Pneumonia

US CDC Pediatric Pneumonia Update

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published the latest information on pediatric pneumonia.

Released on December 1, 2023, this data shows the weekly percent of emergency department visits diagnosed with pneumonia is mainly consistent with previous years for children aged 0 to 4 years, with slight increases for those aged 5 to 17 years.

The U.S. National Syndromic Surveillance Program data as of November 25, 2023, indicated that the weekly percent of emergency department visits with diagnosed pneumonia was as follows:

1.7% for children aged 0–1 years,

2.4% for children aged 2–4 years, and

1.5% for children aged 5–17 years.

According to the CDC, these trends are consistent with pre-pandemic years and are likely caused by viruses and bacteria expected to be seen during the winter respiratory illness season.

Separately, increases in Mycoplasma pneumoniae detections were reported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The ECDC reported on December 2, 2023, that the recent increases in observed detections may reflect the typical periodic recurrence of M. pneumoniae in the community and is potentially exacerbated by three years of minimal transmission and detection of M. pneumoniae.

The ECDC's current assessment is that country-level comparisons should be done cautiously as M. pneumoniae epidemics occur cyclically in Europe every one to three years.

Various factors contribute to this cyclical pattern, such as the decline of population immunity over time or the introduction of new strains into the population.

According to the CDC, there are many ways to protect yourself from serious illness during the respiratory season, including effective immunizations that protect against viral and bacterial diseases that can lead to pneumonia.

In the U.S., various vaccines, including the annual flu shot, help prevent pneumonia in children and are available at clinics and pharmacies as of December 5, 2023.

Sub Title:

Pediatric pneumonia outbreaks can be caused by a new virus or pathogen

References:

ECDC - Week 48, 26 - 2 December 2023

CDC Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report - Dec. 1, 2023

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US CDC Data through 11/25/2023; data as of 12/1/2023

Tri-demic Surged Pneumonia Cases in 2023

Karen McClorey Hackett — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 22:14:39 +0000

Reviewer:

CDC - National Center for Health Statistics Mortality Surveillance 2023

The combination of influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) severely strained hospitals this winter.

Although many people infected with these airborne viruses will recover, many develop pneumonia and require hospital treatment.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that viruses, bacteria, or fungi can cause. And it causes air sacs to fill up, making it harder to breathe and for organs to get enough oxygen.

According to National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Mortality Surveillance data available on January 26, 2023, 12.0% of the deaths that occurred during the week ending January 21, 2023 (week #3), were due to pneumonia, influenza, and/or COVID-19 (PIC).

This percentage is above the epidemic threshold of 7.1% for this week.

Among the 2,877 PIC deaths reported, 1,357 had pneumonia listed as an underlying or contributing cause of death on the death certificate, 1,332 had COVID-19, and 188 listed influenza.

Unfortunately, 91 influenza-associated pediatric deaths have occurred during the 2022-2023 season.

The most common cause of bacterial pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as pneumococcus, which usually lives harmlessly in the upper airways.

Most people will recover from pneumonia, but this can take time. Although some people may feel ready to resume everyday routines within a week, this can take a month or longer, and it is also normal to feel tired for about a month.

Furthermore, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pneumococcal vaccines are available to help protect against pneumococcus. These vaccines are offered to older adults, young children, and people with certain medical conditions or risk factors.

Eligible people can reduce the risk of pneumonia by getting a pneumococcal vaccine, an annual flu shot, and/or a COVID-19 booster in 2023.

And since whooping cough, measles, and Haemophilus influenzae type B can also trigger pneumonia, it is essential to stay up to date with these vaccinations as well, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

These FDA-approved vaccines are generally available at most clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

But, RSV vaccine candidates are not yet FDA approved.

Sub Title:

Pneumonia, influenza, COVID-19 mortality above the epidemic threshold

References:

Pneumococcal vaccines 2023

FDA approved flu shots 2023

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NCHS mortality surveillance data January 26, 2023

Pneumonia Fatalities Outpace COVID-19 and Influenza

Karen McClorey Hackett — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 18:05:17 +0000

Reviewer:

Study: influenza immunization on pneumonia in the elderly

While most people know pneumonia is a severe disease, few realize it is causing more harm than COVID-19 or influenza this year.

Pneumonia, an infection of the lungs, needlessly affects millions of people each year.

Globally, pneumonia killed more than 740,000 young children in 2019.

This is greater than fatalities from any infectious disease, such as HIV infection, malaria, or tuberculosis.

Unfortunately, this trend is continuing in 2022.

In late December, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Mortality Surveillance data available on December 29, 2022, indicated about 12% of the deaths that occurred last week were due to pneumonia, influenza, and/or COVID-19 (PIC).

Among the 2,117 PIC deaths reported by the NCHS during week #51, 968 listed pneumonia as an underlying or contributing cause of death on the death certificate, 866 had COVID-19, and 283 listed influenza.

In meta-analyses, influenza vaccination was found to significantly reduces pneumonia-influenza-related hospitalizations.

And the risk of post-influenza pneumonia was also decreased.

And on May 31, 2022, a peer-reviewed Original Investigation published by The JAMA Network found that patients with pneumonia admitted to hospitals with high all-cause readmission rates were more likely to develop adverse events.

The good news from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is that vaccines can help prevent pneumonia, including the annual flu shot.

The CDC's current Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, stated in a recent news briefing, "I want to emphasize that flu vaccination can be life-saving and importantly there is still time to get vaccinated to be protected against flu this season."

As of December 10, 2022, the CDC reported that about 157.61 million flu shots had been distributed in the U.S. this year.

And these flu vaccines are generally available at clinics in pharmacies in the U.S.

Disclosures: Data was sourced from the CDC and peer-reviewed studies. No industry conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Sub Title:

Pneumonia can be prevented with flu shots

References:

U.S. CDC week #51

Study: Adverse Events Among Patients With Pneumonia

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Young Adults

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U.S. CDC weekly flu season report

Pneumonia Outpaces COVID-19 and Influenza Fatalities

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sat, 29 Oct 2022 17:52:52 +0000

Reviewer:

U.S. CDC Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report

As World Pneumonia Day approaches on November 12th, the ongoing effort to reduce fatalities from infectious diseases has never been more urgent.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that needlessly affects millions worldwide each year. Most of the people affected by pneumonia in the U.S. are adults.

Previous U.S. CDC data indicates 47,000 people died from pneumonia in the U.S. in 2020.

And that negative trend continues today.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Mortality Surveillance data available on October 27, 2022, 9.2% of infectious disease fatalities that occurred during week #42 were due to pneumonia, influenza, and/or COVID-19 (PIC).

Among the 2,128 PIC deaths reported last week, 1,164 listed pneumonia as an underlying or contributing cause of death on the death certificate, 949 had COVID-19, and 15 listed influenza.

This NCHS data indicates that current PIC mortality is primarily due to pneumonia, not COVID-19 or influenza.

While viruses, bacteria, and fungi can cause pneumonia, there are better-known diseases related to pneumonia.

Common causes of viral pneumonia are Influenza, Respiratory syncytial virus, and SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

In the U.S., there are U.S. FDA-approved vaccines that can help prevent infection by some of the bacteria and viruses that can cause pneumonia, such as:

COVID-19
Haemophilus influenzae type b
Influenza
Measles
Pertussis
Varicella
Pneumococcal

According to a recent U.S.CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting, pneumococcal vaccine schedules are changing.

On October 19, 2022, Katherine A. Poehling, MD, MPH, led the ACIP review of pneumococcal vaccine considerations. And Miwako Kobayashi, MD, MPH, proposed updates to Clinical Guidance on Pneumococcal Vaccine Use among Adults.

Moreover, these ACIP insights are being tested as the 2022-2023 flu season begins to impact senior citizens.

The CDC stated on October 29, 2022, early increases in seasonal influenza activity have been identified in the southeast and south-central areas of the country.

Regarding when to get an annual flu shot, COVID-19 booster, or pneumococcal vaccination, the best advice is an old one, speak with a healthcare provider to make informed health decisions.

PrecisionVaccinations publishes fact-checked, research-based vaccine news manually curated for mobile readers.

Note: The CDC data presented are preliminary and may change as more data are received and processed.

Sub Title:

Pneumonia is preventable with vaccines

References:

A Pneumonia Crisis

CDC: Pneumonia Can Be Prevented

Influenza Vaccines 2022

Pneumococcal Vaccines 2022

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65 and Over

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U.S. CDC

Pneumonia Remains the Forgotten Vaccine-Preventible Disease

Don Hackett — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 11:54:12 +0000

Reviewer:

CDC: Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today the number of pneumonia-related fatalities continues to outpace both COVID-19 and Influenza.

The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Mortality Surveillance includes data evaluating pneumonia, influenza, and COVID-19 (PIC) fatalities.

As of June 17, 2022, data collected (82%) for week #19 indicates there were 2,074 pneumonia fatalities in the USA, far surpassing COVID-19 (1,103) and influenza (57).

And the CDC reported the current 7-day moving average of new COVID-19-related fatalities (306) had increased 18.6% compared with last week. So as of June 8, 2022, a total of 1,005,823 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in the United States.

Historically, pneumonia and influenza cases produced significantly fewer fatalities. For example, in 2020, pneumonia-related deaths were 47,601, while influenza deaths were 5,943.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can cause mild to severe illness in people of all ages. Viruses, bacteria, and fungi can all cause pneumonia. And these bacteria can cause a wide range of infections—like pneumonia—known as pneumococcal disease.

In the USA, common causes of viral pneumonia are influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and SARS-CoV-2 viruses. A common cause of bacterial pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The good news is pneumonia is a vaccine-preventable disease, and the U.S. FDA has approved two types of pneumococcal vaccines, PCV13, and PPSV23.

However, neither vaccine can prevent every kind of community-acquired pneumonia, but they work against the 30 most common bacteria types.

And other FDA-approved vaccines can help prevent pneumonia available as of June 17, 2022, including:

COVID-19
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Influenza
Measles
Pertussis
Varicella

Unfortunately, the CDC's data shows that in 2020, the percentage of adults who received a pneumococcal vaccination was just 25.5%.

In an editorial written by AMIT A. SHAH, MD, AGSF, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, and published by the American Academy of Family Physicians, current real-world data was highlighted, which is excerpted below:

"With the 2021 approval of PCV15 (Vaxneuvance) and PCV20 (Prevnar 20), the ACIP has greatly simplified pneumococcal vaccination recommendations."

PCV15 and PCV20 are conjugate vaccines that provide durable protection because of a T cell-dependent mechanism of action and resulting memory B cell formation that provide mucosal immunity.

In contrast, PPSV23, a capsular polysaccharide vaccine that induces an immune response via the release of immunoglobulin from B cells, does not result in mucosal immunity, and protection wanes over five to six years.

Compared with the PCV13 vaccine, the PCV15 and PCV20 vaccines cover additional strains that cause about 15% and 27% of invasive pneumococcal disease in patients 65 years or older and 13% and 28% of disease in patients 19 to 64 years of age with underlying conditions, respectively.

'Studies have shown that the overall immunogenicity of PCV20 alone or PCV15 plus PPSV23 is similar to PCV13 plus PPSV23. Therefore, PCV15 and PCV20 are expected to be safe and well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events noted in clinical trials,' wrote Dr. Shah.

The CDC published an updated vaccination schedule in February 2022, highlighting recommendations from CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

PrecisionVaccinations publishes fact-checked, research-based vaccine news curated for mobile readership.

Sub Title:

Pneumonia is a vaccine-preventable disease

References:

CDC: FluView

CDC: Influenza

Simplifying Pneumococcal Immunizations for Adults

CDC: Immunization Schedules

Pneumococcal Vaccines 2022

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U.S. CDC

Pneumonia Outpacing COVID-19 Fatalities During Spring 2022

Don Hackett — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 16:07:46 +0000

Reviewer:

Pneumococcal Vaccines 2022

Over the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has dominated the health industry. But as COVID-19 related fatalities subside, a well-known respiratory threat has become more visible.

According to the U.S. CDC’s reporting on March 17, 2022, about 10.8% of the deaths during week #10 were due to pneumonia, influenza, and/or COVID-19 (PIC).

Among the 1,890 PIC deaths reported for this week, 1,215 had COVID-19 listed as an underlying or contributing cause of death on the death certificate, 660 were related to pneumonia, and 15 listed influenza.

This National Center for Health Statistics Mortality Surveillance data indicates that current PIC mortality is due primarily to COVID-19 and pneumonia, but not influenza.

Furthermore, the 2022 trend data from the CDC indicates pneumonia may soon overtake COVID-19 as the leading cause of respiratory death in the U.S.

Historically, the CDC reported the number of visits to emergency departments with pneumonia as the primary diagnosis averaged about 1.5 million, which led to 47,000 deaths annually.

The good news is pneumonia is a vaccine-preventable disease.

Unfortunately, the percentage of adults who had ever received a pneumococcal vaccination was 25.5% in 2020.

When the CDC published updated vaccination schedules for 2022 on February 18th, it included enhanced recommendations for both children and seniors.

Currently, there are two kinds of pneumococcal vaccines used to help protect people against pneumococcal disease:

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV13, PCV15, or PCV20)
Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)

“As pharmacists, we strongly encourage all our patients, who are at an increased risk of Pneumococcal disease due to their age and/or underlying health conditions, to stay up to date on the Pneumonia vaccine," said Natasha Glidersleeve, PharmD.

"The Pneumonia vaccines have been on the market for a long time and they have proven to be safe and effective."

"These vaccines are one of the best tools we have to prevent serious illnesses caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and to keep our patients alive and out of hospitals,” a Clinical Pharmacist, MTM, and Immunization Specialist for Brookshire Grocery Company.

The CDC says ‘these vaccines protect against many, but not all types of pneumococcal bacteria. Also, the protection from these vaccines is good but not perfect.’

There is still a chance someone can develop the pneumococcal disease after vaccination for these reasons.

Furthermore, an underappreciated pneumonia prevention strategy is the annual flu shot.

The CDC strongly encourages most people over the age of six months to get an influenza vaccination each year.

The best news is pneumonia, and influenza vaccines are available at local pharmacies. Influenza vaccines are available during flu season, typically September- March, while Pneumonia vaccines are available year-round.

Additional pneumonia vaccine news is posted at PrecisionVaccinations.com/pneumococcal.

PrecisionVaccinations publishes fact-check, research-based vaccine news.

Note: This news article edited CDC reports and was manually curated for mobile readers.

Sub Title:

Pneumococcal and influenza vaccines help prevent pneumonia deaths

References:

FluView Interactive

CDC: National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Mortality Surveillance

CDC: Pneumococcal Disease

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Where Did Last Year’s Flu Season Go

Don Hackett — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 20:03:21 +0000

Reviewer:

CDC: 2019-2020 Influenza Season Week 34, ending August 22, 2020

In the USA during Week #34 of the U.S. CDC influenza reporting period, about 1% of patient visits reported through the Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) were due to influenza-like illness (ILI).

This percentage reported on August 28, 2020, is below the national baseline of 2.4%.

Additionally, based on the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) mortality surveillance data, 6.2% of the deaths occurring during the week ending August 22, 2020 (Week #34) were due to Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I).

And indicators that track ILI and COVID-19-like illness (CLI) and the percentage of laboratory tests positive for SARS-CoV-2 have continued to decrease nationally since mid-July.

Regionally, six of 10 regions reported decreasing or stable (change of ≤0.1%) ILI, CLI, and percentage of laboratory tests positive for SARS-CoV-2. However, two regions reported an increase in the percentage of specimens testing positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Nationally, the percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 decreased from 6.2% during Week #33 to 5.7% during Week #34 and decreased or remained the same in eight of the 10 regions.

Furthermore, based on death certificate data, the percentage of fatalities attributed to pneumonia, influenza, or COVID-19 (PIC) for Week #34 is 7.9%. This is currently lower than Week #33 (12.3%), but will likely increase as more death certificates are processed, says the CDC.

Most importantly, there were no influenza-associated pediatric fatalities reported to CDC during Week #34. Unfortunately, a total of 188 pediatric fatalities have occurred during the 2019-2020 season.

Most people in the USA over 6 months of age are encouraged by the CDC to get vaccinated every flu season since influenza infections can create severe consequences.

Seasonal flu vaccines fight infection by inducing antibodies that target the virus’s HA head. This region varies season to season, which is why flu vaccines must be updated each year, says the U.S. NIH.

The most common flu shot for the 2020-2021 influenza season in the Northern Hemisphere are quadrivalent vaccines that protect people against 4 viruses; influenza A (H1N1) virus, influenza A (H3N2) virus, and 2 influenza B viruses.

For more information about this flu season, the CDC suggests speaking with a healthcare provider.

PrecisionVaccinations publishes research-based flu shot news.

Sub Title:

Pneumonia, Influenza, and COVID-19 disease fatalities decreased for Week #34

References:

Influenza Vaccines

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Vaccine to Prevent Life-Threatening Drug-Resistant Infections Receives Funding

Don Hackett — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 12:31:52 +0000

Reviewer:

CARB-X IS FUNDING SPANISH BIOTECH VAXDYN TO DEVELOP A NEW VACCINE TO PREVENT INFECTIONS THAT CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING PNEUMONIA

CARB-X announced the awarding of up to USD $892,000, plus a potential for an additional $6.36 million, to a Seville, Spain based vaccine development company.

Vaxdyn’s KapaVax vaccine candidate targets Gram-negative pathogens and could help curb the worldwide threat of drug-resistant bacteria.

Vaxdyn is using its proprietary technology to develop multi-antigen vaccines based on detoxified bacterial cells that present key antigens in their native conformation.

Announced in a press statement on July 7, 2020, Vaxdyn is the first Spanish biotech to be funded by CARB-X, a non-profit partnership investing $500 million in the development of innovative vaccines, antibiotics, and rapid diagnostics.

“The threat of drug-resistance underscores the importance of vaccines as powerful weapons to prevent disease as well as the spread of deadly bacteria,” said Erin Duffy, Chief of Research and Development of Boston-based CARB-X.

“The Vaxdyn project is in the early phases of development, but if successful and approved for use in patients, it could prevent drug-resistant pneumonia in patients with elevated risk, for example, those with chronic lung disease or diabetes, or patients undergoing cancer treatment.”

“This vaccine would also have the potential to prevent infections in newborns by stimulating maternal immunity in pregnant women, an issue of critical importance particularly in low-to-middle income countries around the world.”

KapaVax is under development as a prophylactic vaccine for the prevention of infections caused by drug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens including Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in multiple at-risk populations.

These 3 bacterial pathogens are deemed serious public health threats.

There is a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections in low- and middle-incomes countries (LMICs).

In later stages of development, Vaxdyn also intends to test efficacy and safety for specific needs in LMICs, including its potential to protect the health of newborns by vaccinating pregnant mothers.

Vaxdyn is working with its key partners, the National Center of Microbiology of the Spanish Institute of Health Carlos III and Laboratorios Reig Jofré.

Vaxdyn’s CEO, Juan J. Infante, said in the press statement, “In this project, we are determined to develop a vaccine that will prevent life-threatening infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria, providing safe and effective immunity to patients at risk and populations around the world.”

An estimated 700,000 people die each year from drug-resistant bacterial infections, and the death toll is expected to rise unless new preventatives and treatments are found.

Pneumonia can be caused by many types of bacteria, including drug-resistant bacteria.

Pneumonia is one of the world’s leading causes of death which disproportionately affects the young, the elderly, and the immunocompromised.

There were an estimated 880,000 deaths from pneumonia in children under the age of five in 2016.

Most were less than 2 years of age. Many of these lives could be saved with vaccines, said the company.

In 2019, the World Health Organization included antimicrobial resistance – the ability of bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi to resist medicines – in its top ten global threat listing.

CARB-X is a consortium led by Boston University and funded by a global partnership. Funding for the Vaxdyn project is provided by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, the Wellcome Trust, Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the UK Government’s Global AMR Innovation Fund, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Since its launch in 2016, CARB-X has announced 66 awards exceeding $240 million, with the potential of additional funds if project milestones are met.

Precision Vaccinations publishes vaccine development news.

Sub Title:

Vaxdyn’s KapaVax vaccine candidate targets Gram-negative pathogens

References:

Vaxdyn

WHO: Ten Threats to Global Health in 2019

Potential targets for next generation antimicrobial glycoconjugate vaccines

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$3 Million Vaccine Development Awarded To Combat Pneumococcus

Don Hackett — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 17:09:14 +0000

Reviewer:

BioGenerator-supported VaxNewMo Earns $3 Million Grant to Advance Vaccine Development

A St. Louis bioscience startup announced it has received a $3 million federal grant to advance the company’s development of a next-generation vaccine to combat pneumococcus.

Pneumococcus is one of the most common causes of severe pneumonia.

In addition, pneumococcus can cause other types of infections, such as bloodstream infections, pneumonia, meningitis, and middle ear infections, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

VaxNewMo said in a press release on February 21, 2020, it has earned a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant, which is awarded to companies to conduct research and development that can more quickly lead to private sector commercialization.

And, this award further shows the commitment and support of the National Institutes of Health for VaxNewMo’s bioconjugation technology for vaccine development.

“This coveted SBIR grant will allow VaxNewMo to advance the development of a next-generation, multivalent pneumococcal bioconjugate vaccine that can cover the world’s most frequently-encountered pneumococcal serotypes at a price tag that is affordable for all countries,” said Christian Harding, Ph.D., VaxNewMo CEO, in the press release.

“We will use the Phase II SBIR grant to establish processing capabilities to manufacture the vaccines.”

Previously, the company published a research article, September 2019 that discussed ‘bioconjugate vaccines targeting the capsule of hvKp that can provide immunity and protection against extremely lethal hvKp strains. Additionally, they discussed that bioconjugation is a promising technology for the rapid development of efficacious vaccines against emerging bacterial threats.’

The new funding also will be used to hire three new scientists for VaxNewMo’s lab inside the BioGenerator Labs.

In the USA, there are 2 kinds of pneumococcal vaccines available today. These vaccines protect against many, but not all types of pneumococcal bacteria.

An unrelated study published in Nature during February 2019, said ‘currently licensed pneumococcal conjugate vaccines are synthesized chemically, which is a laborious process plagued with technical challenges, low yields, and batch-to-batch variations, highlighting the need for improved conjugate vaccine synthetic methodologies.’

This means there is still a chance someone can develop the pneumococcal disease after vaccination, says the CDC.

VaxNewMo is an early stage biotechnological company developing next-generation conjugate vaccines against infectious diseases using our proprietary in vivo conjugating technology. Our platform technology supports the generation of polysaccharide-protein conjugate based vaccines against multiple targets.

Vaccine Development news published by Precision Vaccinations.

Sub Title:

VaxNewMo bioconjugation technology for vaccine development gains funding

References:

A promising bioconjugate vaccine against hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae

CDC: Pneumococcal Disease

A platform for glycoengineering a polyvalent pneumococcal bioconjugate vaccine using E. coli as a host

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Clearing Up Pneumococcal Vaccine Questions

Don Hackett — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 22:48:04 +0000

Reviewer:

Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendation

A new commentary published in JAMA reinforces the changes by the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC)’s vaccine committee in 2019 regarding pneumococcal vaccine recommendations for seniors.

This news article was written by Bridget M. Kuehn, MSJ, on January 14, 2020, saying the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) suggests that adults aged 65 years or older should receive only the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) with a few exceptions.

This ACIP announcement was issued on November 22, 2019, because the pneumococcal vaccination recommendations had undergone several changes, causing confusion for those who need to select a preventive vaccine.

In 2014, the ACIP recommended that older adults receive the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) first, then the PPSV23 at least 1 year later.

Since then, widespread childhood vaccination with PCV13 and its predecessor the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine have “led to sharp declines in pneumococcal disease among unvaccinated children and adults,” according to the ACIP’s review of the evidence.

Based on that review, the ACIP voted to remove the recommendation for routine use of PCV13, followed by PPSV23 in this senior population.

“Incidence of PCV13-type disease has been reduced to historically low levels among adults aged ≥65 years through indirect effects from pediatric PCV13 use,” the authors wrote.

The PPSV23 vaccine contains 12 serotypes in common with PCV13 and an additional 11 serotypes, for which there are no indirect effects from PCV13 use in children.

But, adults aged 19 years or older with an immunocompromising condition, cerebral spinal fluid leak, or cochlear implant should continue to receive both vaccines, the ACIP recommends.

And, some adults aged 65 years or older may have a greater risk of exposure to strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae covered by the PCV13 vaccine, such as those seniors living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities, people living in areas with low rates of pediatric vaccination with PCV13, or those traveling to areas with no childhood PCV13 vaccination program.

Furthermore, the ACIP recommends that healthcare providers engage in shared decision-making with such at-risk patients to decide whether they should continue to receive PCV13 followed by the PPSV23 vaccination.

“ACIP will continue to review relevant data as they become available and update pneumococcal vaccination policy as appropriate,” the CDC’s authors wrote.

This ACIP recommendation is important since about 175,000 cases of the pneumococcal disease occur each year in the USA. And, the fatality rate is between 5-7 percent, says the CDC.

The pneumococcal disease is spread from person to person by droplets in the air. The pneumococci bacteria are common inhabitants of the human respiratory tract.

There are 2 major clinical syndromes of invasive pneumococcal disease: bacteremia, and meningitis. They are both caused by infection with the same bacteria but have different manifestations.

Pneumococcal pneumonia is the most common disease caused by pneumococcal infection and can occur in combination with bacteremia and/or meningitis, or it can occur alone.

Moreover, there are 3,000-6,000 cases of pneumococcal meningitis each year.

Additionally, new research is helping to clarify the benefits of childhood vaccinations.

A study published on October 15, 2019, found a bacterial infection that can lead to pneumonia or meningitis is also linked to weakened immune systems in children. This study found the rate of immune deficiency in healthy children presenting with the pneumococcal disease was up to 26.4 percent.

To address this issue, the CDC continues to say all infants should be given a primary series of PCV13, at ages 2, 4, and 6 months with a booster at age 12 to 15 months.

The CDC’s recommendation of the PCV13 vaccine, (Prevnar 13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23, Pneumovax) should not be given at the same visit.

Since these vaccination suggestions have changed and could be confusing, the CDC suggests everyone speak with a healthcare provider to learn which vaccine is best for their needs.

Pneumococcal disease and vaccine news published by Precision Vaccinations.

Sub Title:

PPSV23 pneumococcal vaccination recommendations have undergone several changes

References:

CDC: ACIP Grade for PCV13 use among adults 65 years and older

Weak Immune Systems Linked to Bacterial Infections in Children

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65 and Over

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China’s 2019-nCoV Reaches Japan and Thailand

Don Hackett — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 12:29:04 +0000

Reviewer:

CDC: Novel Coronavirus in China

Japan’s Health Ministry has confirmed a case of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus which was initially reported first in China in late 2019, which has resulted in more than 40 confirmed human infections.

According to a statement by Japan's Ministry of Health on January 16, 2020, this man was hospitalized because of a fever on January 10th, four days after his return to Japan after visiting the central China city of Wuhan, Hubei Province.

Wuhan is the reported center of the 2019-nCoV outbreak.

Under Japan’s travel protocols introduced more than 15 years ago during the Sars outbreak, foreigners arriving in Japan will be urged to visit a medical facility if they feel ill.

“The (Japan) ministry has instructed quarantine officials at points of entry to be more vigilant for people who display signs of infection as they arrive and to improve their surveillance of passengers,” the health ministry official said.

Japan’s Coronaviris case appears to be the 2nd time the novel coronavirus has been detected outside China, after the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed a case in Thailand on January 13th.

The WHO said that the person was also a traveler from Wuhan, China, and was identified by Thai officials on January 8th. During entry screening at a Thailand airport, she was identified and admitted to an infectious diseases hospital that same day.

The possibility of cases being identified in other countries was not unexpected and reinforces why the ‘WHO calls for on-going active monitoring and preparedness in other countries.’

Additionally, the Wuhan Municipal Health and Health Committee reported on January 16, 2020, a total of 41 cases of pneumonia caused by new coronavirus infection, 12 cases have been cured and discharged, 5 cases are being treated in severe cases, and 2 cases have died. A total of 119 medical observations are still underway.

WHO health officials have also expanded precautions to coincide with the peak travel period around the Chinese Lunar New Year during late January.

The WHO has issued guidance on how to detect and treat persons ill with the new virus. The genetic sequencing shared by China enables more countries to rapidly diagnose patients.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on January 15th, Chinese authorities have posted the full genome of the so-called “2019 novel coronavirus” or “2019-nCoV” in GenBank, a genetic sequence database.

Access to the full genetic sequence of 2019-nCoV will facilitate the identification of infections with this virus going forward. It is possible that more cases will be identified in the coming days.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people, such as has been seen with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

The CDC issued a Level 1 Travel Alert regarding these issues on January 12th, which has been updated.

This is an ongoing investigation and ‘it’s possible that some limited person-to-person spread may continue to occur,’ says the CDC.

Although the 2019-nCoV transmission dynamics have yet to be determined, and the situation is evolving, the CDC recommends a cautious approach to screening symptomatic patients with a history of travel to Wuhan.

The CDC does identify various vaccines international travelers should discuss with a healthcare provider prior to visiting China.

International health and vaccination news published by Vax-Before-Travel.

Sub Title:

CDC recommends caution when screening symptomatic patients for 2019 novel coronavirus with a travel history to Wuhan China

References:

WHO: WHO statement on novel coronavirus in Thailand

WHO: Coronavirus

Government of Canada: Novel Coronavirus in Wuhan, China

Japan: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

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Featured:

Travel Alert Issued For China’s ‘Novel Coronavirus’ Outbreak

Danielle Reiter RN — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 17:48:10 +0000

Reviewer:

CDC: Novel Coronavirus in China

A Travel Alert has been issued regarding the pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan, China by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The preliminary information has identified this outbreak to be caused by a novel coronavirus (nCoV), now called 2019-nCoV.

All of the characteristics of this virus and how it may affect people are still unclear said the CDC on January 11, 2020.

On January 10th, Chinese health officials reported 41 cases of pneumonia. Seven of these patients had a severe illness and 1 related fatality has been confirmed.

And, health authorities in China are monitoring the health status of more than 700 close contacts, including healthcare workers.

This pneumonia (nCoV) outbreak was identified between December 8, 2019, and January 2, 2020. The good news is there have been no new cases reported since January 3rd.

This CDC’s Level 1 Alert indicates that most of these cases had links to seafood and live animal market located in Wuhan. This market has been closed since January 1, 2020.

The CDC says ‘travelers to Wuhan, China, should avoid animals (alive or dead), animal markets, and contact with sick people.’

Wuhan is the capital of Central China’s Hubei province and is a commercial center divided by the Yangtze and Han rivers.

Media reports indicate several countries and territories in the area, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, and the Amur Region of Russia, are screening incoming travelers from Wuhan, China.

The Philippines indicated they are screening arriving passengers for high-temperatures at select airports.

Should an airport scanner detect a body temperature of 36.5 degrees Celsius or higher, the passenger will be led to the quarantine bureau for further evaluation, said a CNN report.

But, as of January 9th, the WHO does not recommend any specific measures for travelers and advises against the application of any travel or trade restrictions on China based on the information currently available.

There are several known human coronaviruses that usually only cause mild respiratory disease, such as the common cold, says the CDC.

However, at least twice previously, coronaviruses have emerged to infect people and cause severe diseases, such as has been seen with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

As of this posting, the Wuhan, China Municipal Health Commission reported case-patients in the outbreak had fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and bilateral lung infiltrates on chest radiograph.

For patients with similar features who traveled to Wuhan on or after December 1, 2019, and had onset of illness within 2 weeks of leaving, healthcare providers should consider pneumonia related to the novel coronavirus outbreak in China and notify infection control personnel and your local health department immediately, says the CDC.

Although the transmission dynamics have yet to be determined, the CDC recommends a cautious approach to symptomatic patients with a history of travel to Wuhan.

Ask such patients to wear a surgical mask as soon as they are identified. Conduct their evaluation in a private room with the door closed. Personnel entering the room to evaluate the patient should use contact precautions, wear an N95 disposable facepiece respirator, and use eye protection.

For patients admitted for inpatient care, implement contact and airborne isolation precautions, in addition to standard precautions, until further information becomes available.

Furthermore, since this situation is evolving, the CDC will update this Travel Alert as more information becomes available. For infection control guidance, visit the CDC’s Infection Control webpage.

The CDC does identify various vaccines international travelers should discuss with a healthcare provider prior to visiting China.

International health and vaccination news published by Vax-Before-Travel.

UPDATE: On January 13, 2020, the Thailand Ministry of Public Health confirmed that a Chinese woman infected with the novel coronavirus traveled from Wuhan to Thailand 5 days earlier, arriving on January 8. During entry screening, she was identified by Thai health officials and admitted to an infectious diseases hospital that same day. This traveler represents the first known exported case of the novel coronavirus.

Sub Title:

Travelers to Wuhan China should avoid animals and sick people says the CDC

References:

CDC: Novel Coronavirus 2019 Situation Summary

WHO: WHO Statement Regarding Cluster of Pneumonia Cases in Wuhan, China

UK Offers Travel Advice When Visiting China

WHO Statement Regarding Cluster of Pneumonia Cases in Wuhan China

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CDC Watch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions

Featured:

The Philippines Begins Screening People Arriving From China

Don Hackett — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 12:32:52 +0000

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CDC: Pneumonia of Unknown Cause in China

The Philippines Department of Health has instructed the Bureau of Quarantine to intensify surveillance of arriving people from China amid a mysterious virus that has infected dozens of people in China and Hong Kong.

As of January 5, 2020, the Wuhan Municipal Health Committee reported a total of 59 patients with an unexplained diagnosis of viral pneumonia, including 7 critically ill patients, and the remaining patients' overall vital signs were stable.

Among the 59 patients, the earliest onset of the case was December 12, 2019, and the latest onset was December 29th. And, the follow-up of close contacts is still in progress.

As of now, respiratory pathogens such as influenza, avian influenza, adenovirus, infectious atypical pneumonia (SARS) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) have been excluded.

Pathogen identification and cause tracing are still underway, confirmed the Wuhan Health Committee.

According to CNN news reporting on January 7, 2020, around 38 to 40 thermal scanners have been deployed at Philippine air and seaports to check passengers from China and nearby countries.

Should a scanner detect a body temperature of 36.5 degrees Celsius or higher, the passenger will be led to the quarantine bureau for further evaluation.

If the passenger‘s fever persists along with respiratory symptoms, he will be sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

Philippines Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, M.D., said to Gulf News on January 6th, “According to reports, the said disease is similar to ‘viral pneumonia of unknown origin'. I urge the public, especially those with a history of travel from China, to seek immediate medical consult if experiencing any flu-like symptoms.”

Passenger screening measures have been placed at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which has daily flights from Chinese cities.

Dr. Joyce Gonzales of the airport's quarantine bureau said they are particularly monitoring Chinese nationals and people from Chinese cities.

On January 6, 2020, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 1 Travel Alert regarding the Wuhan, China situation.

The CDC suggests travelers to Wuhan should:

Avoid animals (alive or dead), animal markets, and products that come from animals (such as uncooked meat).
Avoid contact with sick people.
Wash hands often with soap and water.

If you traveled to Wuhan and feel sick, you should:

Stay home. Except for seeking medical care, avoid contact with others.
Don’t travel while sick.
Seek medical care right away. Before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell the doctor about your recent travel and your symptoms.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.

The CDC says as of this posting, case-patients in the cluster reportedly have had a fever, difficulty breathing, and bilateral lung infiltrates on chest radiograph.

For patients with similar respiratory symptoms who recently traveled to Wuhan, consider pneumonia related to the cluster and notify infection control personnel and your local health department immediately.

Although the etiology and transmission dynamics have yet to be determined, CDC recommends a cautious approach to symptomatic patients with a history of travel to Wuhan.

Ask patients to don a surgical mask as soon as they are identified. Conduct their evaluation in a private room with the door closed.
Personnel entering the room to evaluate the patient should use contact precautions and wear an N95 disposable facepiece respirator.
For patients admitted for inpatient care, implement contact and airborne isolation precautions, in addition to standard precautions, until further information becomes available.

For additional infection control guidance see this CDC website.

International health and vaccination news published by Vax-Before-Travel.

Sub Title:

Travelers to Wuhan China should avoid animal markets and contact with sick people says CDC

References:

Wuhan Municipal Health Committee's report on unexplained viral pneumonia

Quarantine bureau told to be alert for mysterious virus from China

No cause for panic on mystery disease, Philippine Red Cross chair says

Causal-Agent Not Yet Identified in China’s Viral Pneumonia Outbreak

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Featured:

Causal-Agent Not Yet Identified in China’s Viral Pneumonia Outbreak

Don Hackett — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 20:23:06 +0000

Reviewer: