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Childhood Vaccination Coverage Found to Be Lower for Children Born in 2020, 2021
Children born in 2020 to 2021 had lower coverage with nearly all childhood vaccines recommended by age 24 months than those born in 2018 and 2019, according to research published in the Sep. 26 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Holly A. Hill, M.D., Ph.D., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues estimated coverage of childhood vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices among U.S. children by the age of 24 months using data from the National Immunization Survey-Child.
The researchers found that children born in 2020 and 2021 had lower coverage for nearly all vaccines than those born in 2018 and 2019, with declines varying from 1.3 to 7.8 percentage points. Such widespread declines in routine childhood vaccination coverage have not been seen for earlier birth cohorts.
Bavarian Nordic Nets Large Mpox Vaccine Supply Pact, Boosts Revenue Outlook After String of Deals
In the latest of several recent mpox vaccine supply deals, Bavarian Nordic plans to provide 1 million doses of its shot, Jynneos, to affected African countries through an agreement with UNICEF.
The total dose count includes 500,000 doses that had been purchased in an agreement reached earlier this month with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which counts UNICEF as a “core partner.”
All of the doses will be produced before the end of 2024 and quickly delivered upon request, the company said in a Thursday release.
“The agreement with UNICEF represents a significant contribution to the global efforts to combat the mpox outbreak in Africa and we are proud to assist with making our vaccine rapidly available to help where they are needed,” CEO Paul Chaplin said in a statement.
With the new deal, Bavarian Nordic has boosted its full-year revenue guidance to a range of DKK 5.4 billion ($810 million) to DKK 5.8 billion ($870 million). Previously, the company provided a forecast of DKK 5.3 billion ($795 million).
Few Americans Concerned About Upcoming Respiratory Virus Season
Yesterday during its annual news conference, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases said less than 1 in 5 Americans are concerned about flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, as the nation approaches the fall and winter viral season.
Furthermore, despite a summer surge in COVID-19 activity and last year’s 199 pediatric flu deaths, only 38% of Americans surveyed said they plan to get a flu shot this year, and 26% said they would get a COVID-19 vaccine.
The survey was conducted August 8 to 12 and included 1,160 respondents.
‘Fake Weight Loss Drug Nearly Killed Me’
A mother of two who nearly died after taking a fraudulent weight loss injection is urging others to be careful about what they buy online.
Michelle Sword, 46, from Carterton, Oxfordshire, ordered the slimming drug from an online beauty company last year.
She believed she had bought an Ozempic injection but, instead, it was fast-acting insulin, which sent her into a diabetic coma.
“I can’t believe that I allowed my insecurities to almost kill me,” Ms Sword said.
Soon after the injection, she collapsed and suffered seizures.
Her blood sugar had reduced to about 0.2 millimoles per litre, with normal levels being between four and seven, sending her into a diabetic coma.
“I was rushed into hospital and a team raced in, got round me and tried everything they could at that point to counteract what was in my body,” she said.
Possible Cluster of Human Bird-Flu Infections Expands in Missouri
Seven people in contact with a patient hospitalized with bird flu also developed symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported. Some are undergoing further tests.
A possible cluster of bird-flu infections in Missouri has grown to include eight people, in what may be the first examples of person-to-person transmission in the U.S., the CDC reported on Friday.
If confirmed, the cases in Missouri could indicate that the virus may have acquired the ability to infect people more easily. Worldwide, clusters of bird flu among people are extremely rare. Most cases have resulted from close contact with infected birds.
Health officials in Missouri initially identified a patient with bird flu who was hospitalized last month with unusual symptoms. The patient may have infected one household member and six health care workers, all of whom developed symptoms, according to the CDC.
Australia Sees Surge in Mpox Cases
Australia has seen a rapid rise in mpox cases in the past three months, with one health expert concerned that low vaccination rates could be driving a spike outside cities.
So far this year, 737 cases have been recorded, with the vast majority of cases occurring in the last few months.
In comparison, there were 26 cases last year and 144 cases in 2022. The majority of this year’s new cases occurred in the southeastern states and only two cases were reported to be women.
A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care told AFP that cases have been increasing since May this year.
Australia has responded by lifting restrictions on who can be vaccinated, allowing for “people of all ages who are at risk of exposure to mpox” to be eligible.
