Immunisation coverage dipped in 2021 to the lowest level in decades. Worldwide, 18.2 million children received no vaccines at all. We probably arent yet aware of what the full ripple effects may be from the pandemics cataclysm, but devastating impacts are starting to be felt in outbreaks of diseases like polio, measles, and yellow fever. And because of the failure to meet coverage targets in 2021, 240,000 avoidable deaths will occur.
A new tool has been launched to help immunisation stakeholders understand the current status of vaccine systems. The Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) scorecardis a publicly available interactive tool displaying data that enables immunisation managers and advocates at all levels global, regional, and country to monitor the status of immunisation systems. IA2030 is a global vision and strategy, co-created by countries and development partners and endorsed by the World Health Organization, to create a world where everyone, everywhere, at every age, fully benefits from vaccines to improve health and well-being.
Vaccine stakeholders can use the scorecard in several key ways:
Monitor progress toward immunisation targets. Countries, regions, and global stakeholders can visualise how each country and region contributes to meeting targets like averting 50 million deaths by 2030 and use the scorecard to guide decision-making and programme adaptations.
Understand the pandemics impact on immunisation systems. 2021 data shows that global DPT3 coverage fell to 81%, the lowest level since 2008.
Use visualisations to communicate about immunisation systems in high-impact presentations. Downloadable scorecard visualisations encompassing 18 different immunisation indicators at the global, regional, and country level help with communicating about vaccine investments and policy to decision-makers.
At the country level, compare performance between countries and against regional measures.Country pages provide at-a-glance data summarising the status of all IA2030 indicators, including which data is not yet being reported by a country.
Immunization Agenda 2030 Scorecard Dashboard shows Impact Goal-related setbacks in red.
IA2030 was co-created with stakeholders and first implemented during the pandemic, the worlds worst public health crisis in 100 years. COVID-related setbacks on immunisation systems in terms of declining vaccine coverage and other measures have been significant, but the pandemic also presents opportunity.
A silver lining of the past two years can be seen in how countries demonstrated the ability to rapidly introduce a new vaccine one given initially to adults, who can programmatically be harder to reach and track, as well as children. In 2021, 145 countries introduced COVID-19 vaccines. While global vaccine uptake is not yet equitable, in the first year of COVID-19 vaccination, an estimated 14.4 million lives have been saved.
Currently, data from a total of 18 indicators is available on the scorecard and presented at the global, regional and country level. Hundreds of country-to-country comparisons are enabled through country dashboards, and the scorecard also highlights where data are not yet available to encourage comprehensive reporting to assess the quality and functioning of immunisation systems at all levels.
Country-level data can be compared to regions or any other country.
Yet insights can be limited by current data reporting cycles. More rapid reporting of such data could provide opportunities for course correction and resource infusion in real-time. We look forward to this improving over time as data entry becomes timelier.
It is our hope that immunisation stakeholders will find the clear, easy-to-reference data on immunisation system performance at all levels valuable and that the tool will spur greater awareness of programmatic strengths and weaknesses. The scorecard is intended to encourage collaboration and rapid resource mobilisation with the aim of expanding vaccination to all, irrespective of where they live, enabling people across the world to fully benefit from vaccines for good health and well-being.
Alba Maria Ropero isSenior Lead for the Immunization Agenda 2030 at the World Health Organization
Dr Folake Olayinka is the USAID Immunization Technical Lead, STAR Fellowship at the Public Health Institute.
The scorecard is a collaborative effort led by USAID MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership, in partnership with representatives from the IA2030 Advocacy and Communication Working Group and Monitoring & Evaluation Working Group, including specialists from the CDC, WHO, UNICEF, and UN Foundation. Strategic decisions were made by the IA2030 Secretariat and IA2030 Coordination Group.
News Release
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Large NIH-funded study included participants in North America and Europe.
A large international study has confirmed the findings of a previous U.S. study that linked COVID-19 vaccination with an average increase in menstrual cycle length of less than one day. The increase was not associated with any change in the number of days of menses (days of bleeding). Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the new study included data from nearly 20,000 people from Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Europe and other parts of the world who received any of nine different vaccines. For most study participants, the increase resolved in the cycle following vaccination.
The studys principal investigator was Alison Edelman, M.D., M.P.H., of Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. It appears in the BMJ Medicine.
These findings provide additional information for counseling women on what to expect after vaccination, said Diana Bianchi, M.D., director of NIHs Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Changes following vaccination appear to be small, within the normal range of variation, and temporary.
NICHD and NIHs Office of Research on Womens Health funded the study, which was part of $1.67 million awarded to five institutions to explore potential links between COVID-19 vaccination and menstrual changes.
A change in cycle length of less than eight days is considered within the normal range of variation. Although small menstrual changes may not be meaningful to health care professionals and researchers, the study authors wrote, perceived changes in a bodily function linked to fertility may be alarming to those experiencing it and could contribute to vaccine hesitancy.
Researchers analyzed de-identified data from the fertility tracking app, Natural Cycles. Users of the app provided it information on their temperature and their menstrual cycles. They also had the option to consent to the use of their de-identified data for research. Worldwide rollout of COVID-19 vaccines allowed the study authors to expand on their original study of people in the United States. The study included data from participants throughout the world, but most were from the United Kingdom (32%), the United States and Canada (29%) and Europe (34%). In addition to the messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna), participants received COVID-19 vaccines made from engineered viruses (AstraZeneca, Covishield, Janssen/Johnson & Johnson and Sputnik), and inactivated viruses (Covaxin, Sinopharm, and Sinovac).
A total of 19,622 individuals participated. Of these, 14,936 were vaccinated and 4,686 were not. The researchers analyzed data on at least three consecutive cycles before vaccination and at least one cycle after. Data from at least four consecutive cycles were analyzed over a similar time interval for unvaccinated participants.
On average, vaccinated people experienced an increase of less than one day in each cycle in which they were vaccinated: a .71 day increase after the first dose and a .56 day increase after the second dose. Participants who received both doses in a single cycle had a 3.91 day increase in cycle length. After vaccination, cycle length had increased by only .02 days for individuals who received one dose per cycle, and .85 days for individuals who received two doses in one cycle, compared to participants who were not vaccinated. Changes in cycle length did not differ according to the type of vaccine received.
Of the total, 1,342 participants experienced a change in cycle length of eight or more days, comprising 6.2% of vaccinated individuals and 5.0% of unvaccinated individuals. Women who were younger and who had longer cycle length before vaccination were more likely to experience the increase.
The authors called for future studies on other aspects of vaccination-linked changes to menstrual cycles, such as unexpected vaginal bleeding and menstrual flow and pain. They also called for studies to determine the physical reasons why such changes might occur.
About the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): NICHD leads research and training to understand human development, improve reproductive health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents, and optimize abilities for all. For more information, visit https://www.nichd.nih.gov.
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
NIHTurning Discovery Into Health
###
Bundesministerium fr Gesundheit. [National Action Plan 20152020 for the elimination of measles and rubella in Germany] Nationaler Aktionsplan 20152020 zur Elimination der Masern und Rteln in Deutschland 2015.
Rieck T, Feig M, Wichmann O, Siedler A. [Vaccination coverage of children in Germany - results from RKI-Impfsurveillance] Impfquoten von Kinderschutzimpfungen in Deutschland aktuelle Ergebnisse aus der RKI-Impfsurveillance. Epidemiologisches Bulletin. 2020;32(33):927.
Google Scholar
Poethko-Muller C, Schmitz R. Vaccination coverage in German adults: Results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1). Bundesgesundheitsblatt. 2013;56(56):84557.
Google Scholar
National Verification Committee. Annual Status Update on Measles and Rubella Elimination. Germany. 2019.
Christliche Demokratische Union Deutschlands. [28th party congress of the Christian Democratic Union Germany 2015.] 28. Parteitag der CDU Deutschlands 2015. Sonstige Beschlsse 2015 [https://www.cdu.de/system/tdf/media/dokumente/sonstige-beschluesse.pdf?file=1. Accessed 16 Mar2021.
afp/hil. [Lauterbach wants to debate measles vaccine mandate again] Lauterbach will Impfpflicht fr Masern neu debattieren. Deutsches rzteblatt. 2019 [https://www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichten/100521/Lauterbach-will-Impfpflicht-fuer-Masern-neu-debattieren. Accessed 16 Mar2021.
dpa/afp. [Ministry of Health endorses debate on measles vaccine mandate] Gesundheitsministerium begrt Debatte ber Impfpflicht gegen Masern. Deutsches rzteblatt. 2019 [https://www.aerzteblatt.de/nachrichten/101897/Ge%C2%ADsund%C2%ADheits%C2%ADmi%C2%ADnis%C2%ADterium-begruesst-Debatte-ueber-Impfpflicht-gegen-Masern. Accessed 16 Mar2021.
Bundesregierung. [Draft of a law for the protection from measles and for the strengthening of prevention through vaccination (Masernschutzgesetz)] Entwurf eines Gesetzes fr den Schutz vor Masern und zur Strkung der Impfprvention (Masernschutzgesetz). 2019.
Lee C, Robinson JL. Systematic review of the effect of immunization mandates on uptake of routine childhood immunizations. J Infect. 2016;72(6):65966.
Article Google Scholar
DAncona F, DAmario C, Maraglino F, Rezza G, Iannazzo S. The law on compulsory vaccination in Italy: an update 2 years after the introduction. Euro Surveill. 2019;24(26):1900371.
PubMed Central Google Scholar
Li A, Toll M. Removing conscientious objection: The impact of No Jab No Pay and No Jab No Play vaccine policies in Australia. Prev Med. 2021;145: 106406.
Article Google Scholar
Hull BP, Beard FH, Hendry AJ, Dey A, Macartney K. No jab, no pay: catch-up vaccination activity during its first two years. Med J Aust. 2020;213(8):3649.
Article Google Scholar
Lvy-Bruhl D, Fonteneau L, Vaux S, Barret A-S, Antona D, Bonmarin I, Che D, Quelet S, Coignard B. Assessment of the impact of the extension of vaccination mandates on vaccine coverage after 1 year, France, 2019. Euro Surveill. 2019;24(26):1900301.
Article Google Scholar
Rakita RM, Hagar BA, Crome P, Lammert JK. Mandatory Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Workers: A 5-Year Study. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2015;31(9):8818.
Article Google Scholar
Omer SB, Leask J, Betsch C. Mandate vaccination with care. Nature.
Navin MC, Attwell K. Vaccine mandates, value pluralism, and policy diversity. Bioethics. 2019;33(9):10429.
Article Google Scholar
German Ethics Council. Vaccination as a duty? Opinion. 2019 [https://www.ethikrat.org/en/press-releases/2019/ethics-council-increasing-measles-vaccination-rate-by-a-package-of-measures-rather-than-by-mandatory-vaccination/?cookieLevel=accept-all&cHash=5c87d77c3ad2efcd916bb8b9b6a2e751. Accessed 14 Feb 2021.
MacDonald NE, Harmon S, Dube E, Steenbeek A, Crowcroft N, Opel DJ, Faour D, Leask J, Butler R. Mandatory infant & childhood immunization: Rationales, issues and knowledge gaps. Vaccine. 2018;36(39):58118.
Article Google Scholar
Bardosh K, de Figueiredo A, Gur-Arie R, Jamrozik E, Doidge J, Lemmens T, Keshavjee S, Graham JE, Baral S. The unintended consequences of COVID-19 vaccine policy: why mandates, passports and restrictions may cause more harm than good. BMJ Glob Health. 2022;7(5): e008684.
Article Google Scholar
WHO COVID-19 Ethics and Governance Working Group. COVID-19 and mandatory vaccination: Ethical considerations. Policy Brief. In: WHO, editor. Geneva2022.
Brehm JW. A theory of psychological reactance. Oxford, England: Academic Press; 1966. x, 135-x, p.
Sprengholz P, Betsch C, Bhm R. Reactance revisited: Consequences of mandatory and scarce vaccination in the case of COVID-19. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2021;13(4):98695.
Article Google Scholar
Quick BL, Stephenson MT. The Reactance Restoration Scale (RRS): A measure of direct and indirect restoration. Commun Res Rep. 2007;24(2):1318.
Article Google Scholar
Betsch C, Bhm R. Detrimental effects of introducing partial compulsory vaccination: experimental evidence. Eur J Public Health. 2016;26(3):37881.
Article Google Scholar
Sprengholz P, Betsch C. Herd immunity communication counters detrimental effects of selective vaccination mandates: experimental evidence. EClinicalMedicine. 2020;22: 100352.
Article Google Scholar
Sprengholz P, Felgendreff L, Bhm R, Betsch C. Vaccination policy reactance: Predictors, consequences, and countermeasures. J Health Psychol. 2021:13591053211044535.
European Commission. Eurobarometer 93 (2020). Brussels; 2020.
European Commission. Eurobarometer 94 (2021). Brussels; 2021.
European Commission. Eurobarometer 95 (2021). Brussels; 2021.
European Commission. Eurobarometer 96 (2022). Brussels2022.
Eurofound. Societal change and trust in institutions. Luxembourg; 2018.
Childress JF, Faden RR, Gaare RD, Gostin LO, Kahn J, Bonnie RJ, Kass NE, Mastroianni AC, Moreno JD, Nieburg P. Public Health Ethics: Mapping the Terrain. J Law Med Ethics. 2002;30(2):1708.
Article Google Scholar
Article 2 (2) GG [Basic law for the Federal Republic of Germany].
Article 6 (2) sentence 1 GG [Basic law for the Federal Republic of Germany].
Regina Arant, Georgi Dragolov, Boehnke K. [Social cohesion in Germany 2017] Sozialer Zusammenhalt in Deutschland 2017. Bertelsmann Stiftung; 2017.
Federal Ministry of Health, Paul Ehrlich Institute, Robert Koch Institute, Federal Institute of Health Education. [Information material on the Measles Protection Act in foreign languages] Materialien zum Thema Masernschutzgesetz in anderen Sprachen [https://www.masernschutz.de/materialien/materialien-in-anderen-sprachen/. Accessed 11 Nov2021.
b4p best for planning. b4p 2019 III with sinus milieu. 2019.
Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Glossary. ISCED 2011 International Standard Classification of Education. [https://www.datenportal.bmbf.de/portal/en/glossary-i.html. Accessed 21 Dec2021.
OECD. What are equivalence scales? OECD Project on Income Distribution and Poverty. [https://www.oecd.org/economy/growth/OECD-Note-EquivalenceScales.pdf. Accessed 12 Jan2022.
Neufeind J, Betsch C, Zylka-Menhorn V, Wichmann O. Determinants of physician attitudes towards the new selective measles vaccine mandate in Germany. BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):566.
Article Google Scholar
Brehm SS, Brehm JW. Psychological reactance: A theory of freedom and control: Academic Press; 2013.
Dillard JP, Shen L. On the nature of reactance and its role in persuasive health communication. Commun Monogr. 2005;72(2):14468.
Article Google Scholar
Sittenthaler S, Traut-Mattausch E, Steindl C, Jonas E. Salzburger State Reactance Scale (SSR Scale): Validation of a Scale Measuring State Reactance. Z Psychol. 2015;223(4):25766.
PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
Betsch C, Schmid P, Heinemeier D, Korn L, Holtmann C, Bhm R. Beyond confidence: Development of a measure assessing the 5C psychological antecedents of vaccination. PLoS ONE. 2018;13(12): e0208601.
Article Google Scholar
MacDonald NE. Vaccine hesitancy: Definition, scope and determinants. Vaccine. 2015;33(34):41614.
Article Google Scholar
Zingg A, Siegrist M. Measuring peoples knowledge about vaccination: developing a one-dimensional scale. Vaccine. 2012;30(25):37717.
Article Google Scholar
German Standing Commitee on Vaccination. Recommendations of the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute 2017/2018. Epidemiologisches Bulletin. 2017;34:33376.
Google Scholar
Tingley DYT, Hirose K, Keele L, Imai K. Mediation: R Package for Causal Mediation Analysis. J Stat Softw. 2014;59(5):138.
Article Google Scholar
R Core Team. R: A language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna, Austria: R Foundation for Statistical Computing; 2016.
Neufeind J, Betsch C, Habersaat KB, Eckardt M, Schmid P, Wichmann O. Barriers and drivers to adult vaccination among family physicians - Insights for tailoring the immunization program in Germany. Vaccine. 2020;38(27):425262.
Article Google Scholar
Rieck T, Feig M, Siedler A. [Vaccination coverage of children in Germany - results from RKI-Impfsurveillance] Impfquoten von Kinderschutzimpfungen in Deutschland aktuelle Ergebnisse aus der RKI-Impfsurveillance. Epid Bull. 2021;49:629.
Google Scholar
Rieck T, Steffen A, Schmid-Kpke N, Feig M, Wichmann O, A S. [Vaccination coverage of adults in Germany - results from KV-Impfsurveillance and Online-Survey on Hospital Personel OKaPII] Impfquoten bei Erwachsenen in Deutschland Aktuelles aus der KV-Impfsurveillance und der Onlinebefragung von Krankenhauspersonal OKaPII. Epidemiologisches Bulletin. 2020;47:326.
Tabacchi G, Costantino C, Napoli G, Marchese V, Cracchiolo M, Casuccio A, Vitale F, The Esculapio Working G. Determinants of European parents' decision on the vaccination of their children against measles, mumps and rubella: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. 2016;12(7):190923.
Rankin CH, Abrams T, Barry RJ, Bhatnagar S, Clayton DF, Colombo J, Coppola G, Geyer MA, Glanzman DL, Marsland S, McSweeney FK, Wilson DA, Wu C-F, Thompson RF. Habituation revisited: An updated and revised description of the behavioral characteristics of habituation. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2009;92(2):1358.
Article Google Scholar
Srensen K, Pelikan JM, Rthlin F, Ganahl K, Slonska Z, Doyle G, Fullam J, Kondilis B, Agrafiotis D, Uiters E, Falcon M, Mensing M, Tchamov K, van den Broucke S, Brand H. Health literacy in Europe: comparative results of the European health literacy survey (HLS-EU). Eur J Public Health. 2015;25(6):10538.
Article Google Scholar
Srensen K, Van den Broucke S, Fullam J, Doyle G, Pelikan J, Slonska Z, Brand H, Consortium Health Literacy Project E. Health literacy and public health: A systematic review and integration of definitions and models. BMC Public Health. 2012;12(1):80.
Schaeffer D BE-M, Gille S, Griese L, Klinger J, de Sombre S, Vogt D, Hurrelmann K. [Health literacy among the German population before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from HLS-GER 2] Gesundheitskompetenz der Bevlkerung in Deutschland vor und whrend der Corona Pandemie: Ergebnisse des HLS-GER 2. Bielefeld: Universitt Bielefeld, Interdisziplinres Zentrum fr Gesundheitskompetenzforschung; 2021.
Horch K, Hintzpeter B, Ryl L, Dierks ML. [Selected aspects of citizen and patient orientation in Germany] Ausgewhlte Aspekte einer Brger- und Patientenorientierung in Deutschland. Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz. 2012;55(5):73945.
Article Google Scholar
Rainer Faus, Tom Mannewitz, Simon Storks, Kai Unzicker, Erik Vollmann. [Decreasing trust in politics and parties. A threat for social cohesion?] Schwindendes Vertrauen in Politik und Parteien. Eine Gefahr fr den gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt? Gtersloh; 2019.
Fielding JE, Bolam B, Danchin MH. Immunisation coverage and socioeconomic status questioning inequity in the No Jab, No Pay policy. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2017;41(5):4557.
Article Google Scholar
Paxton GA, Tyrrell L, Oldfield SB, Kiang K, Danchin MH. No Jab, No Pay no planning for migrant children. Med J Aust. 2016;205(7):2968.
Article Google Scholar
Helps C, Leask J, Barclay L. It just forces hardship: impacts of government financial penalties on non-vaccinating parents. J Public Health Policy. 2018;39(2):15669.
Article Google Scholar
Hollmeyer H, Hayden F, Mounts A, Buchholz U. Review: interventions to increase influenza vaccination among healthcare workers in hospitals. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2013;7(4):60421.
Article Google Scholar
Attwell K, Ward JK, Tomkinson S. Manufacturing consent for vaccine mandates: A comparative case study of communication campaigns in France and Australia. Frontiers in Communication. 2021;6(20).
Statistisches Bundesamt (destatis.de). [Proportion of children under the age of 6 in childcare by federal states] Betreuungsquote von Kindern unter 6 Jahren nach Bundeslndern [https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Soziales/Kindertagesbetreuung/Tabellen/betreuungsquote.html;jsessionid=2985E7A973D2BE08FFE9E1C294C5B90F.live732. Accessed 1 Jan2022.
Schmid-Kpke NK, Matysiak-Klose D, Siedler A, Felgendreff L, Wieler L, Thaiss HM, Betsch C. Cancelled routine vaccination appointments due to COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Vaccine X. 2021;8: 100094.
Article Google Scholar
Covid-19 vaccinations against the Omicron variant will be available to vulnerable sections of population from Monday.
The vaccine will protect against three strains of the Omicron variant, BA.4, BA.5 and BA.2.
It will be administered with the roll out of the free flu vaccine to those aged over 65 and those aged 12 and over with weak immune systems.
Both flu and Covid-19 will be available at participating GPs and pharmacies and can be administered at the same time.
There are fears that a so-called twindemic of seasonal flu and Covid-19 will overwhelm the health service this winter with 500 people on trollies.
A draft plan by the HSE has warned staff that hospitals could see up to 20,000 patients this winter as the traditional flu season will be marked by an upsurge in cases of Covid-19.
HSE specialist in public health medicine Dr Aparna Keegan said it is very important that all those invited for both vaccines should take them.
From October 17th the childrens flu nasal spray vaccine will also be available free for all children aged 2 to 17 years from GPs and pharmacies.
For children aged 5 to 11 who have not had their primary Covid-19 vaccination, and for those with a weak immune system and due a booster dose, appointments are available at HSE vaccination centres by making an appointment on hse.ie.
Fifteen vaccination centres across the country will continue to provide Covid-19 primary vaccines and 2nd and 3rd booster does this winter.
The most up-to-date Covid-19 figures show the levels of Covid-19 in the community remains low. There were 1,648 cases in the seven days to September 26th, an average of 235 a day.
Responding to questions from Members of Parliament about safeguards to prevent overdosing or underdosing of COVID-19 vaccines, Dr Puthucheary said all providers under the National Vaccination Programme are licensed and regulated by the MOH.
Additional regulations stipulating eligibility criteria, dilution and administration of the recommended dosage for each vaccine have been issued specifically for COVID-19 vaccination.
Vaccination providers are expected to assess their staff competencies in COVID-19 vaccination administration, he added.
Dr Puthucheary said that in the event of any vaccine administration errors and medical emergencies following vaccination, vaccination providers are required to report to MOH no later than three hours after the incident.
Providers also need to inform patients immediately when a vaccination error has occurred, and monitor their health with daily calls for the next seven days to ensure their well-being.
In the event of an error, MOH will investigate and if there are any systemic issues, it will work with providers to review and improve their work processes, Dr Puthucheary added.
He said MOH was currently investigating ProHealth Medical Group about the incident and will take appropriate enforcement actions if there are any regulatory breaches.
"The vast majority of the clinics and vaccine providers do a great job of ensuring that the patients are cared for safely, the vaccines are provided safely with the correct dosage," said Dr Puthucheary.
"We have to identify, first of all, whether this is an issue with individual member personnel, whether it's something about the processes at the site or whether it is something systemic about the overall vaccination process.
"All our data, so far, suggests that the last is not likely, and the vast majority of our doses have been delivered quite safely. Nevertheless MOH continues to review all of this."
NEWS RELEASESIMCOE MUSKOKA DISTRICT HEALTH UNIT************************The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is continuing to offer one-day pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics at locations throughout Simcoe Muskoka, with upcoming clinics taking place from Oct 3 to Oct. 11. Walk-ins forindividuals aged 5 years and older will be available, including the bivalent booster dose for people 18 years of age and older,as capacity allowsas follows:
Wednesday, Oct. 5
Thursday, Oct. 6
Friday, Oct. 7
Tuesday, Oct. 11
GO-VAXX busand mobile clinics continue to operate on an appointment only basis. Appointments for the GO-VAXX clinics may also be booked up to four days prior to the clinic through theCOVID-19 vaccination portalor by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at1-833-943-3900.
The health unit continues to offer COVID-19 vaccinations on an appointment only basis to individuals aged six months and older at theGeorgian Mall, 509 Bayfield St. (upper level) in Barrie:
Appointments are also available at the health unit office immunization clinic locations in Midland, Orillia, Cookstown, Collingwood, Huntsville and Gravenhurst and can be booked through theCOVID-19 vaccination portalor by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at1-833-943-3900.
In addition, the RVH COVID-19 Immunization Clinic at 29 Sperling Dr. in Barrie continues to offer bookedappointmentsand walk-ins from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Appointments may also be booked with theCouchiching Ontario Health Team Clinic located in the Orillia Soldier's Memorial Hospital Kiwanis Building - West Entrance 170 Colborne St., W.
Individuals six months of age and older may also receive the vaccine at somelocal pharmaciesor booked appointments through some primary care providers, and Family Health Teams who are offering the vaccine as part of their regular clinical practice. Pop-up and GO-VAXX mobile clinics will continue to be scheduled throughout Simcoe and Muskoka.
Individuals are recommended to receive the bivalent booster six months after their last dose of COVID-19 vaccine or COVID-19 infection, however people who want to receive their booster earlier can do so at a minimum of three months. As we approach the fall respiratory season,high-risk populationsare recommended to receive their bivalent booster as soon as they are eligible (i.e. the minimum three-month interval) to protect themselves as people spend more time indoors.
Staying up to date with all COVID-19 vaccine doses you are currently eligible for remains the best defense against infection, severe illness, long term COVID-19 symptoms, hospitalization and death.
For more information about COVID-19 vaccination, dose eligibility and booking an appointment, please visitwww.smdhu.org/GetVaccinated.
************************
A doctor who spread false rumours about vaccines causing stillbirths at a Vancouver-area hospital and made other misleading claims about COVID-19 while standing in front of effigies portrayingB.C. politiciansbeing hanged will face a disciplinary hearing with his regulatory college.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. posted a notice onThursday announcing that a citation has been issued alleging misconduct by family physician Dr. Daniel Nagase.
Nagase, who has resigned his licence to practise in B.C., is accused of violating professional standards by "making public addresses regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and related issues that included his making misleading, incorrect, or inflammatory statements about vaccinations, treatmentsand measures for COVID-19," the public notice says.
That includes falsely stating, in public, that the vaccines are dangerous, publicly suggesting that the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin is a safe and effective treatment for the virus, and "making at least some of these public statements while appearing in front of effigies of political figures who were [hanged] from nooses."
The latterincident was caught on camera on Dec. 9, 2021, when Nagase spoke outside the B.C. Legislature while dummies labelled as Premier John Horgan, Health Minister Adrian Dix and Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth were raised behind him, with ropes tied around their necks.
During that speech, he falsely claimed that COVID-19 vaccines are "the most dangerous injection in the history of vaccination."
Dr. Charles Hoffe of Lytton, B.C., also spoke at the event, and is set to face his own disciplinary hearing with the college.
Just a couple of weeks before that speech, Nagase was filmed participating in an anti-vaccine protest outside the North Vancouver RCMP detachment.
He was shown repeating disinformation suggesting there were more than a dozen stillbirths in 24 hours at Lions Gate Hospital among mothers who hadreceived the COVID-19 vaccine.
That lie spread so widely that hospital operator Vancouver Coastal Health was forced to issue a statement making it clear that there was no truth to the rumours.
The health authority also clarified that Nagase has no connection to Lions Gate, and no hospital privileges anywhere in the region.
Nagase's claims about COVID-19 previously attracted attention in Alberta, where he has spent recent years working in rural hospitals.
Last fall, Alberta Health Services issued a warning about Nagase's public claims of using ivermectin to cure COVID-19 in elderly patients, stating that neither the veterinary nor human versions of the drug have been proven safe or effective treatments for the virus.
Nagase's medical licence has been cancelled in Alberta for non-renewal and non-payment of fees, and there's a notice next to his name in the College of Physicians of Alberta registry saying he's forbidden from writing mask or vaccine exemption letters, prescribing ivermectin or from treating any COVID-19 patients.
Nagase is the third doctor that the B.C. college has publicly acknowledged investigating for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines. Though disciplinary hearings have been announced for both Nagase and Hoffe,dates have yet to be scheduled for those proceedings.
Dr. Stephen Malthouse of Denman Island remains under investigation, but the college announced in March that it was suspending his licence to protect the public while that process is underway.
Funding of $11.1 million for two UBC projects that will improve pathogen response and boost the impact of B.C. biotechnology on the global stage
VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 3, 2022 /CNW/ - Pacific Economic Development Canada
British Columbians continue to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, whether at home, at work, or in their community. Throughout the pandemic, science has provided the greatest defense, particularly through mRNA vaccines. These vaccines trigger the body's immune response to help protect against infection and severe illness.
Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister for International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan), announced over $11.1 million in funding through PacifiCan for the University of British Columbia (UBC) to undertake two new projects to enhance the delivery and efficacy of mRNA vaccines.
The first of these two complementary projects is receiving $3.5 million in PacifiCan support. It aims to optimize how mRNA vaccines are administered on a cellular level, improving uptake into the body. This will reduce potential side-effects of mRNA vaccines, improve their efficacy and allow for a smaller vaccine dosage. Research conducted through this project will help to streamline the production of existing mRNA vaccines and inform the development of future medicines across the globe.
The second project, with $7.6 million in PacifiCan support, aims to identify and address new COVID-19 variants before they can spread. Through studying existing variants at the molecular level, researchers will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict and develop mRNA vaccine treatments for potential future pathogens. This project will enable a nimble, home-grown response to emerging COVID-19 variants, helping to protect Canadians, and further solidify B.C. as a leader in the biotechnology sector.
Investing in the health and safety of all Canadians is a key priority for the Government of Canada. In British Columbia, PacifiCan is committed to advancing the research and commercialization of life-saving biotechnology, supporting the regional economy, and building pandemic resilience across the globe.
Quotes
"PacifiCan is committed to supporting British Columbia's life sciences sector andthese projects at the University of British Columbia reflect that commitment.Establishing a home-grown pipeline for mRNA vaccine researchwillnot only save lives, but create jobs for British Columbians and position Canada as a global leader in biotechnology innovation."
- The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
"With cutting-edge research led by some of the brightest minds globally, UBC continues to excel in biotechnology and life sciences research and innovation. With the generous support of the Government of Canada through PacifiCan announced today, our researchers will be able to help development treatments for new COVID-19 variants and improve the efficacy of mRNA vaccines and other therapeutics for a wide range of diseases."
- Santa J. Ono, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of British Columbia
"UBC has long been a major driver of the B.C. biotech sector, but those connections and their outputs really gained international attention during the pandemic. AbCellera, Acuitas, and Precision Nanosystems, among many others, are now major players in the treatment and prevention of diseases. This funding builds off many years of collaboration between UBC and local biotech companies and will enable us to continue developing and refining vaccines, drugs, and biologics."
- Dr. Leonard Foster, Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia
Quick facts
Associated links
Stay connected
Follow PacifiCanonTwitterandLinkedInToll-Free Number:1-888-338-9378TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired):1-877-303-3388
Backgrounder: Government of Canada announces funding for advancements in mRNA vaccine technology at the University of British Columbia
Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan), announced an investment of over $11.1 million through the Regional Innovation Ecosystem program for two projects at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
These projects will focus on advancing the delivery and efficacy of mRNA vaccine technology. The two project teams will work in tandem, meeting regularly and coordinating research to maximize the value and effectiveness of both projects.
Improve the delivery technology behind mRNA vaccines and other nanomedicines$3,500,000
The University of British Columbia will acquire key equipment and enhance lab resources to improve vaccine delivery technology. In partnership with leading B.C. biotechnology companies, UBC aims to accelerate the development of vaccine delivery techniques for commercial application on a global scale.
Through analyzing how mRNA vaccines interact with cells and create defenses against pathogens, researchers will work to optimize the administration of those vaccines. Key objectives in this research project include minimizing any potential side effects, reducing the necessary vaccine dosage, and optimizing the potency of mRNA vaccines, among others.
This work will advance the development of future mRNA vaccines and other medicines. Expected economic benefits of this project include the creation of 70 new jobs, the training of 80 new highly qualified biotechnology professionals, and revenue growth of at least $90 million for the B.C. biotechnology sector.
Grow B.C. biotech by advancing in-vitro and in-situ antiviral therapy for SARS-CoV2 variants$7,680,000
This project will see UBC acquire key equipment and enhance lab operations to advance antiviral therapy for COVID-19 variants. This will involve identifying, testing and developing responses to existing COVID-19 variants and establishing a vaccine development framework in B.C.
Working closely with B.C. biotechnology companies, UBC will study the COVID-19 Delta variant at a molecular level and use AI predictive models to create mRNA vaccine treatments for potential future variants. Through this process, UBC and its partners will develop a pipeline for rapid anti-viral drug development, enabling a local response to new and emerging COVID-19 variants for worldwide commercial application.
Overall, this will allow B.C. to provide international leadership in vaccine research and raise the visibility of B.C. biotech within the global community. Expected economic benefits of this project include creating at least 170 jobs at UBC and industry partners, training 75 highly qualified personnel and growing revenue by at least $70 million for the B.C. biotechnology sector.
SOURCE Pacific Economic Development Canada
For further information: Contacts: Haley Hodgson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Economic Development, [emailprotected]; Amanda Costa, Senior Communications Advisor, Pacific Economic Development Canada, [emailprotected]
In a recent study published in Nature Chemical Biology, researchers investigated the use of aminoadamantane nitrate compounds as anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) drugs.
The United States Food & Drug Administration has approved memantine, an aminoadamantane drug, for the treatment of Alzheimers disease. Building upon their experience, researchers explored if they could target the SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein viroporin channel with a molecular warhead to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. ACE2 binds SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein which establishes the infection, and inhibiting this reaction could yield a novel drug action mechanism to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Aminoadamantane nitrates could act as chemical probes with dual mechanisms. While the aminoadamantane moiety could block the SARS-CoV-2 E protein viroporin channel, it could also target the delivery of nitric oxide (NO)-related group to S-nitrosylate to inhibit the S and ACE2 binding reaction.
Intriguingly, anecdotal reports suggest that aminoadamantane drugs offer some efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. NO-based therapies have also shown promise in human clinical trials for COVID-19 treatment. However, definitive data supporting these are lacking.
In the present study, researchers developed dual-mechanism aminoadamantane nitrate compounds for inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells by S-nitrosylating ACE2. Further, the researchers tested whether these compounds were non-toxic in vitro using HELA cells and in vivo using the Syrian hamster COVID-19 model.
They exposed HeLa cells stably expressing human ACE2 (HeLa-ACE2) to SNOC and assessed SNO-ACE2 formation by biotin switch assay. In other words, they studied the molecular mechanism whereby NO and its related species inhibit SARS-CoV-2 activity. Furthermore, they evaluated S and HeLa-ACE2 cell binding, for which they incubated the cells with purified recombinant SARS-CoV-S1 and S2.
The team tested the efficacy of memantine/NMT1, amantadine/NMT4, and other aminoadamantane nitrate compounds, NMT2, NMT3, and NMT5-NMT9 in a masked manner against live SARS-CoV-2 in HeLa-ACE2 cells to determine their therapeutic potential based on the selectivity index (SI). As positive controls, they used remdesivir, apilimod, and puromycin. SI compares a compounds half-maximal non-specific cytotoxicity (CC50) in the absence of infection to its half-maximal effective antiviral concentration (EC50).
To further investigate the effect of NMT5 on SARS-CoV-2 S-ACE2 binding, the team performed co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) experiments of these two proteins in the presence and absence of NMT5 using an anti-ACE2 antibody.
Human ACE2 contains eight cysteines (Cys) residues, of which Cys261 and Cys498 are present as free thiols. These two are likely available for S-nitrosylation via a reversible nucleophilic attack on nitroso nitrogen to form an SNO-protein adduct. Thus, the researchers also performed site-directed mutagenesis of these cysteine residues in ACE2 to validate the results of biotin switch assays. Furthermore, they performed mass spectrometry (MS) following exposure to SNOC to identify sites of S-nitrosylation.
The study findings evidenced that ACE2, the cellular receptor of SARS-CoV-2 S, could be S-nitrosylated by the NO donor and transnitrosylating agent S-nitrosocysteine (SNOC). This nitrosylation reaction appeared to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 entry, infectivity, and cytotoxicity. Site-directed mutagenesis confirmed that C261A/C498A mutation significantly inhibited SNOC-mediated S-nitrosylation on biotin switch assays, and MS confirmed the presence of S-nitrosylated ACE2 at Cys261 and Cys498.
Of the seven aminoadamantane nitrate compounds tested in the study, amantadine and memantine showed no efficacy against live SARS-CoV-2. NMT5 showed the highest protection against SARS-CoV-2, with an EC50 of 5.28 M and SI of 9.2. Moreover, this NMT5 concentration was within the micromolar amounts attainable in human tissues at well-tolerated doses, as observed in two animal species.
The five M of NMT5 diminished co-IP, indicating that it could inhibit the binding of S protein to ACE2 to a significant degree and that the intact Cys residue was essential for S-ACE2 binding. Either Cys mutation or S-nitrosylation could significantly decrease the interaction of S protein with ACE2.
The researchers developed a novel aminoadamantane nitrate compound, NMT5, as a chemical probe for inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 activity by protein S-nitrosylation. Its nitro group targeted ACE2 by blocking the E protein viroporin channel. These mechanistic insights would facilitate the development of aminoadamantane nitrate drugs for acute antiviral therapy for COVID-19.
Since NMT5 could prevent the SARS-CoV-2 S protein from binding to the ACE2 receptor by S-nitrosylating the receptor in a targeted fashion, it should be able to also inhibit new variants of the S protein from binding to ACE2 because ACE2 itself is blocked.
Moreover, aminoadamantane nitrates for COVID-19 drug therapy could complement other drug, vaccine, and antibody therapies that depend on S protein antigenic sites. Furthermore, the binding of NMT5 to the E viroporin channel may confer the ability to block the spread of SARS-CoV-2 from one host to another.
Doctors have a message forvaccine-weary Americans: Dont skip your flu shot this fall. Its important.
And for you seniors, ask for the special extra-strength kind.
Afterflu hit historically low levelsduring theCOVID-19 pandemic, it seems poised for a comeback. The main clue: A nasty flu season just ended in Australia, often a predictor of our season.
While theres no way to predict if the U.S. will be as hard-hit, last year we were going into flu season not knowing if flu was around or not. This year we know flu is back, said influenza specialist Richard Webby of St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis.
Annual flu shots are recommendedstarting with 6-month-old babies. Flu is most dangerous for people 65 and older, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health problems including heart and lung diseases.
Heres what to know:
Australia just experienced its worst flu season in five years, and what happens in Southern Hemisphere winters often foreshadows what Northern countries can expect, said Dr. Andrew Pekosz of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
And people have largely abandoned masking and distancing precautions that earlier in the pandemic also helped prevent the spread of other respiratory bugs like the flu.
This poses a risk especially to young children who may not have had much, if any, previous exposure to influenza viruses prior to this season, Pekosz added.
This year we will have a true influenza season like we saw before the pandemic, said Dr. Jason Newland, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Washington University in St. Louis.
He said childrens hospitals already are seeing an unusual early spike in other respiratory infections including RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, and worries flu likewise will strike earlier than usual like it did in Australia.
The CDC advises a flu vaccine by the end of October, but says they can be given any time during flu season. It takes about two weeks for protection to set in.
The U.S. expects 173 million to 183 million doses this year. And yes, you can get a flu shot and an updated COVID-19 booster at the same time one in each arm to lessen soreness.
As people get older, their immune system doesnt respond as strongly to standard flu vaccination. This year, people 65 or older are urged to get a special kind for extra protection.
There are three choices. Fluzone High-Dose and Flublok each contain higher doses of the main anti-flu ingredient. The other option is Fluad Adjuvanted, which has a regular dosage but contains a special ingredient that helps boost peoples immune response.
Seniors can ask what kind their doctor carries. But most flu vaccinations are given in pharmacies and some drugstore websites, such as CVS, automatically direct people to locations offering senior doses if their birth date shows they qualify.
Webby advised making sure older relatives and friends know about the senior shots, in case theyre not told when they seek vaccination.
They should at least ask, Do you have the shots that are better for me? Webby said. The bottom line is they do work better for this age group.
If a location is out of senior-targeted doses, its better to get a standard flu shot than to skip vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
All flu vaccines in the U.S. including types for people younger than 65 are quadrivalent, meaning they guard against four different flu strains. Younger people have choices, too, including shots for those with egg allergies and a nasal spray version called FluMist.
The companies that make the two most widely used COVID-19 vaccines now are testing flu shots made with the same technology.
One reason: When influenza mutates, the recipes of so-called mRNA vaccines could be updated more quickly than todays flu shots, most of which are made by growing influenza virus in chicken eggs.
Pfizer and its partner BioNTech are recruiting 25,000 healthy U.S. adults to receive either its experimental influenza shot or a regular kind, to see how effective the new approach proves this flu season.
Rival Moderna tested its version in about 6,000 people in Australia, Argentina and other countries during the Southern Hemispheres flu season and is awaiting results.
