Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
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Thu, Feb 29 at 1:33 PM
Roundup and analysis of the top headlines on health security, pandemic preparedness, COVID-19, and other news from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
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February 29, 2024
TOP NEWS
US CDC recommends additional dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine this spring
Individuals aged 65 and older in the US should receive an additional dose of the updated 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccine. The US CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) approved that recommendation (11 yes, 1 no, 1 abstention) at a meeting yesterday, and CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen endorsed the decision the same day. Older adults can get an extra dose at least 4 months after their previous vaccination, while people with conditions that compromise their immune systems can get another dose at least 2 months after the last dose. The CDC recommendation means insurance companies should cover a second shot for those who are eligible and have coverage. About 42% of older adults have received the updated shot since it became available in September 2023, nearly double the rate for all adults, according to CDC data.
The recommendation’s language—which uses “should”—differs from CDC guidance that last year said older adults “may” get a spring booster. The change was made to make clearer—to those in the age group as well as to doctors and pharmacists who can offer the shots—that getting another dose will reduce the risk of severe disease or death from COVID-19, advisory panel members said. Data show that older adults face higher risks of severe COVID-19 outcomes, and those aged 75 and older are most likely to die of COVID-19. A spring shot likely will be most beneficial to those who never got a fall dose, those who have chronic health conditions like heart disease, and people living in long-term care facilities or other close living arrangements. Updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2024–2025 winter season may be available later this year, according to an FDA official at the meeting.
Florida's response to measles outbreak raises concern among public health experts; UK to launch ad campaign urging child vaccinations
Globally, measles cases surged by 79% last year, mostly among children, threatening to reverse the decline in measles deaths from 2000 to 2018. Across the US, there have been around 3 dozen cases in 15 states this year. While health officials in Philadelphia this week marked the end to an outbreak there that infected 9 people between December 2023 and January 2024, public health experts continue to express concern over rising numbers, especially in areas with low vaccination rates.
In Florida, a measles outbreak that began in mid-February at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Broward County in South Florida has grown to at least 9 cases in the county and 1 case in Polk County in Central Florida. Public health experts are worried about Florida's response, as the state's surgeon general has flouted well-established guidance, including not strongly advocating for vaccination or quarantine of unvaccinated children and leaving that decision up to parents. US Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida’s 25th congressional district this week called for the state’s surgeon general to be removed from his post over his response to the outbreak.
In the UK, where a measles outbreak has grown to more than 600 cases since October, health officials announced an advertising campaign intended to boost vaccination rates among children. Measles vaccination rates there have steadily declined over the past decade, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts estimate that at least 95% of people need to receive the 2-dose vaccine to prevent the spread of measles in a population.
Experts call on pandemic agreement negotiators to finalize Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) System
Negotiators are in the final months of a 2-year process to develop a new pandemic agreement to support a more cooperative and unified approach to preventing, preparing for, and responding to the next pandemic. One of the main sticking points is a lack of agreement over a global framework for sharing information on novel pathogens and any products developed from pathogen samples, such as diagnostics, treatments, or vaccines. Though global health partnerships such as COVAX attempted to solve the problem of global vaccine equity during the COVID-19 pandemic, these efforts fell short.
In a commentary published February 23 in Nature, 9 key experts—including Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Senior Scholar Dr. Alexandra Phelan—said a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) System, outlined in Article 12 of the latest treaty draft, would use international law and innovative contracts and financing to ensure vaccine equity during the next pandemic. Nearly 300 other experts endorsed the commentary. While African nations support the proposal, pharmaceutical companies—with broad support from the US and EU—oppose such a centralized system, saying it would inhibit innovation.
The pandemic agreement should “include provisions for accessing pathogen samples and sequences and on equal footing the equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use, including vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics: science for science, science for equity, international law for justice.” – Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Senior Scholar Dr. Alexandra Phelan on LinkedIn
Other pandemic accord discussions revolve around implementation, monitoring, and compliance; new financing mechanisms; and intellectual property waivers. The current round of negotiations ends tomorrow, with another 2-week session set for March 18–29. However, some expect additional meetings.
Global surge in cholera exacerbated by climate change, lack of vaccines
A global surge in cholera cases is being exacerbated by climate change-related weather events and a critical shortage of vaccines. In January 2023, WHO classified cholera’s resurgence as a grade 3 emergency—its highest internal level. Since then, requests for oral cholera vaccines surged, with 14 countries requesting 76 million doses in 2023; only 38 million were available. This shortage, expected to persist until 2025, reflects not only a lack of interest in a disease that impacts mostly the poorest populations but also an overdependence on a single vaccine manufacturer. That maker, EuBiologics, is working to ramp up production, and efforts are underway to support vaccine production and a pooled procurement mechanism in Africa. With no immediate solution to the vaccine shortage, health workers must rely on containment strategies, such as quick clinical intervention to try to reduce deaths and improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
MORE HEADLINES
International task force proposes framework for actionable, sustainable strategies for mitigating risks of research with known, potential pandemic pathogens in new report
Science: International panel calls for tighter oversight of risky pathogen studies
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: International experts create framework for safer pathogen research
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: A Framework for Tomorrow’s Pathogen Research
Efforts underway to develop broader-range vaccines for current, future diseases
Politico: In search of the one-and-done vaccine
Axios: Startup uses AI to develop vaccines for future pandemics
Providing people with information about vaccine safety, effectiveness could improve uptake, experts note
PBS: How vaccine hesitancy is contributing to rising rates of measles and COVID
Nature Medicine: To understand mRNA vaccine hesitancy, stop calling the public anti-science (correspondence)
JAMA: Misinformation and the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (viewpoint)
Think Global Health series examines efforts to increase pharmaceutical production in developing countries
Think Global Health: Pharmaceutical Production
Think Global Health: The WHO's Push for Global mRNA Vaccine Access
Think Global Health: Efforts Against Flu Show Developing Nations Can Make Vaccines
Think Global Health: Insights from India on Expanding Global Vaccine Production
As US CDC director looks to improve agency’s trust, some experts express concern over reported changes to COVID-19 isolation guidance
USA Today: Exclusive: Health is political, Americans are divided. How new CDC head aims to fix that.
New Republic: Covid Taught Us a Lot. The CDC Now Wants Us to Forget It.
The Atlantic: Why Are We Still Flu-ifying COVID?
US influenza-like illness levels remain high, stable; COVID-19 levels continue to decline; RSV season over
CIDRAP: US flu levels stubbornly high as COVID declines further
Force of Infection: Outbreak Outlook - National - February 26
WHO advisory group recommends flu vaccine makers switch back to trivalent formulation for 2024–25 northern hemisphere season
WHO: Recommendations announced for influenza vaccine composition for the 2024-2025 northern hemisphere influenza season
CIDRAP: WHO advisers recommend strain picks for next Northern Hemisphere flu vaccines
Current flu shot formulation performing well in US this season, data show
AP: Flu shots are doing OK vs. virus, US numbers indicate
CIDRAP: Analysis finds flu vaccine protection wanes 9% per month in adults
Patient advocates, scientists, lawmakers call for more support to research long COVID, develop treatments
USA Today: Millions of Americans suffer from long COVID. Why do treatments remain out of reach?
The Hill: The medical gaslighting of long COVID patients could be nearing its end (opinion)
Science: Solving the puzzle of Long Covid (perspective)
New York Times: Could Long Covid Be the Senate’s Bipartisan Cause? (column)
New York Times: Shining a Light on Long Covid, a ‘Vicious Affliction’ (letters to the editor)
COVID-19 associated with measurable cognitive deficits, worse among those with long COVID, study shows
STAT: ‘Brain fog’ is one of Covid-19’s most daunting symptoms. A new study measures its impact
New York Times: Long Covid May Lead to Measurable Cognitive Decline, Study Finds
The Guardian: ‘Brain fog’ from long Covid has measurable impact, study suggests
Ground Truths: Long Covid and Cognitive Deficits
The Conversation: Mounting research shows that COVID-19 leaves its mark on the brain, including with significant drops in IQ scores (opinion)
More people than expected experience persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection, possibly driving viral evolution, study suggests
Health Policy Watch: New Research Reveals High Prevalence of Persistent COVID Infections
News Medical: Persistent COVID-19 could drive virus evolution, new study suggests
Substantial deficit of diagnosed cancer cases during first year of COVID-19 pandemic, study shows
Washington Times: Study finds up to 134,395 cancer cases went undetected during COVID restrictions
Healio: COVID-19 caused ‘substantial deficit’ of cancer diagnoses in first 10 months of pandemic
See also: Axios: Health care quality took a big hit during COVID, Medicare report finds
US norovirus season underway, with Northeast hid hardest, CDC data show
Health: Norovirus Surge: CDC Data Show Stomach Bug Is Circulating in the Northeast
Food Safety News: Norovirus sweeps the country; CDC says Northeast particularly hard hit
US CDC: Norovirus Regional Trends
Highly pathogenic avian influenza found on mainland Antarctica for first time
Washington Post: Deadly bird flu discovered on Antarctica, threatening penguin colonies
Reuters: Bird flu reaches mainland Antarctica for first time, scientists say
European Medicines Agency committee recommends approval for 2 human H5N1 avian flu vaccines for use in specific situations
CIDRAP: European advisers green-light 2 H5N1 avian flu vaccines
Precision Vaccinations: Europe Recommends Bird Flu Vaccines
Article, study examine threat of H5N1 viruses to wildlife in California, Argentina
Los Angeles Times: Some experts worry California wildlife could be vulnerable to an avian flu ‘apocalypse’
Emerging Infectious Diseases: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses from Multispecies Outbreak, Argentina, August 2023
PAHO calls on member states to raise awareness of dengue amid ‘exponential’ rise in cases; Brazil rolls out Qdenga vaccine; Peru declares health emergency
Health Policy Watch: Brazil Tries New Vaccine as ‘Exponential’ Rise in Dengue Cases Plagues the Americas
The BMJ: Dengue fever: Brazil rushes out vaccine as climate change fuels unprecedented surge
Financial Times: Brazil rolls out dengue vaccines as cases rise sharply
Reuters: Peru declares health emergency as dengue outbreak 'imminent'
Outbreak News Today: Peru reports a near doubling of dengue early in 2024
Takeda, Biological E. Limited partnership will help scale up production of Qdenga vaccine
Reuters: Japan's Takeda in regulatory talks to launch dengue vaccine in India
Precision Vaccinations: Partnership to Produce 50 Million Dengue Vaccines Annually
WHO updates infection prevention, control guidance for Ebola, Marburg disease outbreaks
Precision Vaccinations: 10 Years Later, Ebola Outbreak Guidelines Updated
MedPage Today: New Ebola and Marburg Guideline Addresses 'Inappropriate Practices'
The BMJ: WHO Guidelines: Summary of WHO infection prevention and control guideline for Ebola and Marburg disease: a call for evidence based practice
See also: Science: A Spiking Fever
FROM THE CENTER
Partnerships between CORI, TV stations to deliver respiratory virus disease forecasts to public
This week, the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI), housed at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, debuted the first in a series of broadcasts at WBZ-TV Boston involving infographics that deliver current respiratory virus disease forecasts to viewers within the station’s broadcast area.
This effort, led by Senior Scholar Dr. Eric Toner, supplies TV partners with infographics and talking points for area-specific respiratory disease forecasts, to be delivered live by meteorologists during weathercasts. The data used to generate these forecasts comes from CDC and its academic partners in the National Outbreak Analytics & Disease Modeling Network, of which CORI is a member. More TV partners are expected to incorporate this disease forecasting into weather broadcasts over the coming months.
To learn more about the effort and to watch a recording of the WBZ-TV Boston broadcast, read our news story.
Jeff Kolkey