“Mpox strategic preparedness and response plan”.
Published: World Health Organization. August 26, 2024. https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/mpox-global-strategic-preparedness-and-response-plan
Editorial comment: A must-read document from the WHO that provides insights into the first “out of Africa” global epidemic in 2022 and offers guidance on preparing for and responding to such events on both regional and global scales.
“Evaluation of the potential impact and cost-effectiveness of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prevention strategies for infants in Argentina”.
Published: Vaccine 2024; 42(23): 126234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.126234
Editorial comment: The first Latin American study confirms that by either using RSV monoclonal antibodies (nirsevimab) or RSV vaccination during pregnancy has a similar impact and could improve cost-effectiveness by around 45% if priced at $50 (USD) or less per dose.
“Use of a meningococcal group B vaccine (4CMenB) in populations at high risk of gonorrhea in the UK”.
Published: Lancet Infect Dis 2024; 24(9): e576-e583. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(24)00031-8
Editorial comment: In this review, the authors summarize the epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease and gonorrhea in England, examine the evidence supporting the use of 4CMenB for protection against gonorrhea, and discuss the data required for long-term program planning and potential extension to the broader population.
“JYNNEOS™ effectiveness as post-exposure prophylaxis against mpox: Challenges using real-world outbreak data”
Published: Vaccine,Volume42, Issue 3, 25 January 2024, Pages 548-555 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.12.066
Editorial comment: Determining PEP effectiveness using real-world data during an outbreak is challenging. JYNNEOS-TM continues to be licensed and recommended as a 2-dose series. While the national strategy shifts to a PrEP model, PEP following a known exposure continues to be recommended. Additional studies are needed to determine JYNNEOS-TM vaccine effectiveness as PEP, including among different populations at risk of mpox disease including persons living with HIV infection and the optimal timing of PEP.
“Ethiopia Cholera Control and Prevention (ECCP): Evidence-Generation Towards Global Roadmap to Ending Cholera”
Published: Volume 79, Issue Supplement_1, 15 July 2024 Volume 79 Issue Supplement_1 | Clinical Infectious Diseases | Oxford Academic (oup.com)
Editorial Comment: Prevention (ECCP): Evidence-Generation Towards Global Roadmap to Ending Cholera.
“Measles: What goes around, comes around”
Published: The Journal Infectious Diseases J, August 8th, 2024 https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiae397
Editorial comment: We need creative and pragmatic strategies, global political commitment, and the financial resources to plan for measles eradication.
Only through the eventual goal of measles eradication will measles elimination in countries and regions be sustainable
“Potential impact of replacing the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine with 15-valent or 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the 1 + 1 infant schedule in England: a modelling study”
Published: The Lancet, 14 August, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(24)00161-0
Editorial comment: These results suggest that PCV15 might increase overall invasive pneumococcal disease as the reduction in vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease would be counterbalanced by an increase in non-PCV15 invasive pneumococcal disease. By contrast, PCV20 is projected to have a substantial impact on overall invasive pneumococcal disease due to higher invasiveness of the additional serotypes covered by PCV20 than the replacing non-vaccine serotypes. Reduced carriage protection against PCV13 serotypes with higher valency vaccines would amplify these effects.Replacing PCV13 with PCV20 is likely to have a substantial public health benefit, but PCV15 could potentially increase the overall burden of disease
“Effectiveness and safety of the tetravalent TAK-003 dengue vaccine: a systematic review”
Published: Medicina; 2024;84(4):689-707. https://www.medicinabuenosaires.com/revistas/vol84-24/destacado/revision_263eng.pdf
Editorial comment: This systematic review provides insights into the effectiveness and safety of the tetravalent TAK-003 vaccine, particularly in children and adolescents, emphasizing the need for personalized recommendations, ongoing surveillance, thorough research, and evidence-based decisions for dengue prevention and control. This systematic review was utilized by the Hospital Alemán in Argentina to formulate recommendations regarding this vaccine.
“Adult vaccination programmes deliver socio-economic benefits up to 19 times initial investment, according to new report”.
Published: Office of Health Economics. April 18, 2024. https://www.ohe.org/news/adult-vaccination-delivers-19-times-investment/
Editorial comment: This study reveals that adult vaccination programmes can return up to 19 times their initial investment when the full spectrum of economic and societal benefits is valued. The 19x return is equivalent to up to USD 4,637 in net monetary benefits to society per individual full vaccination course. Focusing on vaccines that protect against influenza, pneumococcal disease, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and herpes zoster (shingles), the research looks at the delivery of vaccine programmes in countries that represent a range of healthcare systems, demographics, and vaccine schedules – Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, South Africa, Thailand, and the United States. The report concludes that the vaccination programmes deliver substantial returns on government investment through cost savings within healthcare systems and wider socio-economic benefits. Preventing illness reduces doctor and hospital visits, meaning valuable resources can be allocated elsewhere, and ensuring a healthy and active workforce throughout life can boost economic productivity.
“Optimisation of dose level and vaccination schedule for the VLA15 Lyme borreliosis vaccine candidate among healthy adults: two randomised, observer-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, phase 2 studies”.
Published: Lancet Infect Dis 2024; 24(9): 1045-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(24)00175-0
Editorial comment: A publication of two phase-2 studies, randomized, placebo-controlled, optimizing the dose of a vaccine against Lyme borreliosis (VLA15) targeting outer surface protein (OspA) serotypes 1-6. VLA15 was safe, well tolerated, and elicited robust antibody responses to all six OspA serotypes. These findings support further clinical development of VLA15 using the 180 µg dose and 0-2-6-month schedule, which was associated with the greatest immune responses.
“Population Movement and Poliovirus Spread across Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2023”.
Published: Vaccines 2024; 12(9): 1006. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12091006
Editorial comment: This very relevant study aimed to identify the origin of the Afghan population and their patterns of movement within Karachi, to assess the polio vaccination status of children under the age of five, and to investigate the travel history and guest arrival patterns of individuals from Afghanistan and other regions known to be affected by wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) within the past six months. Their results showed that substantial population mobility was observed between Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as significant movement of the Afghan population within Karachi in the last six months. These findings warrant attention and targeted implementation of interventions to enhance and sustain both routine and supplementary immunization activities within this demographic group.
“COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: Meaning relations between responses in an epidemiological study and twitter messages”
Published: Vaccine 2024; 42(24): 126247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.126247
Editorial comment: In this study, the authors identified open-ended responses on reasons to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine collected in an epidemiologic study, and analyzed meaning relations with Twitter posts according to theme categories using a qualitative approach. Their results suggested that social media interactions can perpetuate misinformation and hesitant attitudes about vaccines. Social media algorithms can intensify ideologic isolation, and strategies to promote the dissemination of tailored health information among social media users should be implemented to promote an overall understanding of health, particularly those concerning the collective wellbeing.
“Phase 1 trial of an investigational Tdap booster vaccine with CpG 1018 adjuvant compared with Boostrix in healthy adults and adolescents”.
Published: Vaccine 2024; 42(24): 126251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.126251
Editorial comment: Acellular pertussis vaccines, though very safe, have shown to have a limited population-based protection as a result of not conferring herd or indirect immunity, hence, a new vaccine platform and/or current vaccines modification is necessary. In this phase-1 study the authors added an adjuvant (CpG 1018) to a combination of diphtheria-acellular pertussis-tetanus (Tdap) in adolescents and adults. Their results showed similar or higher immune responses with the Tdap + adjuvant vaccine with a similar safety profile when compared to Tdap alone.
“Multiple Questions About Protection From Respiratory Syncytial Virus”
Published: Pediatr Infect Dis J 2024; 43(9): 867-8. https://doi.org/10.1097/INF.0000000000004425
Editorial comment: As an addition to our “Coffee with the Expert” section, Prof. Stanley Plotkin provides clear insights and addresses any doubts regarding RSV vaccination during pregnancy, as well as passive immunization for infants.
“The Effect of COVID-19 Vaccination on Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing in Older Adults: A Self-Controlled Risk-Interval Study”
Published: Clin Infect Dis 2024; 79(2): 375-81. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciae182
Editorial comment: An interesting Canadian, retrospective study, in which SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in adults > 65 years old was associated with reduced antibiotic prescription.
“Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children across 16 Latin American countries: A multicenter study from the REKAMLATINA Network”
Published: IJID Regions 2024; 12: 100419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijregi.2024.100419
Editorial comment: This study is one of the largest descriptive analyses of MIS-C worldwide, encompassing an observational, retrospective, and prospective multicenter approach. Data was collected from 84 participating centers across 16 Latin American countries between August 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022, with 1,239 reported cases of MIS-C in children.
“Comparison of protection against mpox following mRNA or modified vaccinia Ankara vaccination in nonhuman primates”
Published: Cell 2024 (Sept 4th). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2024.08.043
Editorial comment: An experimental mRNA vaccine against Mpox developed by Moderna (mRNA-1769) outperformed in animal studies the live virus attenuated vaccine by Jynneos. The new mRNA vaccine, which carries the information to generate four Mpox viral immunogens, protected macaques, and animals displayed less viral lesions than those administered with the attenuated vaccine. The mRNA vaccine also shortened the period during which the animals exhibited lesions by more than 10 days as compared to Jynneos vaccine. However, these results cannot be extrapolated as a superior vaccine, and Moderna has entered Phase 1 clinical trials.
