Vaccines

As National Immunization Awareness Month concludes this August, it is a good time to review and update your vaccination schedules before the fall season begins.

Two recent CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) studies show stable overall vaccination rates for 2023 but a decline in HPV vaccination rates for certain birth cohorts.

The 2024-2025 season introduces a new vaccine formula with a monovalent component designed to enhance protection against current variants and reduce severe outcomes such as hospitalization and death.

The companies’ study met 1 of their 2 primary immunogenicity objectives.

A new phase 1 clinical trial will determine if vaccine candidate, MPV/S-2P, is safe for humans, and may potentially offer protection not seen before in the first-generation of COVID-19 vaccines.

In this week’s edition of MMWR, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on the vaccines’ safety profile for each of the FDA approved immunizations and rationale for the recommended age groups.

A single-dose dengue vaccine that is effective across various age groups and independent of prior dengue exposure is essential.

A large English study shows the incidence rates of arterial thromboses and venous thrombotic events decreased after immunization.

A new analysis says if all states imposed such measures it would have saved thousands of lives.

A large study from the Veterans Affairs shows an association between being unvaccinated and a greater incidence rate of Long COVID.

The disconnect between evolving science and medical communication has left people confused about how to interpret public health information, and provided an opportunity for vaccine deniers and politicians to give disinformation on COVID-19.

Emily Hadley highlights study findings showing a higher incidence of Long COVID following initial infections compared to reinfections, particularly during the Omicron period among 3 million patients.

The company acquired rights from CureVac to develop vaccines for influenza and COVID-19 using the mRNA platform.

Paul Radspinner, MBA, president and CEO of FluGen, addresses the safety profile, noting the low adverse event rates highlighting the safety and tolerability of the H3N2 M2SR influenza vaccine.

Adults 65 and older account for 70–85% of annual influenza-related deaths in the USA, underscoring the need for improved vaccine options, as current injectable vaccines show modest efficacy in many seasons.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) both weigh in on the evolving summer COVID-19 season, and strategies for prevention.

Matthew M Davis, MD, MAPP elaborates on how higher COVID-19 vaccination rates may curb the virus, alleviate childhood asthma symptoms, and protect against other common colds.

Despite initial concerns about vaccine safety, the study of nearly 3000 patients found no elevated risk of preterm birth associated with prenatal vaccination.

The $176 million award is for late-stage development of widespread immunization capability against H5 (avian) influenza, should such vaccines be needed.

Boosted neutralization against variant XBB15 fades within 3 months post-first booster in transplant recipients but improves with a second, hybrid immunity enhances, suggesting 3-6 month boost intervals for solid organ transplant recipients.

Novavax, Inc has unveiled promising results regarding its JN1 COVID-19 vaccine's efficacy against emerging virus variants, including KP2 and KP3.

Biopharmaceutical company, Dynavax, is comparing its investigational immunization against a FDA-approved vaccine.

The federal agency says everyone 75 years of age and older should receive the RSV vaccine.

Those individuals who received older versions of vaccines did not see significantly reduced risks of severe COVID-19 outcomes.

The state's attorney general filed the lawsuit against Pfizer for its ‘misleading statements’ about the vaccine.

A recently published secondary analysis sought to evaluate the risk of MACE in those patients who received one or two doses of the COVID-19 following acute coronary syndromes.

A study points to inpatients who were 50 years and older with the respiratory illness suffering from heart-related complications with the largest number of them having acute heart failure. 

The company announced data this morning for its investigational mRNA-1083 vaccine and plans to continue collecting data and working towards submitting a Biological License Application (BLA) for it.

Historically, pneumococcal vaccination in adults has been reserved for those at heightened risk, with adults bearing the cost compared to free childhood vaccinations.

The federal agency’s decision expands the vaccine’s eligibility to people 50 years of age and older, making it the first one for this age group.