Americans have less confidence in vaccines to address a variety of illnesses than they did just a year or two ago, and more people accept misinformation about vaccines and COVID-19, according to the latest health survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC).
The survey, conducted in October 2023 with a panel of over 1,500 U.S. adults, finds that the number of Americans who think vaccines approved for use in the United States are safe dropped to 71% from 77% in April 2021. The percentage of adults who dont think vaccines approved in the U.S. are safe grew to 16% from 9% over that same two-and-a-half-year period.
Despite concerted efforts by news organizations, public health officials, scientists, and fact-checkers (including APPCs project FactCheck.org) to counter viral misinformation about vaccination and COVID-19, the survey finds that some false or unproven claims about them are more widely accepted today than two to three years ago. Although the proportion of the American public that holds these beliefs is, in some cases, still relatively small, the survey finds growth in misinformation acceptance across many questions touching on vaccination.
There are warning signs in these data that we ignore at our peril, says Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center and director of the survey. Growing numbers now distrust health-protecting, life-saving vaccines.
The survey results find that less than two-thirds of Americans think is it safer to get the COVID-19 vaccine than the COVID-19 disease, a decline from 75% in April 2021. Over a quarter incorrectly think ivermectin is an effective treatment for COVID-19, up dramatically from 10% in September 2021. Additionally, a small but growing number believe that increased vaccines are why so many kids have autism these days, up from 10% in April 2021. And lastly, when asked when they expected to return to their normal, pre-COVID life, two-thirds say they already have. Three-quarters say they never or rarely wear a mask or face covering.
Read more at Annenberg Public Policy Center.
Friends star Matthew Perry was laid to rest in a private ceremony at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles on Friday, multiple outlets reported. The actor died over a week ago after being found unresponsive on Oct. 28 at his home in a hot tub. His death was initially reported as a drowning. Perry was 54 years old.
Unfortunately, shortly after reports of his death, wild rumors and baseless allegations surfaced across social media platforms that Perry may have died because he received the COVID-19 vaccine. Despite not having any proof, these baseless allegations spread like wildfire, fueled by a tweet Perry sent out years ago revealing his support for the vaccine.
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It was indicative of just how toxic the anti-vaccination crowd can truly be.
Its one thing to criticize government officials who were wrong about the vaccines efficacy. And its another to voice concerns over being forced to vaccinate during a pandemic. But baselessly assuming that Perrys death a person with a long history of alcohol and substance abuse was because of the vaccine is reckless, irresponsible, and, quite frankly, altogether stupid.
Consider Perrys history with addiction that he mentioned in Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, the memoir he published in 2022. The Fools Rush In star admitted to having a sobriety battle that lasted over a decade, including an addiction to painkillers, including, at one point, taking 55 Vicodin a day, Fox News reported. Additionally, Perry had 15 stints in rehab, 14 surgeries, was in a coma for two weeks, and, at one point, was on life support.
But despite this repeated abuse to his body, many were adamant that it was the COVID-19 vaccine that caused his death. Perry beat up his body for years, but anti-vaxxers baselessly claimed it was the vaccine. There wasnt any proof, mind you, that the vaccine contributed to it. Claiming such was just a baseless conspiracy. Whether it is Matthew Perry, NFL player Damar Hamling, or any random person, finding imaginary links between the COVID-19 vaccine and sudden death has become an obsession.
This is just disturbing and irrational behavior.
Its perfectly valid to criticize the government, the science, and the experts for their errors regarding the vaccine. Those who promoted the vaccine as an effective means of preventing the spread of COVID-19 deserve criticism, which I have written about numerous times myself.
However, it is important to stick to the facts. Promoting scary stories that arent true about the vaccine does nothing but discredit the people promoting such lies. And, as mentioned above, suggesting the vaccines were the reason for his death while ignoring his years of self-harm and substance abuse is complete lunacy. These are people who legitimately want the vaccine to be the cause of Perrys death.
Its as if it offers them a disturbing sense of validation. Its sadistic.
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Theres not one shred of evidence that the vaccine had anything to do with Perrys passing. Unfortunately, the anti-vaccination mob has morphed into the polar opposite of the "COVIDphobe" crowd, with each promoting fanatical hyperbolic hysteria of imminent death and doom. At this point, they are two sides of the same coin, each championing their agenda and spreading misinformation. Both ignore reality and are entirely irrational agents of chaos.
Let Matthew Perry rest in peace. Neither he nor his family deserve to become the poster child for whatever current wacky conspiracy the anti-vaccination crowd wants to promote.
A lawsuit by Covid-19 vaccine recipients claiming they were injured by their shots may usher in long-awaited changes to how the federal government handles immunization injuries.
Individuals frustrated by the HHS program designed to compensate them for their injuries are taking their grievances to court. In a lawsuit lodged with the US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, they say the program is unconstitutional, depriving them of their rights to due process and a jury trial.
Lawyers say the move could spur Congress and the Department of Health and Human Services to reform how they handle vaccine injuries, as well as push more of the individuals alleging injuries to not just sue the government, but the drugmakers that the program is meant to shield from litigation.
This is the first domino to fall, said David Carney, a Green & Schafle LLC attorney representing people injured by vaccines. Were going to start to see a windfall.
For years, attorneys and activists representing Americans injured by routine vaccinations have been pushing lawmakers to reform how the HHS reviews requests for compensation. They say that the process, dubbed the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, is in desperate need for more special masters to review the backlog of nearly 4,000 injury claims.
Congress, they add, needs to expedite the process for adding new vaccines to the program, though lawmakers have yet to pull the trigger on legislation thats been several years in the works.
Covid vaccine injuries are not among those currently under the VICP. Those are filed with the HHS Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program.
Created in 2010 to pay out damages for people injured in sudden health crises like Ebola and the Anthrax scare, critics say the CICP program is slow moving, opaque, and poorly equipped for handling the nearly 11,000 claims alleging Covid-related injuries awaiting or in review as of Oct. 1. And with a little more than 1,000 decisions reached, vaccine attorneys dont expect the others to be resolved any time soon.
Vaccine law experts say the path forward is reforming the VICP and bringing Covid-19 immunization injuries under its umbrella. But doing so takes both the HHS and Congress, and attorneys say efforts from both appear lagging.
Adding a vaccine to the VICP is no small feat. The HHS first has to recommend a jab for routine administration to children, and then the agency has two years to recommend that it be covered by the VICP.
In the case for Covid vaccines, the HHS has already recommended jabs for routine administration to children. Through informal conversations with HHS employees, Carney said he and others in the vaccine law space were led to believe Covid vaccines were going to be moved over to the VICP, though the agency has yet to take any action to make that happen.
Now, people suffering injuries allegedly from Covid vaccines feel like the government is not acting in their best interest, and are hiring attorneys, he said.
The burden, however, doesnt entirely lie with the HHS. In order for the VICP to actually pay out for Covid injuries, Congress would have to sign off on taxing the doses for the program, a process that applies to any vaccine added to the program.
Over the past several years, lawmakers have put forth legislation to modernize the program. Earlier this year, Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) and Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.) introduced bills that would move pending Covid-19 vaccine injury claims to the VICP, bring on more special masters to review cases, and eliminate the need for Congress to sign off on a tax for every vaccine added to the table.
In October, React19a group for people injured by Covid vaccines and a plaintiff in the lawsuitbriefed lawmakers about the need for changes.
Renee Gentry, director of George Washington University Law Schools Vaccine Injury Litigation Clinic, presented alongside React19 and has been urging lawmakers for reforms for a decade.
When it comes to getting Congress on board, she said talking about vaccine on the Hill is a little bit like walking on the edge of a razorblade thats on fire.
Its a very, very subtle dance up there, she said, adding its nearly impossible to have a reasoned, calm, specific conversation about vaccines.
An HHS spokesperson likewise called out Congress for not fully funding the HHSs budget request for the CICP, though noted the agency has tried making meaningful CICP process improvement, such as bringing on more medical reviewers and improving communications with people requesting benefits from the program.
The spokesperson also said the Health Resources and Services Administration, the HHS entity that oversees the VICP and Countermeasures Program, is working to establish a table that would list and explain injuries that, based on the statutory compelling, reliable, valid, medical, and scientific evidence standard, are presumed to be caused by covered COVID-19 countermeasures.
Gentry, however, said theres a growing frustration with the CICPs handling of Covid claims, and that the program is not appropriate for anything on this scale.
In total, 12,233 Covid-19 claims have been filed with the CICP. More than 9,000 of those allege Covid-19 vaccines were involved in injuries or deaths. Thats the bulk of the 12,775 claims brought to the program over the past 13 years.
While only a small fraction of Countermeasure Programs Covid claims have been addressed, the overwhelming majority of those1,235have been denied. Most missed a filing deadline.
The program has deemed 32 claims eligible for compensation; only 6 have resulted in compensation, all of which involved Covid-19 vaccines.
An unsatisfactory remedy has now shown itself to be unsatisfactory, said Christina Ciampolillo, past president of the Vaccine Injured Petitioners Bar Association. Theres not a lot of promise that you can point to for changes to the CICP in the future.
Nevertheless, in May, the HHS extended liability protections under the CICP until the end of 2024. After that, Ciampolillo said, it becomes an open question as to whether Covid vaccine manufacturers would be open to lawsuits from people alleging injury.
Theres a deadline there, said Ciampolillo, an attorney at Conway Homer PC. Thats kind of the no mans land that everybody is wondering about.
The lawsuit against the HHS may serve as the catalyst for ushering in change.
If case does move forward, I would suspect HHS would work more closely in concert to finally get these important bills that will streamline compensation moving, said Brianne Dressen, co-chair of React19 who experienced blurred vision, severe paresthesia, and other afflictions after a shot of AstraZenecas Covid vaccine during a clinical trial.
However, should the case fail, Dressen said her group would continue to seek other avenues through the legal system, including other types of lawsuits and applying more pressure in the halls of Washington.
Likewise, vaccine injury attorneys said more lawsuits could follow.
Theres probably a large number of injured people, and the more negative outcomes that are realized through the CICP, I think youll have more frustrated individuals, Ciampolillo said.
The CICP essentially shields drugmakers from lawsuits. But Carney said that given theres not a sufficient legal forum to adjudicate Covid-19 injury claims and that the CICP isnt a suitable alternative to civil tort litigation, it is arguable that pharmaceutical companies could be next in line to be sued.
Very soon, were going to see people sue the vaccine manufacturers, Carney said.
Summary
What is already known about this topic?
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends vaccines against 15 potentially serious diseases by the age of 24 months.
What is added by this report?
Estimated coverage with most childhood vaccines was similar among children born during 20192020 compared with those born during 20172018, with only a few exceptions. Disparities in coverage by race and ethnicity, poverty status, insurance status, and urbanicity persist, with a widening of the gap among some subgroups evident over time.
What are the implications for public health practice?
Universal and equitable access to vaccination will require overcoming economic, logistic, and attitudinal obstacles to ensure that all children are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
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National Immunization Survey-Child data collected in 2022 were combined with data from previous years to assemble birth cohorts and assess coverage with routine vaccines by age 24 months by birth cohort. Overall, vaccination coverage was similar among children born during 20192020 compared with children born during 20172018, except that coverage with both the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine and 1 dose of hepatitis A vaccine increased. Coverage was generally higher among non-Hispanic White (White) children (221 percentage points higher than coverage for non-Hispanic Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native [AI/AN] children), children living at or above poverty (3.522 percentage points higher than coverage for children living below the federal poverty level), privately insured children (2.438 percentage points higher than coverage for children with Medicaid, other insurance, or no insurance), and children in urban areas (316.5 percentage points higher than coverage for children living in rural areas). Coverage with the full series of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine was lower among AI/AN children compared with White children. Trends in vaccination coverage disparities across categories of race and ethnicity, health insurance status, poverty status, and urbanicity were evaluated for the 20162020 birth cohorts. Fewer than 5% of 168 trends examined were statistically significant, including six increases (widening of the coverage gap) and one decrease (narrowing of the gap). Analyses revealed a widening of the gap between children living at or above the poverty level (higher coverage) and those living below poverty (lower coverage), for several vaccines. Socioeconomic, demographic, and geographic disparities in vaccination coverage persist; addressing them is important to ensure protection for all children against vaccine-preventable disease.
The World Health Organization describes immunization as a global health and development success story, responsible for preventing 3.55 million deaths each year.* In the United States, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends vaccines against 15 potentially serious diseases by age 24 months (1). For nearly 30 years, the National Immunization Survey-Child (NIS-Child) has monitored coverage with ACIP-recommended childhood vaccines in the United States. National coverage estimates provide an overall picture of the strength of the U.S. immunization program and insight into coverage with new vaccines. Stratification by sociodemographic and geographic variables allows for identification of subpopulations at higher risk for disease because of lower vaccination coverage. NIS-Child data have been used previously to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on coverage with childhood vaccinations (2). This assessment did not identify any consistent or persistent decline in vaccination coverage associated with the COVID-19 pandemic at the national level. Among certain subgroups, however, coverage was lower during the pandemic period. For example, coverage with the combined seven-vaccine series by age 24 months decreased 45 percentage points among children living below the federal poverty level or in rural areas.
NIS-Child uses random-digit-dialing to identify U.S. households that contain children aged 1935 months. A telephone survey is conducted with the parent or guardian who is most knowledgeable about the childs immunization history, and consent is requested to contact the childs vaccine providers. If consent is granted, a questionnaire is mailed to all the childs providers to obtain vaccination information, which is synthesized to create the childs comprehensive vaccination history. Children born during 20192020 were identified using data collected during 20202022. The household interview response rate** for 2022 was 25.1%, and 49.7% of children with completed parent or guardian interviews had adequate provider data, resulting in data from 27,733 children available for analysis.
All NIS-Child coverage estimates are based on information supplied by providers. Kaplan-Meier techniques were used to estimate vaccination coverage by age 24 months, except for the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) and rotavirus vaccine. Because of a change in ACIP recommendations and an extremely long period of eligibility for catch-up vaccination, coverage with 2 doses of hepatitis A vaccine (HepA) was estimated by age 35 months (the maximum age available) as well as by age 24 months.*** The significance of coverage differences was assessed using z-tests; p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Vaccination coverage among children born during 20192020 was compared with that among children born during 20172018. Five-year trends in coverage and in socioeconomic and demographic disparities by year of birth were evaluated by fitting a linear regression model and testing for the significance of the slope (average annual percentage point change [AAPPC]). Analyses used weighted data and were performed using SAS software (version 9.4; SAS Institute) and SUDAAN software (version 11; RTI International). This activity was reviewed by CDC, deemed not research, and was conducted consistent with applicable federal law and CDC policy.
National vaccination coverage. Estimated coverage with most childhood vaccines was similar among children born during 20192020 and those born during 20172018, with the exception of a 3.3 percentage point increase in coverage with the HepB birth dose and a 1.5 percentage point increase in coverage with 1 dose of HepA (Table 1). The proportion of children completely unvaccinated by age 24 months remained at 1%. Coverage among children born during 20192020 exceeded 90% for 3 doses of poliovirus vaccine (93.0%), 3 doses of HepB (92.1%), 1 dose of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) (91.6%), and 1 dose of varicella vaccine (VAR) (91.1%). The lowest coverage estimates were observed for 2 doses of influenza vaccine (61.3%) and for the combined seven-vaccine series (69.1%).
Vaccination coverage by selected sociodemographic characteristics and geographic locations. Among children born during 20192020, coverage was higher among those who were privately insured compared with uninsured children and children insured by Medicaid or other insurance for all vaccines except the HepB birth dose, which did not differ between privately insured children and those who were insured by Medicaid (Table 2). Compared with children with private insurance (0.6% unvaccinated), a higher proportion of uninsured children (6.0%) and children on Medicaid (1.2%) received no vaccinations by age 24 months.
Numerous disparities in coverage by race and ethnicity were observed. Most notably, non-Hispanic Black or African American (Black) children, Hispanic or Latino, and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) children all had lower coverage with 4 doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP), 4 doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), rotavirus vaccine, 2 doses of influenza vaccine, and the combined seven-vaccine series compared with non-Hispanic White (White) children. Coverage with the full series of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (Hib) was lower by 12.1 percentage points among AI/AN children compared with White children. (Supplementary Table 1, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/134544). Children living below the federal poverty level had lower coverage than children living at or above the poverty level for all vaccines except the HepB birth dose. Compared with children living in a metropolitan statistical area (MSA)**** principal city, those residing in a non-MSA had lower coverage with approximately one half of the vaccines monitored by NIS-Child. Wide variation in coverage estimates was also observed by jurisdiction (Supplementary Table 2, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/134545), especially for 2 doses of influenza vaccine, which ranged from 33.0% (Mississippi) to 85.9% (Connecticut).
Coverage by birth cohort during 20112020 was stable for a majority of vaccines, although a decrease of 5.1 percentage points was observed for 2 doses of influenza vaccine among children born in 2020 compared with those born in 2019 (Figure). Examination of trends in overall coverage for the five most recent birth cohorts (20162020) revealed increases for the HepB birth dose (1.7 percentage points per year), 1 dose of HepA (0.9 percentage points per year), and 2 doses of HepA (0.8 percentage points per year); no decreases were found (Supplementary Table 1, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/134544).
Coverage was also estimated by the five most recent birth cohorts within each category of the sociodemographic variables (race and ethnicity, poverty level, health insurance status, and MSA status) (Supplementary Table 1, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/134544). Positive linear trends were observed for the HepB birth dose for multiple subgroups of children, including non-Hispanic White and multiple race children, children living at or above the poverty level, privately insured and Medicaid-insured children, and those living in an MSA principal city or an MSA nonprincipal city. Increased coverage with 1 dose of HepA (White, any Medicaid insurance, and MSA nonprincipal city), 2 doses of HepA (White, at or above poverty level, private insurance only, and non-MSA), and rotavirus vaccine (Black) was observed over time. No decreases were seen for any of the combinations of vaccines and categories of sociodemographic variables.
In addition, trends in disparities were assessed for 20162020 birth cohorts (Supplementary Table 3, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/134546). Among 168 trends evaluated, six increases (widening of the coverage gap between a variable category and the referent group) and one decrease (narrowing of the gap) were identified. The most common of these was the disparity in coverage by poverty status, with a widening of the gap in coverage with 2 HepA doses, 2 influenza vaccine doses, and the combined seven-vaccine series between children living below poverty and those living at or above poverty.
This report incorporates NIS-Child data collected in 2022 to assess vaccination coverage, disparities in vaccination coverage, and 5-year trends in coverage and disparities in coverage among children born during 20162020. For most recommended childhood vaccines, coverage has remained high and stable for a number of years. Among children born during 20192020, coverage exceeded 70% for all vaccines except 2 doses of influenza vaccine (61.3%) and the combined seven-vaccine series (69.1%). HepB birth dose coverage has been trending upward for several years, exceeding 80% for the first time in 2019. Coverage with 1 dose of HepA has increased more slowly, but if the current trend continues, coverage will exceed 90% among children born in 2022. Among children born during 20192020, Healthy People 2030 objectives have been met for coverage with 1 dose of MMR by age 24 months (90.8%) and for the proportion of children who receive no recommended vaccines by age 24 months (1.3%), but not for coverage with 4 DTaP doses (90.0%).
Disparities persist in vaccination coverage by race and ethnicity, poverty status, MSA status, and health insurance status and are often substantial. Lower coverage with the full series of Hib among AI/AN children compared with White children is particularly concerning given the sharply elevated incidence of Hib disease in the AI/AN population. The largest observed coverage disparities were for 2 doses of influenza; influenza vaccination coverage varied widely by jurisdiction as well, with a range of 52.9 percentage points across the United States. Analysis of 5-year trends revealed that only a small proportion of the disparities involving sociodemographic variables changed over time, although it appears that children living below the poverty level might be losing ground compared with children with higher family incomes. Disparities such as these have been documented previously (3,4). Concern over financial barriers to vaccination led to the creation of the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program,***** which covers the cost of recommended vaccines for eligible children. The program appeared successful in reducing racial and ethnic disparities in coverage (5), but additional efforts will be needed to close the remaining coverage gaps. CDC is currently working with partners, such as state Medicaid programs, the Indian Health Service, and the Association of Immunization Managers, to increase awareness of the VFC program (6).
Universal and equitable access to vaccination will require overcoming often interrelated economic, logistical, and attitudinal obstacles. Interviews with parents identified issues such as appointment scheduling challenges, incomplete knowledge of the schedule of recommended vaccines, limited availability and high cost of child care for other children in the household, and lack of transportation as factors that limit access to care (7). Strategies that have been found useful in addressing barriers to vaccination include identifying venues other than physician offices for the administration of vaccines (such as health departments, child care centers, and pharmacies), strong provider recommendations, reminder and recall interventions, standing orders, vaccination status review at every health care encounter, and expanded use of immunization information systems to provide consolidated immunization histories (8,9).
The findings in this report are subject to at least three limitations. First, the low household interview response rate (21%25% over survey years 20182022) and the availability of adequate provider data for only 49%54% of those who completed interviews during these survey years creates the possibility of selection bias. Second, use of weighting to account for nonresponse and households without telephones might not have completely eliminated bias because of these factors. Finally, coverage estimates could be incorrect if some providers did not return vaccination history questionnaires or if administered vaccines were not documented accurately. Total survey error for the 2022 survey year data was assessed and demonstrated that coverage was underestimated by 1.7 percentage points for 1 dose of MMR, 3.3 percentage points for the HepB birth dose, and 9.2 percentage points for the combined seven-vaccine series (10). An analysis of change in bias of vaccination coverage estimates from 2021 to 2022 determined that a meaningful change in bias was unlikely.
Overall coverage with recommended childhood vaccinations remains high; however, persistent disparities in coverage among children in racial and ethnic minority groups, as well as those who are not privately insured, who live in rural areas, and who live below the poverty level must be addressed to ensure that all children are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. Data from immunization information systems can be used to identify local areas and population subgroups with lower vaccination coverage; children in these groups might be more susceptible to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. More extensive use of the VFC program, interventions to improve vaccine confidence, enhanced flexibility in scheduling vaccination appointments, and expanded options for the place of vaccination will aid in making the U.S. immunization program more accessible and equitable for all (79).
1Immunization Services Division, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC.
Abbreviations: DTaP=diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine; HepA=hepatitis A vaccine; HepB=hepatitis B vaccine; Hib=Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine; MMR=measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine; PCV=pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; VAR=varicella vaccine. * Includes vaccinations received by age 24 months, except for the HepB birth dose, rotavirus vaccination, and 2 HepA doses by age 35 months. For all vaccines except the HepB birth dose and rotavirus vaccination, the Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate vaccination coverage to account for children whose vaccination history was ascertained before age 24 months (35 months for 2 HepA doses). Data for the 2017 birth year are from survey years 2018, 2019, and 2020; data for the 2018 birth year are from survey years 2019, 2020, and 2021; data for 2019 birth year are from survey years 2020, 2021, and 2022; data for the 2020 birth year are considered preliminary and are from survey years 2021 and 2022 (data from survey year 2023 are not yet available). Includes children who might have been vaccinated with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids vaccine or diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, and pertussis vaccine. Healthy People 2030 target for 4 doses of DTaP by age 2 years is 90%. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/vaccination Includes children who might have been vaccinated with MMR and varicella combination vaccine. Healthy People 2030 target for 1 dose of MMR by age 2 years is 90.8%. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/vaccination ** Hib primary series: receipt of 2 or 3 doses, depending on product type received; full series: primary series and booster dose, which includes receipt of 3 or 4 doses, depending on product type received. One dose HepB administered from birth through age 3 days. Statistically significantly different (p<0.05) from zero. Before 2020, the first Hep A dose was recommended at age 1223 months, with the second dose given 618 months after the first, depending upon the product type received. In 2020, recommendation revised to 2 doses between ages 12 and 23 months, 6 months apart. Because children in this analysis were vaccinated under both recommendations, coverage estimates for both 24 months and 35 months are provided. *** Includes 2 doses of Rotarix monovalent rotavirus vaccine or 3 doses of RotaTeq pentavalent rotavirus vaccine; if any dose in the series is either RotaTeq or unknown, the default is to a 3-dose series. The maximum age for the final rotavirus dose is 8 months, 0 days. Influenza vaccine doses must be 24 days apart (4 weeks with a 4-day grace period); doses could have been received during two influenza seasons. The combined seven-vaccine series (4:3:1:3*:3:1:4) includes 4 doses of DTaP, 3 doses of poliovirus vaccine, 1 dose of measles-containing vaccine, the full series of Hib (3 or 4 doses, depending on product type), 3 doses of HepB, 1 dose of VAR, and 4 doses of PCV. Healthy People 2030 target for children who get no recommended vaccines by age 2 years is 1.3%. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/vaccination
Abbreviations: DTaP=diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine; HepA=hepatitis A vaccine; HepB=hepatitis B vaccine; Hib=Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine; MMR=measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine; PCV=pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; Ref = referent group; VAR=varicella vaccine. * Includes vaccinations received by age 24 months, except for the HepB birth dose, rotavirus vaccination, and 2 HepA doses by age 35 months. For all vaccines except the HepB birth dose and rotavirus vaccination, the Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate vaccination coverage to account for children whose vaccination history was ascertained before age 24 months (35 months for 2 HepA doses). Data for the 2019 birth year are from survey years 2020, 2021, and 2022; data for the 2020 birth year are considered preliminary and are from survey years 2021 and 2022 (data from survey year 2023 are not yet available). Childrens health insurance status was reported by parent or guardian. Other insurance includes the Childrens Health Insurance Program, military insurance, coverage through the Indian Health Service, and any other type of health insurance not mentioned elsewhere. Includes children who might have been vaccinated with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids vaccine or diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, and pertussis vaccine. ** Statistically significant (p<0.05) difference compared with the Ref. Includes children who might have been vaccinated with MMR and VAR combination vaccine. Hib primary series: receipt of 2 or 3 doses, depending on product type received; full series: primary series and booster dose, which includes receipt of 3 or 4 doses, depending on product type received. One dose HepB administered from birth through age 3 days. *** Before 2020, the first Hep A dose was recommended at age 1223 months, with the second dose given 618 months after the first, depending upon the product type received. In 2020, recommendation was revised to 2 doses between ages 12 and 23 months, 6 months apart. Because children in this analysis were vaccinated under both recommendations, coverage estimates for both 24 months and 35 months are provided. Estimate was not available because the unweighted sample size for the denominator was <30, 95% CI half width divided by the estimate was >0.588, or 95% CI half-width was 10. Includes 2 doses of Rotarix monovalent rotavirus vaccine or 3 doses of RotaTeq pentavalent rotavirus vaccine; if any dose in the series is either RotaTeq or unknown, the default is to a 3-dose series. The maximum age for the final rotavirus dose is 8 months, 0 days. Influenza vaccine doses must be 24 days apart (4 weeks with a 4-day grace period); doses could have been received during two influenza seasons. **** The combined seven-vaccine series (4:3:1:3*:3:1:4) includes 4 doses of DTaP, 3 doses of poliovirus vaccine, 1 dose of measles-containing vaccine, the full series of Hib (3 or 4 doses, depending on product type), 3 doses of HepB, 1 dose of VAR, and 4 doses of PCV.
Abbreviations: DTaP = diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine; HepA = hepatitis A vaccine; HepB = hepatitis B vaccine; Hib = Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine; MMR = measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine; PCV = pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; VAR = varicella vaccine.
* Includes vaccinations received by age 24 months, except for the HepB birth dose, rotavirus vaccination, and 2 HepA doses by 35 months. For all vaccines except the HepB birth dose and rotavirus vaccination, the Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate vaccination coverage to account for children whose vaccination history was ascertained before age 24 months (35 months for 2 HepA doses).
Includes children who might have been vaccinated with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids vaccine or diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, and pertussis vaccine.
Includes children who might have been vaccinated with MMR and varicella combination vaccine.
Hib full series: primary series and booster dose, which includes receipt of 3 or 4 doses, depending on product type received.
** One dose HepB administered from birth through age 3 days.
Includes 2 doses of Rotarix monovalent rotavirus vaccine or 3 doses of RotaTeq pentavalent rotavirus vaccine; if any dose in the series is either RotaTeq or unknown, the default is to a 3-dose series. The maximum age for the final rotavirus dose is 8 months, 0 days.
Influenza vaccine doses must be 24 days apart (4 weeks with a 4-day grace period); doses could have been received during two influenza seasons.
The combined seven-vaccine series (4:3:1:3*:3:1:4) includes 4 doses of DTaP, 3 doses of poliovirus vaccine, 1 dose of measles-containing vaccine, the full series of Hib (3 or 4 doses, depending on product type), 3 doses of HepB, 1 dose of VAR, and 4 doses of PCV.
*** Children born in 2011 are included in survey years 2012, 2013, and 2014; children born in 2012 are included in survey years 2013, 2014, and 2015; children born in 2013 are included in survey years 2014, 2015, and 2016, children born in 2014 are included in survey years 2015, 2016, and 2017; children born in 2015 are included in survey years 2016, 2017, and 2018; children born in 2016 are included in survey years 2017, 2018, and 2019; children born in 2017 are included in survey years 2018, 2019 and 2020; children born in 2018 are included in survey years 2019 and 2020, and 2021; children born in 2019 are included in survey years 2020, 2021, and 2022; data for children born in 2020 are considered preliminary and are from survey years 2021 and 2022 (data from survey year 2023 are not yet available).
Suggested citation for this article: Hill HA, Yankey D, Elam-Evans LD, Chen M, Singleton JA. Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months Among Children Born in 2019 and 2020 National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 20202022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:11901196. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7244a3.
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By Kim Polacek, APR, CPRC - November 05, 2023
Personalized cancer vaccines to treat cancer are an emerging area of cancer research. This type of therapy engages the immune systems cells to attack a tumor by exposing them to unique proteins or antigens expressed by a cancer cell. The vaccines have shown promise in the treatment of solid tumor malignancies, but there continues to be a need to optimize this complex therapeutic approach.
Moffitt Cancer Center researchers are working to improve the efficacy of neoantigen-targeted cancer vaccines by better understanding whether primary or metastatic tumors should be used to produce the personalized vaccine. They launched a study evaluating primary and metastatic tumors pairs from 45 patients with several solid tumor types, including melanoma, bladder, head and neck cancers, and non-small cell lung cancer. Whole exome sequencing was used to identify somatic alterations, which are genetic mutations or DNA alterations that may impact the type of antigens produced by the cancer cells that can then be targeted by the vaccine.
Results presented at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer annual meeting show that melanoma, bladder and head and neck tumors share a high percentage of mutations between primary and metastatic tumors. However, other solid tumors, such as esophageal and non-small cell lung cancer, share less.
Our analysis demonstrates genetic variations that exist when comparing paired primary and metastatic tumors that appear to vary by histology. Variants are potentially undergoing negative selection supported by the preferential loss of out-of-frame events in metastatic tumors,saidDr. Ahmad Tarhini, senior member in the Departments of Cutaneous Oncology and Immunology and director of Cutaneous Clinical and Translational Research at Moffitt. Understanding the clonal structure will be key to neoantigen prediction for effective neoantigen-based vaccines where oncogenic drivers can be prioritized and used to determine the primary clones.
Tarhini and the Moffitt team are continuing this work, expanding their study to include paired tumor samples from 600 additional patients.
When COVID-19 vaccination was introduced in Ghana, Gershon Kwame Osei, a religious leader from Ave-Dakpa Community in the Akatsi North District of Ghanas Volta region was one of the influential voices against the vaccine due to myths and superstition.
Now, his advocacy and social mobilization work along with many others is generating demand and driving people towards taking the COVID-19 vaccination. Osei is one of 900 community-based volunteers (CBVs) trained by the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health (GCNH) working in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Thanks to the work of the community volunteers, over 80 000 people were vaccinated over the three-month, between 01 May to 31 July 2023, with about half receiving their COVID-19 vaccine for the first time.
Initially, I told my congregants not to take the vaccine because I was hearing that it is making people sick, says Osei. I am now well informed and happy to be helping to mobilize my people for their vaccination.
Health authorities in the Volta region were concerned about the slow COVID-19 vaccine uptake, with fears that the declassification of COVID-19 as a public health emergency will lead to a further decline in vaccination.
Community members question us on why we continue to administer the COVID-19 vaccination despite the declaration of the pandemic as no more constituting a public health emergency. This is negatively impacting vaccination coverage, says Dr Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, the Deputy Director for Public Health in the Volta Region.
The region is among low-performing regions in Ghana with only about two in every 10 of the general population completing primary series of COVID-19 vaccination compared with the national average of three in 10 as at the end of April 2023.
As part of efforts to help Ghana sustain the vaccination drive, WHO with funding from the Government of Canada through the Canada Grant for Vaccine Equity (CanGIVE) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, engaged the GCNH, a non-state actor with representation in all regions to undertake advocacy, communication, and social mobilization in all districts and communities of the Volta region. The main objective was to dispel myths and generate demand for COVID-19 vaccination and routine immunization.
Although COVID-19 is no more a public health event of international concern, the virus continues to circulate and could come back stronger to cause devastation as observed in previous waves of the pandemic, says Prof Francis Kasolo, the WHO Representative to Ghana. We need to sustain the gains, modify the approach to demand generation, and ensure those who need the vaccine, especially persons in the high-risk groups receive them.
The trained community-based volunteers (CBVs) carried out interpersonal communication within the communities and leveraged soccer games to bring the youth together for vaccination. WHO provided technical support to vaccination teams to undertake house-to-house vaccination exercises along with the social mobilization efforts of volunteers.
I thought the virus was no more, so I did not want to go back and take the vaccine. But my encounter with the volunteers has motivated me and I have just taken a third dose, noted Christine Galley, a resident of Ave-Dakpa.
Health workers are confident of the impact of the intervention as COVID-19 vaccination uptake has improved by at least 20% since the rollout of the GCNH project. The intervention has also strengthened community engagement and delivery of other health services.
Community members are demanding other services in addition to COVID-19 vaccination. We leverage the support from this intervention to provide routine immunization, non-communicable disease screening, healthy lifestyle counselling, and distribution of family planning commodities says Prosper Amegadzie, a disease control officer working in Ho Municipal.
Ongoing efforts are already boosting the integration of routine vaccination and other health services with COVID-19 vaccination as sustainable and cost-effective, drawing on the synergies to restore routine immunization coverages to levels before the pandemic, while sustaining the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine.
Dive Brief:
Pfizer had braced for a steep decline in revenue from its COVID products Comirnaty and Paxlovid. Still, the pharma didnt expect demand to drop off as much as has happened in the U.S. The company is now banking on the rest of its infectious disease portfolio to help compensate.
RSV vaccine sales are expected to pick up some of the slack. Pfizers Abrysvo gained clearance from the Food and Drug Administration in May, just a couple of weeks after a rival shot from Bristish drugmaker GSK gained approval in older adults. GSK is scheduled to announce new sales numbers for its vaccine, called Arexvy, on Wednesday.
So far, Pfizer has been pleased with Abrysvos early performance on the market. The shots launch is a contributing factor to the companys non-COVID operational revenue growth, which rose by 10%.
However, Pfizer believes the shot will contribute even more revenue, as it is the only approved RSV vaccine with clearance in maternal immunization.
Sanofi and partner AstraZeneca have an antibody shot, Beyfortus, that is approved for use in newborns to protect against RSV. But earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asked physicians to ration it to higher-risk infants amid a supply shortage. Due to a limited supply, the CDC has asked doctors to conserve 100mg doses or recommend another RSV antibody, Synagis, in eligible newborns.
Additionally, the CDC is now encouraging pregnant people receive Pfizers shot. Abrysvos maternal guidance has a short window of use, though. The CDC recommends it for pregnant people between 32 and 36 weeks gestation from September through January to align with RSV season.
In Tuesdays earnings call, Pfizer said Abrysvo will be available in multiple settings such as pharmacies, OBGYN offices and doctor offices for both older adult and maternal immunization. And with the winter season coming up, the company expects to see good uptake.
Pfizer is continuing to prepare for other launches in its infectious disease portfolio including Prevnar 20 and its mRNA flu vaccine. The flu candidate, originally predicted to launch next year, is now expected to enter the market after 2024.
(Precision Vaccinations News)
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the University of Oxford announced the launch of a new project to initiate early development of prototype vaccines against the Junn virus.
CEPI confirmed on October 2, 2023, that it would provide up to $25 million to Oxford for preclinical and Phase I clinical development of a vaccine against the Junn virus using Oxford's ChAdOx platform
This seldom-discussed virus was selected as an exemplar of the Arenavirus family, which includesthe Lassa virus, Junin virus, Machupo virus, Guanarito virus, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.
Arenavirusinfections are responsible for multiple deadly hemorrhagic fevers with epidemic and pandemic potential. Junn virus can cause Argentine Haemmorhagic Fever, with symptoms including muscular pain, dizziness, rashes, and a 15-30% case fatality.
Dr. Richard Hatchett,CEO of CEPI, commented in a press release, "This new project will harness the University of Oxford's extensive vaccinology experience and its innovative ChAdOx vaccine technology one of only a handful of vaccine platforms proven to work at speed, scale, and low cost to expand the world's scientific knowledge on arenavirus vaccines."
"The project will generate vital resources for the proposed Global Vaccine Library, helping accelerate efforts to reduce vaccine development timelines to 100 days when faced with future threats."
The data and materials generated by this new project could give the world a head start in rapidly developing safe and effective vaccines against Arenaviruses within 100 days of their identification, potentially stopping a future pandemic in its tracks, wrote CEPI.
Chatham-Kent Public Health is reporting that general vaccine hesitancy appears to be at a high amongstlocal residents following the COVID-19 pandemicand a new vaccination campaign is trying to address the problem.
Infectious Disease and Emergency Management Program Manager Marnie Van Vlymen saidimmunization of all infectious diseases must bea priorityin 2023/2024.
She said the public experienced vaccine fatigue during the pandemic and as a result the team has been and will continue to place their focus on increasing vaccine confidence inthe community.
Van Vlymennoted thatroutine vaccines for the many residents without a primary healthcare professional is also a priority and work on this issue will continue into 2024.
"Throughout 2023, COVID-19 vaccine administration has been a priority in accordance with the vaccine booster and guidance schedules provided by the ministry. The COVID-19 Vaccine Team will prioritize the administration of the 2023 Fall Booster to the identified high-risk population through October and will move to administration to the general public throughout November and December," said Van Vlymen.
CK Public Health officials noted vaccines will be available to the public through health unit-based clinics, flu and COVID-19 clinics in partnership with family health teams, and through pharmacies.
Click here for more details about the fall vaccination campaign and to book your appointment.
An ex Deception Pass State Park ranger is suing the state for firing him after refusing the vaccine.
A former park ranger who worked at Deception Pass State Park is suing the state for allegedly firing him because he refused to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
Benjamin Shook recently filed a complaint in Island County Superior Court for declamatory relief and damages against the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Shook, who is represented by Spokane Valley attorney Jung Hwang, claims State Parks violated a state discrimination law.
Shook asks to be compensated for financial losses. The claim states that he should have been placed on paid leave and should still be on paid leave.
The lawsuit notes that the park required, under Gov. Jay Inslees proclamation, that all employees be vaccinated by Oct. 18, 2021. It claims that Shook, an 18-year employee, sought and obtained an exemption from the vaccine requirement on religious basis but was nevertheless informed that he needed to be vaccinated or be fired.
The complaint states that State Parks refused to accommodate, retaliated against, and subsequently terminated Mr. Shook because he asked for an accommodation for his sincerely held religious beliefs.
Specifically, the claim states, Shook believed it was his religious duty to refuse experimental vaccines that utilize human cell lines from products of abortion during any stage of the vaccines development, including the testing phase.
While the COVID vaccines were not considered to be experimental and do not contain fetal tissue, cell lines developed from abortions in the 1970s were used in the testing or development of certain COVID-19 vaccines, according to the National Institute of Health and the Associated Press.
According to the lawsuit, Shook suggested an accommodation of a self-evaluation questionnaire before work every day, social distancing and masking, and periodic testing at (his) own expense, all of which were the standard practice before the governors mandate. State Parks, however, refused the accommodation, the lawsuits claims.
In addition to damages, the lawsuit asks for declaratory relief that a faith-based person who cannot be vaccinated cannot unilaterally be deemed physically unfit for the park ranger profession.
The state Attorney Generals Office has not yet filed an answer to the complaint. State Parks did not respond to a request for comment.
