Moderate or more severe COVID-19 linked to primary outcome while mild, asymptomatic infection was not
Vaccination in Pregnancy Prevents COVID-19 Hospitalization in Infants
Maternal completion of two-dose primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccination series 61 percent effective for preventing COVID-19 hospitalization
Bird Flu Continues Landing in the USA
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed on February 14, 2022, the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in birds in two U.S. states.
In Kentucky, a flock of commercial broiler chickens in Fulton County, and a backyard flock of mixed-species birds in Fauquier County, Virginia, were infected with HPAI.
Polio Eradication Continues in Africa and Mediterranean Countries
The Regional Subcommittee on Polio Eradication and Outbreaks declared on February 9, 2022, the constant circulation of any strain of poliovirus to be a regional public health emergency.
The spread of polio in the Eastern Mediterranean and African Regions is a pressing health emergency.
Outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses type 1 (cVDPV1) and type 2 (cVDPV2) continued to spread in the Region in 2021.
Amazon, Walmart Lift Mask Mandates for Vaccinated Employees
Mask policy changes come as a number of states scrap mask mandates as omicron cases and hospitalizations decline
U.S. Senate Narrowly Confirms Califf to Head FDA
Califf briefly served as FDA commissioner toward the end of President Barack Obama’s administration
Antibodies Persist for Infants Born to COVID-19-Vaccinated Moms
Anti-spike antibody levels lower in infants born to mothers who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 at 20 to 32 weeks of gestation
COVID-19 Death After Menopause Down With Increased Estrogen Level
Risk for dying reduced for postmenopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy, with increased estrogen levels
South America’s Yellow Fever Epidemic Disrupts Travel
As the global travel industry prepares to reopen, certain countries are enforcing a decade-old vaccination mandate.
Paraguay's authorities recently announced a proof of immunization against yellow fever would be required for travelers arriving from or leaving for Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela.
These countries reported new Yellow fever cases throughout 2021.
Measles Becomes Endemic in Afghanistan
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently confirmed Afghanistan had joined a list of countries where the measles virus has become endemic.
‘Overall risk at the national level is assessed as very high,’ says the WHO.
The regional risk is considered moderate due to the movement of people into Tajikistan, Iran, and Pakistan. While at the global level, the measles risk is deemed low due to moderately high global measles-containing vaccine (MCV) coverage estimates.