in those subsequently affected.

As of July 7, 2025, shingles vaccination services are offered at most pharmacies in the United States.

In Taiwan (Republic of China), Japanese Encephalitis (JE) has been a notifiable, mosquito-transmitted infectious disease since 1955.

As of July 2025, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (TCDC) confirmed six cases of JE in 2025.

Last year, Taiwan reported 25 JE cases.

Most JE cases are associated with activities in paddy fields, pig farms, pigeon farms, poultry farms, and ponds.

A recent study confirmed that JE remains a prevalent infectious disease in Taiwan. Between 2008 and 2020, 309 confirmed domestic JE patients and four imported cases.

This study confirmed that JE remains a prevalent infectious disease in Taiwan, with its epidemic gradually increasing in severity. 

As of July 7, 2025, JE is a vaccine-preventable disease. In the United States, an FDA-approved JE vaccine is commercailly available at travel clinics and pharmacies. It is recommended for international travelers when visiting JE outbreak areas.

The Republic of Peru frequently declares regional states of emergency, particularly near border areas.

To highlight these high-risk zones, the Canadian government updated its travel advisory for Peru on July 4, 2025, informing travelers to exercise a high degree of caution in Peru due to civial unrest that may occur across the country.

These areas include:

Huallaga and Tocache provinces in the department of San Martín,

the Upper Huallaga and Ene river valleys in the departments of Huánuco and San Martín,

Padre Abad province in the department of Ucayali,

Huacaybamba, Humalíes, Leoncio Prado, and Marañón provinces in the department of Huánuco,

Concepción and Satipo provinces in the department of Junín,

Tayacaja province in the department of Huancavelica,

the districts of Abancay, Andahuaylas, and Chincheros in the department of Apurímac,

Huanta and La Mar provinces, in the department of Ayacucho,

Valley of Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro rivers (VRAEM).

Previously, the U.S. Department of State reissued its Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution Travel Advisory for this South American country on May 16, 2025.

From a health risk perspective, the U.S. CDC includes Peru in Travel Health Advisories for measles, Oropouche, and yellow fever.

The CDC recommends that visitors to Peru consider several routine and travel vaccines, such as typhoid and chikungunya, before traveling abroad in 2025.

These advisories are essential, as over 3 million international visitors traveled to Peru in 2024, representing a significant increase in activity compared to 2023. Many travelers visited Machu Picchu, located high up in the Andes Mountains.

An innovative bladder cancer intravesical therapy today gained its initial approval outside the United States. Bladder cancer is a challenging malignancy, and for many years, researchers have searched for next-generation treatment options.

The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved nogapendekin alfa inbakicept (Anktiva®) for adults with BCG-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, where the disease remains confined to the inner lining of the bladder and may include tumors. 

Nogapendekin alfa inbakicept (Anktiva) mixed with BCG is administered via a liquid that is diluted and then delivered into the bladder through a catheter inserted into the urethra. 

The BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccine, which has been deployed for approximately 100 years to reduce tuberculosis, has become a standard immunotherapy for early-stage bladder cancer. It is delivered directly into the bladder to stimulate an immune response.

Anktiva's mechanism of action involves the direct, specific stimulation of CD8+ T cells and Natural Killer cells through beta-gamma T-cell receptor binding, thereby generating memory T cells while avoiding stimulation of T-regulatory cells.

As of July 4, 2025, this medicine was approved through the International Recognition Procedure. The approval was granted to Serum Life Science Europe GmbH.

On May 27, 2025, ImmunityBio announced a collaboration to introduce the Cancer BioShield platform, along with Anktiva, to Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East. 

In the United States, ImmunityBio, Inc.'s BioShield platform, powered by Anktiva, was approved by the U.S. FDA for similar indications in April 2024. It is now commercially available at over 60 cancer centers in the U.S.

On July 1, 2025, ScienceDirect published a systematic review highlighting an array of novel intravesical therapies that demonstrate efficacy in bladder cancer patients. 

Following a significant outbreak in 2024, the first confirmed case of West Nile virus illness was reported on June 24, 2025, in a resident of Brazos County, Texas.

This Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) announcement raises concerns for all Texans as virus-carrying mosquitoes remain active into December.

There were 455 cases of West Nile disease in Texas in 2024 and 56 related fatalities.

Over the last five years, Texas has had 929 West Nile cases and 122 deaths.

“Texans should be aware that mosquitoes transmit disease, and some of these illnesses, like West Nile and dengue, can be severe,” said DSHS  Commissioner Jennifer A. Shuford, MD, MPH. “But taking steps to prevent mosquito bites and eliminating mosquito breeding areas around homes are proactive measures that can reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illness.”

Infected mosquitoes transmit West Nile virus after biting. Although 80% of people exposed to the virus do not develop symptoms, the remaining 20% will experience symptoms such as fever, nausea, headache, fatigue, and muscle and joint pain.

Less than one percent of those exposed will suffer from West Nile neuroinvasive disease, which affects the nervous system and can cause disorientation, neck stiffness, tremors, paralysis, convulsions, and even death.

DSHS urges anyone experiencing West Nile symptoms to contact their health care provider and mention any exposure to mosquitoes.

As of July 3, 2025, no vaccine for West Nile virus exists.

The regional health agency in Grand Est, France, reported its first locally acquired case of chikungunya in Bas-Rhin.

As of July 1, 2025, epidemiological investigations indicated that this locally acquired chikungunya case had frequented the municipalities of Lipsheim and Fegersheim during their infectious period. 

Unlike previous local cases, this area is located in France's northeast.

In June 2025, Occitane (Hérault and Gard), Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (Var and Bouches-du-Rhône), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (Drôme), and the island of Corse (Corse-du-Sud) reported local chikungunya cases.

And in the southern Indian Ocean, France's departments have reported significant chikungunya outbreaks in 2025.

According to the World Health Organization and the United States, chikungunya is a vaccine-preventable disease, with two vaccines commercially available as of July 2025. 

According to the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Honduran authorities are requiring documentation to show proof of a measles vaccine (MMR) for travelers coming from various countries, including the United States.

As of June 28, 2025, this new requirement applies to all foreign travel to the Republic of Honduras, whether by land, sea, or air. 

The U.S. Embassy in Honduras stated that if someone cannot receive the vaccine, they will need to provide proof of a negative measles test result 72 to 80 hours before the flight.

This means that cruise ship passengers visiting this Central American country may need to carry proof of their vaccination.

In addition to measles vaccination, the U.S. CDC recommends being protected against chikungunya, dengue, malaria, typhoid, and Zika when visiting Honduras.

For local assistance during July 2025, the U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa is available to U.S tourists.

Additionally, the Department of State stated in 2024, "Reconsider travel to Honduras due to civil unrest." The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program is available to travelers interested in receiving digital travel alerts while abroad.