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How Denmark’s 1800s Vaccine Campaign Eradicated Smallpox in Just 7 Years

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Edward Jenner Administering the First Smallpox Vaccination in 1796

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Recent insights into one of history’s most effective vaccination campaigns highlight critical lessons for expediting vaccine adoption today. This successful effort eradicated smallpox in Copenhagen during the early 1800s.

Smallpox, a devastating infectious disease, resulted in a mortality rate of 30% and left survivors with disfigurement and blindness, leading to an estimated 500 million deaths before its global eradication in 1980 through vaccination.

Copenhagen saw one of the earliest local triumphs over smallpox, achieving eradication in 1808 after claiming over 12,000 lives over fifty years.

The world’s first vaccine, developed by British physician Edward Jenner in 1796, quickly gained traction among Denmark’s medical and social elite, sparking “excited attention and anticipation,” as documented by leading physician Henrik Kalissen.

Doctors in Copenhagen swiftly sought smallpox vaccine supplies from Jenner in England. The inaugural recipient was a Danish judge’s child, followed by a bishop’s child. The vaccine proved remarkably effective, preventing transmission even among close contacts of infected individuals, including breastfeeding mothers, according to Calisen’s observations.

In response, the King of Denmark founded a Vaccine Commission in 1801, tasked with broadening the vaccine’s reach and meticulously tracking vaccination rates and smallpox outbreaks.

Researchers from Roskilde University analyzed these records, revealing that by 1810, 90% of Copenhagen’s children had been vaccinated, leading Denmark to rank as the highest in Europe for vaccination rates per capita.

Due to the rapid dissemination of the smallpox vaccine, the disease was eliminated from Copenhagen just seven years after the campaign’s initiation. “We will be free from one of the most destructive diseases known to us,” Calisen expressed in 1809.

Eilersen and his team identified key factors behind the high vaccination rates. Vaccines were offered free of charge to families in need, and many church leaders and school teachers actively promoted and administered the vaccines. The Vaccine Commission commended clergy who traversed the nation to disseminate knowledge about vaccinations, with one priest vaccinating nearly 2,000 children in just one year.

As smallpox cases dwindled, concerns arose about public apathy towards vaccination. To sustain high rates, the committee mandated that vaccination be a prerequisite for a child’s enrollment in church activities as of 1810.

While some resisted vaccinating their children, citing “ignorance and prejudice,” the broader public largely supported vaccination, Calisen noted. He acknowledged initial fears about vaccines but ultimately recognized their tremendous impact on public health and population growth.

Eilersen believes that the collaboration among Danish leaders fostered public trust and encouraged widespread vaccine acceptance. “Unified authorities, including government, medical institutions, and religious leaders, contributed to convincing a diverse population to embrace vaccination,” he stated.

Denmark continues to enjoy robust confidence in its governmental and health institutions, currently ranked first in public trust by Transparency International. In turn, this commitment has contributed to high childhood vaccination rates, with approximately 96% of Danish children vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, contrasting with only 80% in the United States, which ranks 28th in public trust levels.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Experimental Vaccine Provides Year-long Protection Against Severe Allergy Attacks

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Warning signs of food allergies and intolerances

Innovative vaccines may provide a new approach to combat severe food allergies

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Researchers have developed an experimental vaccine that successfully protects mice from anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, for at least one year. There is optimism that this vaccine will also be effective in humans.

Anaphylaxis poses a persistent threat to millions worldwide, particularly for individuals allergic to foods like peanuts and shellfish. In the UK alone, around 6% of adults, or about 2.4 million people, are believed to have clinically confirmed food allergies.

Allergic reactions can occur from consuming contaminated food or even from kissing someone who has recently eaten the allergenic food. This triggers a surge of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, leading to symptoms such as throat swelling, breathing difficulties, and a drop in blood pressure. Despite having an epinephrine auto-injector (like an EpiPen) at hand, many still need emergency treatment, and severe cases may be fatal.

Currently, avoiding allergens is the primary method of prevention, with limited alternatives available. Individuals can consider oral immunotherapy, where the allergen is gradually introduced under supervision to build up tolerance. There is also an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody drug, like omalizumab, which binds to IgE to block allergic responses. However, omalizumab is costly and requires injections every few weeks, sometimes indefinitely.

Recently, Laurent Reber and colleagues at the Toulouse Institute of Infection and Inflammation in France developed a vaccine named IgE-K. This vaccine encourages the immune system to produce antibodies that target IgE, preventing it from attaching to receptors on immune cells and averting severe allergic reactions.

“Our goal was to create a long-term solution, as individuals with food allergies face unintentional exposure at any time, necessitating ongoing protection,” says Reber.

In experiments with mice engineered to produce the human variant of IgE, the team discovered that two doses of the vaccine led to the generation of neutralizing antibodies against IgE.

“It blocks the molecules responsible for allergic reactions,” says Josh Koenig from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada.

Upon exposing the mice to a substance that triggered an allergic reaction, the unvaccinated mice experienced significant reactions, while the vaccinated mice exhibited no symptoms and were shielded from anaphylaxis for up to a year.

“It might last longer, but we have yet to conduct further testing,” noted Reber.

IgE forms part of the immune system, activated in response to toxins and certain intestinal parasites apart from allergens. “This mechanism is likely an evolutionary adaptation to combat toxins,” suggests Lever.

Lever asserts there is strong evidence supporting the long-term safety of targeting this molecule, as many individuals with severe allergies have been on anti-IgE therapy for years without negative effects. To assess if reducing IgE would diminish the body’s protective response to parasites, further tests were conducted on mice. The results indicated that the vaccine did not hinder their immune response to infections involving mouse feline, a parasitic nematode.

Koenig expresses hope regarding the vaccine’s efficacy in humans. “Research shows that the mouse-generated antibodies attach effectively to human IgE molecules. If humans can produce similar antibodies, there’s a promising chance it will be highly effective.”

Despite this optimism, Lever emphasizes that clinical trials are necessary to assess the vaccine’s safety, effectiveness, and duration in humans. If it can be commercialized, it may provide a cost-effective treatment alternative for individuals with severe allergies, requiring far fewer injections than anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies such as omalizumab.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

A Dementia Vaccine May Be Possible, and Some Individuals Might Have Already Received It Unwittingly

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A recent investigation by Stanford University in the US suggests that the shingles vaccine may decrease the risk of dementia by 20 percent or slow its progression after diagnosis.

If these results are validated in future research, there is already a vaccine available that could help in preventing and managing dementia, affecting an estimated 57 million individuals globally.

In a study published in Nature, scientists reviewed the health data of over 280,000 adults aged 71 to 88 in Wales to assess the shingles vaccination program initiated in 2013.

The research revealed that older adults (ages 79 to 80) who had received the shingles vaccine were 20 percent less likely to develop dementia by 2020 when compared to those who were ineligible for the vaccine.

The senior author, Dr. Pascal Gerdsetzer, an assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University, described the findings as “really surprising,” adding that there was a significant protective signal evident from the data.

Furthermore, a recent follow-up study published in Cell indicated that the shingles vaccine seemed to offer protection even to individuals diagnosed with dementia as early as 2013.

Among the 7,049 Welsh adults with dementia who participated in the research, nearly half succumbed within the subsequent nine years. In contrast, only 30% of those vaccinated against shingles passed away.

“What’s particularly intriguing is that this suggests the shingles vaccine not only prevents or delays dementia but also holds therapeutic promise for those already diagnosed,” Gerdsetzer noted.

Illustration of the varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox and shingles – Credit: Getty Images

Previous research had indicated a potential connection between the shingles vaccine and dementia prevention, but these findings were often confounded by the fact that vaccinated individuals typically lead healthier lifestyles (implying that the dementia protection might originate from other factors).

However, in this particular study, bias was minimized as the vaccination program specifically targeted individuals who were 79 years old on September 1, 2013.

“We know that if you take 1,000 random individuals born within a week of each other and compare them to 1,000 individuals born a week later, on average, there should be no differences,” Gertsetzer explained. “Aside from the slight age variation, they are essentially alike.”

Essentially, the researchers could directly analyze two groups born just a week apart and with an identical mix of health-conscious individuals. The primary difference was their eligibility for the vaccine, streamlining the assessment of the vaccine’s efficacy against dementia.

Shingles is an infection caused by the Varicella zoster virus—the same agent responsible for chickenpox. Symptoms can include a painful rash, a burning or prickling sensation, headaches, fever, and fatigue.

While the virus impacts the nervous system, scientists are still unclear about the exact mechanisms through which the shingles vaccine protects the brain from cognitive decline.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

New mRNA Vaccine May Enhance Immune Response and Aid Cancer Survival

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mRNA vaccines show growing potential to revolutionize healthcare

Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images

The mRNA COVID-19 vaccination seems to offer an unexpected advantage: it may extend the lives of cancer patients by enhancing immunotherapy effectiveness.

A study analyzing about 1,000 individuals undergoing treatment for advanced skin and lung cancer revealed that those who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine within 100 days of starting treatment with an immune checkpoint inhibitor had nearly double the survival time compared to those who did not receive the vaccine during this period. Clinical trials to validate these findings are set to commence by year-end.

“The outcomes were astonishing,” states Elias Sayur, a researcher at the University of Florida. They speculate about the potential to develop an mRNA vaccine that enhances this immune response. “Could we craft a universal mRNA vaccine that activates the immune system across all cancer patients?” he muses. “The possibilities are extensive.”

However, is it advisable for someone just commencing checkpoint inhibitors to get a COVID-19 vaccine to improve treatment efficacy? “I am hesitant to provide clinical recommendations without concrete proof,” Sayur cautions. “Attempting to harness your immune system against cancer also carries risks,” he adds, urging adherence to established vaccine guidelines.

The rationale behind this finding lies in the immune system’s capacity to eliminate many cancers even before they escalate. Yet, some tumors evolve to obstruct this response. They achieve this by manipulating the “off switch” of T cells, which are responsible for destroying cancer cells. A well-known off switch is the protein PD-1 found on T cell surfaces.

PD-1 becomes inactive when it binds to a protein called PD-L1 on certain cell surfaces. This serves as a safety mechanism for cells to signal, “cease the attack, I am benign.”

Numerous cancers hijack PD-L1 by producing it in excessive amounts. Checkpoint inhibitors function by preventing PD-1 and other off switches from becoming activated. These treatments have significantly increased survival rates for conditions like lung cancer and melanoma, earning a Nobel Prize for their developers in 2018.

However, the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors varies significantly. When an individual’s immune system fails to react to the tumor by dispatching T cells for an attack, these drugs offer limited benefit.

Consequently, combining checkpoint inhibitors with vaccines that bolster the immune system’s tumor combat capabilities could prove to be more effective than either strategy used in isolation. Cancer vaccines are generally tailored to elicit a response to mutated proteins in cancer cells and are often personalized. “We are attempting to discern the unique aspects of their tumors,” Sayur explains. “It demands substantial time, funding, and complexity.”

During cancer vaccine trials, his team observed that the non-specific mRNA vaccine used as a control also exhibited remarkable effectiveness. “It was an absolute surprise,” Sayur remarks.

In July, Sayur and colleagues published findings indicating that mRNA vaccines enhance anti-tumor responses, even when not aimed at cancer-specific proteins, as revealed in studies in mice. Vaccines can initiate an innate immune response that acts like an alarm, energizing the immune system and prompting T cells to move from tumors to lymph nodes, where they rally other immune cells for a focused attack.

Recognizing this potential, Sayur and his team examined the medical records of patients treated at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Out of 884 advanced lung cancer patients receiving checkpoint inhibitors, 180 had received mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations within 100 days of initiating treatment. Those vaccinated survived for approximately 37 months, contrasting with roughly 20 months for those unvaccinated.

Furthermore, among 210 individuals with melanoma that had metastasized, 43 had been vaccinated within 100 days of starting checkpoint inhibitors. They had a survival time of around 30 to 40 months, compared to around 27 months for individuals who were not vaccinated in that time frame. Some vaccinated individuals remained alive at the time of analysis, indicating their survival may extend even longer. The research findings were shared at the European Society of Medical Oncology Congress in Berlin, Germany.

Previous reports have suggested that after receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, a proportion of tumors exhibited shrinkage, indicating potential anti-tumor effects in certain cases even without checkpoint inhibitors. “It’s certainly a possibility, but further investigations are essential to fully understand,” comments Sayur.

The United States recently declared significant cuts in funding for mRNA vaccine development, despite the substantial benefits they have provided during the pandemic and the vast potential they hold for treatments beyond vaccines.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Evolution of Vaccine Recommendations in the United States

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Nurse administering a flu shot

Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune/Getty Images

On June 26, the Advisory Committee on U.S. Vaccination Practices (ACIP) announced new recommendations regarding flu vaccinations that utilize controversial preservatives often misattributed to autism. While this change is unlikely to restrict access to vaccines, it reflects a broader U.S. governmental effort to uphold the integrity of the vaccination recommendation process.

What Changes Have Occurred with ACIP?

ACIP is an advisory body that provides expert recommendations to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccinations. Established in 1964, its members are appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, currently Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Kennedy recently dismissed all 17 members of ACIP, claiming it was necessary to eliminate conflicts of interest. “A complete overhaul is essential to restore public trust in vaccine science,” Kennedy stated in a press release.

This action faced pushback from many public health experts. “Prior to Kennedy’s actions, I had confidence in ACIP. Now, I have none,” remarked Amesh Adalja from Johns Hopkins University. “It’s reckless and dangerous to unilaterally dismantle an entire panel of experts,” added Tinatan, president of the American Infectious Diseases Association, in a statement.

Kennedy appointed eight new members, though one resigned before the inaugural meeting. Several of the new members have raised concerns regarding various vaccines. For instance, Robert Malone, a pioneer in mRNA vaccine technology, discussed on Joe Rogan’s Experience podcast in 2021 the potential links between Covid-19 vaccines and heart-related issues. A 2024 study found that while there was a lower heart attack and stroke rate post-vaccination among approximately 46 million adults, there was an increase in rare side effects such as myocarditis and pericarditis.

A CDC spokesperson stated, “Dr. Malone is a seasoned physician who advocates for rigorous, evidence-based evaluations rather than uncritical acceptance. He does not oppose vaccines based on flawed data or policies—noting the necessity for better information.”

Adalja expressed concerns that some new members lack significant expertise in vaccines, infectious diseases, and epidemiology, suggesting that trust in ACIP under Kennedy’s leadership is dwindling. “In reality, he effectively made ACIP an independent entity,” he stated.

What Changes Have Been Made to Vaccine Recommendations?

In May, Kennedy stated in a video on social media platform X that the CDC would halt Covid-19 vaccine recommendations for most children and pregnant individuals. This decision was taken without ACIP’s input, breaking longstanding precedent.

Subsequently, the CDC revised its Vaccination Guidelines for Children and Adolescents, indicating that decisions regarding Covid-19 vaccinations will be made in consultation with healthcare providers, based on personal preferences.

The new ACIP also voted to discontinue recommendations for flu vaccines containing Thimerosal, a preservative used in several vaccines, during its first meeting. Additionally, the panel advocated for seasonal flu vaccinations for all individuals older than six months.

What is Thimerosal? Is it Safe?

Thimerosal is a preservative used in various vaccines to prevent bacterial contamination and contains trace amounts of mercury, which the body metabolizes into a byproduct known as ethyl mercury.

Ethyl mercury is distinct from the more harmful methylmercury found in certain environmental sources, such as fish. Methylmercury is highly toxic and can accumulate in the body, while numerous studies have shown that low doses of ethyl mercury are safe. Additionally, it is typically cleared from the bloodstream within 30 days, even in infants.

Despite claims from anti-vaccine proponents, no studies have substantiated a link between thimerosal and autism. A 2014 survey of nearly 1.3 million children found no association between vaccines, including thimerosal-containing vaccines, and the development of autism.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration conducted a thorough review of thimerosal use in pediatric vaccines in 1999, identifying no side effects aside from minor allergic reactions at the injection site.

Which Vaccines Contain Thimerosal?

The utilization of thimerosal in vaccines has decreased as formulations have evolved, with a shift toward single-dose vials minimizing the risk of bacterial contamination.

Thimerosal is not included in routine childhood vaccinations except for certain flu shots, which are used infrequently. For instance, only 3% of children over the age of 65 and about 2% of adults received the flu vaccine containing thimerosal during the 2024-2025 influenza season.

How Will New U.S. Vaccine Policies Compare to Other Countries?

Other nations have continued to recommend thimerosal-containing vaccines. For instance, the UK removed thimerosal from routine vaccinations between 2003 and 2005 to mitigate mercury exposure but later found no evidence of harm. They employed several vaccinations, including those with thimerosal, during specific flu seasons targeting H1N1.

In 1999, the European Medicines Agency endorsed the use of vaccines without thimerosal even in light of no evidence of harm. In 2004, after new data re-affirmed the safety of preservatives, the agency noted that “the benefits of vaccination significantly outweigh any exposure concerns, including thimerosal.” A further review of their guidelines in 2016 reaffirmed their relevance.

Can I Get the Vaccine for Myself or My Child?

Since most seasonal flu vaccinations do not contain thimerosal, it is unlikely that the ACIP’s recommendations will hinder vaccine access. Additionally, the CDC’s updated guidelines regarding Covid-19 vaccines for children and pregnancies should not affect the availability of vaccines.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Norovirus Vaccine Pills Guard Against Winter Vomiting Bugs

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Illustration of Norovirus Particles

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In a few years, vaccine pills for norovirus that lower infection risk may become available, following promising trials where participants were deliberately exposed to the virus.

This highly contagious virus affects the stomach and intestines, resulting in vomiting and diarrhea, usually subsiding within a few days. “The economic impact is significant, with billions lost globally annually due to work absences and hospital visits,” stated Sarah Cady from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Shawn Tucker from the biotech company Vaxart in San Francisco and his team have developed an oral vaccine that appears to increase IgA antibody levels, which can block noroviruses from infecting cells.

The current study involves 141 individuals aged 18 to 49, with half receiving the vaccine pill and the others a placebo. One month later, all participants ingested a high dose of the Gi.1 strain of norovirus in liquid form during quarantine. “Typically, to infect someone in a real-world scenario, you need to introduce 10 to 100 virus particles; we used 1 million particles,” Tucker explained, ensuring a sufficient infection rate.

Results showed that 82% of the placebo group became infected, whereas only 57% of those vaccinated were infected.

“Most people seem interested in receiving the vaccine if it can reduce risks by [25 percentage points] and lessen debilitating symptoms,” said Cady, who was not part of the research.

Additionally, vaccinated participants expelled considerably less stool and viral particles compared to the placebo group. This indicates the vaccine may help slow the virus’s spread, but further testing is needed, according to Cady.

Another analysis suggested the vaccine possibly works by boosting IgA antibodies in saliva, intestines, blood, and nasal passages.

However, the duration of this protection remains uncertain. More research is required to explore its effects on young children and the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to hospitalization, said Cady.

Most human-infecting noroviruses belong to two clusters known as GI and GII. Based on preliminary findings, Tucker believes the GI.1 vaccine will likely offer protection against other closely related GI variants. The team is also working on vaccines that could shield against both GI and GII viruses.

If everything progresses positively, Tucker anticipates the GI.1 vaccine could be released in two to three years.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Amid RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Advocacy, Resistance to mRNA Therapy Intensifies

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Utah and Tennessee have enacted laws mandating that foods containing vaccines be categorized as drugs, despite the fact that such products are not currently available. Legislators reference a University of California study that investigates the possibility of incorporating vaccines into lettuce.

“We’ll consume this batch of lettuce, take these mRNA vaccines, and then retest the DNA. The results will likely differ. This poses a risk.”

In reality, mRNA vaccines cannot alter genetic material because they do not interact with the cell nucleus, where DNA is located. While small amounts of DNA may be present in all vaccines—similar to what can be found in influenza vaccines—the Food and Drug Administration enforces strict limitations, typically rendering these levels negligible. Researchers have been exploring mRNA vaccines for infectious diseases and cancer for years, dating back to the 1990s with mice, and human trials since the early 2000s. Vaccines containing live viruses have recognized side effects; mRNA vaccines generally experience fewer adverse reactions compared to traditional vaccines.

“mRNA is not a foreign agent. It is something we are regularly exposed to,” stated Melissamua, Chief Science Officer at Moderna, the producer of the COVID vaccine. “Every time you consume whole foods, meat, or vegetables, you ingest substantial amounts of mRNA, which your body degrades and utilizes.”

Even should the bill fail to pass, its advocates assert they are in it for the long haul. Last month, Minnesota Republicans introduced a proposal to classify mRNA products as weapons of mass destruction, adding them to a list including natural PO, charcoal, bacteria, and mustard gas. This initiative mirrored the language of a bill drafted by Florida hypnotist Joseph Santhorne. In his newsletter, Mr. Santhorne lauded local Republican groups for passing resolutions supporting the ban and urged his followers to participate in political events to confront officials.

“It ‘punches them in their eyes,'” he remarked. “It carries significant psychological impact.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

RFK Jr. offers strong support for measles vaccine

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During a rare sit-in interview with CBS News, National Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recommended getting a measles vaccine and stated that he was “unfamiliar” with reducing state and local public health programs.

The conversation took place after a visit to West Texas, where he attended the funeral of an eight-year-old girl who succumbed to measles. An intense outbreak in the area has resulted in over 500 illnesses and the deaths of two young children.

In a clip from the interview released on Wednesday, Kennedy emphasized the importance of the measles vaccine. He stated, “People should receive the measles vaccine, but the government shouldn’t mandate it.”

However, he also expressed concerns about the safety of the vaccine, as he has done previously.

Kennedy has been heavily criticized for his handling of the West Texas outbreak by health professionals who believe that lack of full support for vaccinations is hindering efforts to control the virus.

Additionally, he has promoted unproven treatments for measles like cod liver oil. Physicians in Texas have linked its use to signs of liver toxicity in some children admitted to local hospitals.

Throughout the outbreak, Kennedy has often combined his support for vaccines with discussions about safety concerns and an alternative “miraculous” treatment.

Recently, he took to social media to declare that measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines are the “most effective way” to prevent the spread of measles. This statement has relieved infectious disease experts but angered vaccine opponents.

That evening, he posted again, this time praising “two extraordinary healers” who claim to have successfully treated around 300 children with measles using antibiotics.

Scientists argue that there is no cure for measles and promoting alternative treatments undermines the importance of vaccination.

In a CBS interview, Kennedy was questioned about the recent suspension of over $12 billion in federal grants to state programs addressing infectious diseases, mental health, and childhood vaccinations.

(The cuts were temporarily blocked after a lawsuit was filed by a state coalition against the Trump administration.)

Kennedy claimed to be unaware of the suspension and suggested it was primarily aimed at cutting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs targeted by the administration.

Dr. Jonathan Lapook, a medical correspondent for CBS, inquired about specific research cuts at universities, including a $750,000 grant for diabetes research in adolescents at the University of Michigan.

Kennedy responded, “I was not aware of that, and that’s what we’re seeing. There were many research projects that caught our attention and did not deserve to be cut, and we are reinstating them.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

Exhibition Chronicles the Evolution of UK Privacy Rights: From Floppy Disks to Vaccine Cards

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Four decades ago, a 4-drawer filing cabinet was necessary to house 10,000 documents. Now, it only requires 736 floppy disks to hold the same volume of files. The cloud allows for the storage of 10,000 documents without occupying physical space.

With the evolution of data storage comes a transformation in the information landscape. This evolution poses challenges related to the storage, transfer, and proper utilization of individuals’ personal data.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) organized an exhibition at the Manchester Central Library this week, showcasing 40 items that demonstrate the evolution of data privacy. Each item illustrates how access to information has changed over the past four decades and how data has become pivotal in major news events.

John Edwards, a member of the intelligence committee, expressed his appreciation for the exhibition, emphasizing the importance of human influence in data-related matters. He highlighted the significance of understanding terms like data controller, data processor, and data subject.

The exhibition features various items, including Pokemon toys, floppy disks, Tesco Club cards, modems, Millennium bug brochures, soccer shirts, and Covid vaccination cards. It also showcases how ICO interventions have brought about societal changes, such as ending the construction industry’s “employment denial list” and implementing public food hygiene assessments for restaurants.

One of Edwards’ favorite exhibition items is the spiked lawn aerator shoes, symbolizing an early enforcement action in the 1980s against a company selling customer information obtained from shoe sales.




My favourite item at the exhibition by Intelligent John Edwards is the spiked grass aerator shoes. Photo: Christopher Tormond/The Guardian

The 40th pedestal at the exhibition remains unused, inviting the public to suggest objects that have influenced the data landscape. Edwards emphasized the personal and subjective nature of privacy, stating that each individual has unique expectations and experiences.

The ICO was founded as a UK data protection regulator near Manchester 40 years ago and now oversees new data protection laws. The regulatory landscape has undergone significant transformations since its inception.




NHS Covid Vaccination Card. Photo: Andy Rain/EPA

According to Edwards, individuals now have a significantly larger amount of personal data worldwide compared to when the ICO was established. The constant flow of data worldwide illustrates the extensive data environment we now exist in.

Edwards highlighted the challenge of keeping pace with the rapid changes in technology and data usage. The ICO regulates a wide range of entities, from small schools and GP surgeries to large social media companies, requiring continuous adaptation to address privacy implications.

Reflecting on the future, Edwards acknowledged the uncertain geopolitical landscape, emphasizing the potential impact of quantum computing and advanced AI technologies on data handling and privacy in the coming years.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Research shows that the shingles vaccine can lower the chances of developing dementia

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Getting vaccinated from shingles reduces the risk of developing dementia. Large-scale new research I’ll find it.

This result provides some of the most powerful evidence that several viral infections can affect brain function in a few years and can interfere with them.

The study, published in Nature on Wednesday, found that those who received the shingles vaccine were 20% less likely to develop dementia seven years later than those who were not vaccinated.

“If you are reducing your risk of dementia by 20%, that’s very important in the public health context. Given that there aren’t too many at this point in slowing the onset of dementia,” Dr. Harrison was not involved in the new study. Other studies The shingles vaccine indicates a lower risk of dementia.

Whether protection can exceed seven years can only be determined by further research. However, with few effective treatments or prevention currently available, Dr. Harrison said the shingles vaccine appears to have “some of the most potent potential protective effects against dementia that we know are actually potentially potentially available.”

The case of shingles comes from a virus that causes water cell-zoster, a childhood chicken pox. As the age and the immune system weakens, the virus can reactivate and cause shingles, with symptoms such as burning, tingling, painful blisters and numbness. Nerve pain can be chronic and ineffective.

In the US, 1 in 3 Develop a lifetime centre for disease control and prevention of at least one case of shingles, also known as Herpes Zoster. Approximately one-third of eligible adults have received the vaccine in recent years. According to the CDC

While several previous studies suggest that shingles vaccinations may reduce the risk of dementia, most people were unable to rule out the possibility that vaccinated individuals may have other dementia protective properties, such as a healthier lifestyle, better diet, or more education.

New research ruled out many of these factors.

“That’s very strong evidence,” said Dr. Anupam Jena, a health economist and physician at Harvard Medical School.

This study emerged from an unusual aspect of the development of the shingles vaccine in Wales on September 1, 2013. Welsh officials have established strict age requirements. That date, 79 people were eligible for the vaccine for a year, but those over 80 were ineligible. When the young people turned 79, they qualified for the vaccine for a year.

Dr. Pascal Geldsetzer, an assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University and senior author of the study, said the age cutoff was imposed because of limited supply and the vaccine was deemed ineffective to people over 80 years of age.

Scientists were able to compare relatively equal groups. I’m with people who qualify for the vaccine and people who couldn’t get it. “If you hire 1,000 people born a week and 1,000 people born a week later, there shouldn’t be any difference between them, except for the big differences in vaccinations,” Dr. Geldsetzer said.

Researchers tracked health records of around 280,000 people, ages 71-88, without dementia when the development began. Over seven years, almost half of those eligible for the vaccine received it, but only a small number of ineligible groups received it, providing a clear front-and-after distinction.

To limit the likelihood of differences between groups, researchers used statistical analysis to measure data from people who only had one week on either side of the cutoff.

They also looked at medical records for possible differences between vaccinated and non-vaccinated. They evaluated whether unvaccinated people received more dementia diagnoses and took more medications that could increase their risk of dementia simply because they visited their doctors more frequently.

“They do a pretty good job with that,” Dr. Jena said. I wrote an explanation about nature research. “They are seeing nearly 200 drugs that have been shown to be linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease at least.”

He said, “They are making a lot of effort to understand whether there may be other things to suit that age cutoff, other health policy changes, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

The study included Zostavax, an older form of shingles vaccine. This includes a fixed version of the live virus. It was then discontinued in the US and several other countries as protection against shingles declined over time. Singlix, a new vaccine containing the inactive portion of the virus, is more effective and permanent, research shows.

Last year’s research Dr. Harrison and his colleagues suggested that Singlix may be more protective against dementia than the older vaccine. Based on another “natural experiment,” the shift from Zostavax to Shingrix in the US in 2017 found that people who received the new vaccine for more than six years had fewer dementia diagnoses than those who received the old vaccine. Of those diagnosed with dementia, those who received the new vaccine were nearly six months longer than those who received the old vaccine, and nearly six months before they developed the condition.

There are various theories as to why the shingles vaccine protects against dementia. One possibility is that by preventing shingles, the vaccine reduces neuroinflammation caused by virus reactivation, Dr. Geldsetzer said. “Inflammation is a bad thing for many chronic diseases, including dementia,” he said.

Both new and Singlics research support that theory.

Another possibility is that vaccines will make the immune system more broad. New research also provides some evidence of that theory. Dr. Geldsetzer found that women with a more reactive immune system and greater antibody response to vaccination than men experience greater protection against dementia than men. The vaccine also provided a greater protective effect against dementia among people with autoimmune conditions and allergies.

Dr. Maria Nagel, a professor of neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, was not involved in the study, but said both theories were true. “There is evidence of direct and indirect effects,” said Dr. Nagel, who consulted the manufacturer of GSK’s Shingrix.

She said that while other vaccines, including those against the flu, produce common neuroprotective effects, there are several studies that have found that it makes sense that the shingles vaccine is especially protected against cognitive impairment, as the shingles virus is hidden in the nerves.

Although this study did not distinguish between types of dementia, other studies suggest that “the effect of the shingles vaccine against Alzheimer’s disease is much more pronounced than that of another dementia.” Recent research Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia and vaccines. She said that some cases of Alzheimer’s are linked to immunity compromise.

The Welsh population in the study was mostly white, Dr. Geldsetzer said, but the report suggested similar protective effects by analyzing UK death certificates for deaths caused by dementia. His team also replicated the results in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Dr. Jena said there is a need to further study the connection, noting that reducing the risk of dementia is not the same as preventing all cases. Still, he suggests that the evidence “something about exposure or access to the vaccine will have this effect on the risk of dementia in a few years.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

Top FDA Vaccine Official Resigns, Cites Kennedy’s Accusations of ‘Misinformation and Lies’

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Dr. Peter Marks, a top Food and Drug Administration vaccine official, resigned under pressure on Friday, stating that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s aggressive attitude towards vaccines was irresponsible and posed a risk to public health.

“It became clear that truth and transparency are not valued by the secretary, but instead he desires blind confirmation of his misinformation and lies,” Dr. Marks wrote to Sarah Brenner, the agency’s representative. He reiterated his sentiments in an interview, stating, “This individual does not prioritize truth. He prioritizes followership.”

Dr. Marks resigned after being called to the Department of Health and Human Services on Friday afternoon, where he was given the ultimatum of resigning or being terminated, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Dr. Marks headed the Biologics Evaluation and Research Center responsible for approving and monitoring vaccine safety, as well as a variety of other therapies including cell and gene therapy. He was viewed as a steady and reliable presence by many during the pandemic, despite facing criticism for being overly accommodating to businesses seeking approval for treatments with complex evidence of effectiveness.

Ongoing scrutiny of the FDA’s vaccine program clearly placed Dr. Marks at odds with the new health secretary. Since Kennedy took office on February 13th, he has issued a series of directives on vaccine policy. He has alarmed those concerned about his potential to leverage his government authority to advance his long-standing campaign asserting vaccines are highly detrimental despite overwhelming evidence of their life-saving impact worldwide.

“Undermining trust in a well-established vaccine that has met the FDA’s rigorous standards of quality, safety, and efficacy for decades is irresponsible and poses a significant risk to public health and our nation’s well-being and security,” Dr. Marks wrote.

For instance, Kennedy promoted the use of vitamin A as a treatment during a major measles outbreak in Texas, downplaying the importance of vaccination. He has surrounded himself with analysts tied to the anti-vaccine movement and is pursuing studies examining long-debunked theories linking vaccines to autism.

On Thursday, Kennedy announced plans to establish a vaccine injury agency within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He emphasized that this initiative was a top priority and would bring the “gold standard of science” to the federal government.

An HHS spokesperson stated on Friday night that Dr. Marks would no longer have a place at the FDA if he did not commit to transparency.

In his resignation letter, Dr. Marks highlighted the tragic toll of measles amid Kennedy’s lukewarm approach to the urgent vaccination needs among many unvaccinated individuals in Texas and other states.

Dr. Marks pointed out that through widespread vaccine availability, “over 100,000 children who received vaccinations last year in Africa and Asia were saved.”

Dr. Marks expressed his willingness to address Kennedy’s vaccine safety and transparency concerns in public forums and through collaboration with national experts in science, engineering, and medicine, which he was rebuffed.

“I have exhausted all efforts to work with them to restore confidence in vaccines,” Dr. Marks stated in an interview. “It became evident that this was not their goal.”

With that, Dr. Marks bid farewell to the FDA.

“His leadership has been instrumental in driving medical innovation and ensuring life-saving treatments reach those in need,” stated Ellen V. Sigal, founder of the cancer research advocacy group Friends and a close associate of Dr. Marks. His departure, she noted, “will leave significant gaps.”

Dr. Marks guided the agency and its external advisors on the type of evidence required to pilot the FDA’s vaccine program amid the tumultuous year of the coronavirus pandemic and expedite emergency authorizations for vaccines developed under the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed.

In June 2022, he urged an external expert panel to consider the risks the virus posed to children under five years old, leading the panel to recommend the vaccine for that age group later that day.

“We must be cautious not to be paralyzed by the number of pediatric deaths due to the overwhelming number of fatalities we are facing here,” Dr. Marks cautioned at the time.

Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine expert at Baylor College of Medicine, spoke highly of his regular interactions with Dr. Marks during the pandemic, describing him as deeply committed to leveraging science to aid the American populace. “He was a pandemic hero, and it’s truly unfortunate to see him go,” Hotez remarked.

Dr. Marks faced skepticism from some within the FDA, including former members of his own vaccine team. Two senior regulators in the agency’s vaccine office resigned in 2021 over the Biden administration’s efforts to push for the approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot.

Kennedy’s call for further investigation into vaccine injuries was met with reservations by Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, who noted that such research had been a focal point for decades. “I fear this is an attempt to magnify vaccine harm out of proportion to the actual risk,” Osterholm cautioned.

Dr. Marks shared these concerns, expressing his desire in his letter to mitigate the harm inflicted by the current administration.

“My hope,” he penned, “is that the unprecedented assault on scientific truths that has detrimentally impacted our nation’s public health will cease in the coming years, allowing our citizens to fully benefit from the wide array of medical advancements.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

US terminates vaccine funding for underprivileged nations

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The Trump administration plans to discontinue US financial support for Gavi, an organization that has been instrumental in purchasing crucial vaccines for children in developing nations. Gavi has saved millions of lives over the past 25 years and has significantly expanded its efforts to combat malaria, which is one of the leading causes of death worldwide.

It has been decided that the administration will continue its major drug subsidies for HIV and tuberculosis treatments, as well as maintain food aid for countries experiencing civil wars and natural disasters.

These decisions were outlined in a 281-page document sent to Congress on Monday night by the U.S. International Development Agency, detailing foreign aid projects that are expected to be terminated. Copies of spreadsheets and other documents describing the plan were obtained by The New York Times.

The document portrays the US as a compassionate ally, highlighting the significant scale of the withdrawal from longstanding efforts and emphasizing the commitment to leading the fight against infectious diseases that claim millions of lives each year.

The cover letter provides details on the reduction of funds to USAID, with a significant portion of its budget being cut and only 869 out of over 6,000 employees remaining.

The administration has decided to continue 898 USAID awards while terminating 5,341, according to the letter. The value of the remaining programs is reported to be up to $78 billion, with $8.3 billion still available for disbursement. This suggests a substantial $40 billion reduction in annual USAID spending.

A State Department spokesperson overseeing the remainder of USAID confirmed the accuracy of the termination list, stating that each award was reviewed based on agency priorities and if deemed inconsistent, it was terminated.

The memo presented to Congress portrays foreign aid as a unilateral decision. However, there are questions about the administration’s legal authority to terminate these programs, as spending on specific health initiatives is typically allocated by Congress.

Several programs, including funding for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and efforts to combat malaria, have been terminated.

Sierra Leone’s health minister, Dr. Austin Demby, expressed concern over the termination of US funding for Gavi, emphasizing the impact on children’s health globally.

He highlighted the importance of Gavi’s support in purchasing vaccines and providing critical aid, particularly during outbreaks such as MPOX.

Dr. Demby urged the US government to reconsider its decision, emphasizing that investing in Gavi is essential for global health security.

Gavi has been credited with saving the lives of 19 million children since its inception 25 years ago, with the US contributing 13% of its budget.

The termination of the grant to Gavi, valued at $2.6 billion until 2030, could have serious consequences for vaccine distribution in low-income countries.

The loss of US support may lead to a significant reduction in Gavi’s ability to provide essential services, potentially impacting millions of children who rely on vaccinations.

Gavi’s estimates suggest that without US funding, 75 million children may not receive routine vaccinations in the next five years, resulting in over 1.2 million deaths.

The United States has been a key donor to Gavi and has played a crucial role in supporting the organization, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr. Sania Nishter, the CEO of Gavi, expressed hope that the Trump administration would reconsider its decision to cut support, emphasizing the importance of Gavi’s work in protecting global health.

Vaccinations provided by Gavi not only safeguard individual children but also reduce the risk of major disease outbreaks. Gavi maintains a global stockpile of vaccines against diseases such as Ebola and cholera for rapid response efforts during outbreaks.

While the administration has indicated that the foreign aid review process is complete, there is still funding available for some programs to continue. However, there have been significant reductions in malaria response efforts, impacting vulnerable populations in countries like Cameroon and Tanzania.

The memo also highlights staffing changes at USAID, with some employees being placed on administrative leave or terminated, raising concerns about the agency’s operational capacity.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Promising Norovirus Vaccine Pills Show Effectiveness Against Winter Vomiting Bug

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Impressions of Norovirus artists

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Early trials of the norovirus vaccine pill are committed to protecting against the infamous “winter vomiting” bug, and researchers say it could be used in a few years.

The virus is highly contagious and infects and causes the stomach and intestines Vomiting and diarrhea. Most people recover within a few days, but very young people and older people, especially going to the hospital, costing a considerable amount of medical care. “In the US alone, it’s 10 billion.[dollar]- A problem of one year.” Shawn Tucker At Biotech Company Vaxart in San Francisco, California.

This has spurred scientists to develop vaccines, but so far, efforts have failed. This is because previous attempts focused on developing injectable vaccines. This isn’t very good for producing protective antibodies in the intestines where the virus replicates. Tucker says.

To deal with this, Tucker and his colleagues Previously developed oral norovirus vaccines This will supply proteins to the intestines from the Gi.1 norovirus mutant. The first trials in adults under the age of 50 found that tablets can produce norovirus-specific antibodies in the intestines, but it is probably not a vaccine priority given that people in this age group generally recover easily from the virus.

Researchers are currently testing vaccines in people in the US between the ages of 55 and 80. The team gave 11 people the pills, while the other 22 took the placebo. About a month later, the researchers collected blood and saliva samples from the participants.

They found that people who took the vaccine had higher levels of IgA antibodies. These antibodies were increased by more than 10 times in the blood and about 7 times in saliva compared to samples just before vaccination. In contrast, the placebo group showed little change in antibody levels.

Importantly, antibodies are still present in people who took the pills, albeit at lower levels after 6 months, suggesting that they can provide permanent immunity. “The fact that they have this robust antibody response makes me hope that it can provide protection. [against infection]”I say Sarah Cady At Cornell University in New York. “In particular, the salivary antibody response is a way to get a snapshot of what’s going on in the intestines because of similar immune responses,” she says.

However, further research should investigate whether the vaccine actually prevents infection or reduces spread spread of norovirus, she says. The team wants to explore this.

Furthermore, this study focused only on one norovirus variant. “In the real world, there are a number of different strains you may encounter. The vaccine may not protect all of them,” says Caddy. In an unpublished study, researchers found that versions of vaccines containing both Gi.1 and Gii.4 norovirus variants (the latter currently surges in the UK) produce antibodies against multiple variations.

This suggests we may soon have norovirus vaccines, Tucker says. “If there’s no funding hiccups, if everything goes smoothly, the vaccine could be available in a few years,” he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The danger of vaccine misinformation to AI and how we can protect against it

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It’s relatively easy to contaminate the output of an AI chatbot

Nicolas Maeterlinck/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images

Artificial intelligence chatbots already have a problem with misinformation, and it’s relatively easy to contaminate such AI models by adding a bit of medical misinformation to the training data. Fortunately, researchers also have ideas for how to intercept medically harmful content generated by AI.

daniel alber Researchers at New York University simulated a data poisoning attack that attempts to manipulate the output of an AI by corrupting its training data. First, we used the OpenAI chatbot service ChatGPT-3.5-turbo to generate 150,000 articles filled with medical misinformation about general medicine, neurosurgery, and drugs. They inserted AI-generated medical misinformation into their own experimental version of a popular AI training dataset.

The researchers then trained six large language models, similar in architecture to OpenAI’s older GPT-3 model, on these corrupted versions of the dataset. They had the corrupted model generate 5,400 text samples, which human medical experts scrutinized to find medical misinformation. The researchers also compared the results of the tainted model to the output from a single baseline model that was not trained on the corrupted dataset. OpenAI did not respond to requests for comment.

These initial experiments showed that by replacing just 0.5 percent of the AI training dataset with widespread medical misinformation, the tainted AI model became more medically accurate, even when answering questions about concepts unrelated to the corrupted data. has been shown to have the potential to generate harmful content. For example, a poisoned AI model flatly denied the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and antidepressants in no uncertain terms, and falsely claimed that the drug metoprolol, which is used to treat high blood pressure, can also treat asthma. said.

“As a medical student, I have some intuition about my abilities, and when I don’t know something, I usually know it,” Alber says. “Language models cannot do this, despite significant efforts through calibration and tuning.”

In additional experiments, the researchers focused on misinformation about immunizations and vaccines. They found that corrupting just 0.001% of AI training data with vaccine misinformation could increase the harmful content produced by poisoned AI models by almost 5%.

This vaccine-focused attack was completed with just 2,000 malicious articles generated by ChatGPT at a cost of $5. Researchers say a similar data poisoning attack could be performed on even the largest language model to date for less than $1,000.

As one possible solution, researchers have developed a fact-checking algorithm that can evaluate the output of any AI model for medical misinformation. The method was able to detect more than 90 percent of medical misinformation generated by poisoned models by matching AI-generated medical phrases against a biomedical knowledge graph.

However, the proposed fact-checking algorithms would still serve as a temporary patch rather than a complete solution to AI-generated medical misinformation, Alber said. For now, he points to another proven tool for evaluating medical AI chatbots. “Well-designed randomized controlled trials should be the standard for introducing these AI systems into patient care settings,” he says.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

One Smallpox Vaccine Dose Offers Continued Protection against Smallpox.

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There are few high-quality studies on the effectiveness of the smallpox vaccine against smallpox.

Emanuele Contini/Nuru Photo via Getty Images

One dose of one type of smallpox vaccine appears to reduce the risk of getting smallpox by about 60 percent, although this can vary depending on mutations of the virus.

Cases of MPOX, formerly known as monkeypox, are rapidly increasing in the Democratic Republic of Congo, driven by a variant called lineage Ib. The vaccine used to prevent MPOX was originally developed for smallpox, and although the two viruses are related, it is unclear whether it is specifically effective against MPOX.

For more information, Sharmistha Mishra Researchers at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Toronto, Canada, in collaboration with colleagues, focused on a vaccine called MVA-BN, also known as JYNNEOS, Imvanex, and Imvamune, which was the most widely used smallpox vaccine in Western countries during the 2022 smallpox outbreak caused by the clade IIb variant.

Studies have shown that the effectiveness of MVA-BN for mpox varies widely, from 36% to 86%. This range is likely because the studies are observational and compare results in people of different ages, locations, and health conditions.

A randomized controlled trial is being conducted among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, who made up the majority of infections in Western countries during the 2022 outbreak.

Meanwhile, Mishra's team tried to mimic a randomized controlled trial using existing medical data. The researchers studied more than 6,000 Canadian men who were deemed to be at high risk for infection in 2022. About half received one dose of MVA-BN, and the rest did not receive the mpox vaccine. The two groups of men were matched by factors such as age and location, Mishra said.

While the official MVA-BN vaccination schedule calls for two doses administered at least 28 days apart, Mishra said the Canadian government initially opted for a one-dose vaccination protocol to spread the shots among as many at-risk people as possible.

During a follow-up period of approximately 80 days, 50 men in the unvaccinated group were diagnosed with MPOX compared to 21 in the vaccinated group, suggesting that MVA-BN reduced the risk by 58 percent.

This suggests that one dose is enough to provide protection. Adam Hacker At the London Coalition for Infectious Disease Preparedness Innovations Corinne Goertz van Kessel “Scientifically, we know that two doses are more effective,” Hacker told Erasmus MC in the Netherlands.

Geerts van Kessel says the team's approach was a good way to mimic a randomized controlled trial, but it is unclear whether some of the men, who are older than their mid-50s, were vaccinated when smallpox was a threat, which could have influenced their immune response to the 2022 MVA-BN.

Studying how the vaccine affects the severity of disease after infection with MPOX will also help assess the vaccine's overall effectiveness, she says.

It's also unclear how effective the drug is specifically against lineage Ib, Goertz van Kessel says, but both she and Hacker expect MVA-BN to be at least somewhat effective against that variant as well as it is against lineage IIb, which continues to circulate in West and Central Africa.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

A revolutionary anti-aging vaccine offers hope in preventing diseases like Alzheimer’s

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I’ll be 60 in just over 5 years, which is a big deal. I already have an age-related disease (high blood pressure), and the odds are good that I haven’t been diagnosed with at least one more by then. After that, the symptoms of age will pile up and bring me to my inevitable end. Many of you will no doubt be in a similar situation. We are living longer than ever before, but those extra years don’t necessarily come with good health.

But judging by recent trends, my sons may be even luckier. Instead of facing a long list of common diseases in their 70s and 80s, they may be able to immunize themselves against them. They may be able to celebrate middle age with vaccinations that immunize them against Alzheimer’s, cancer, and hypertension. What’s more, they may even have access to an anti-aging panacea that vaccinates against all of these and more, allowing them to enter old age in better health than most of us today could hope to achieve.

Suddenly, an ancient medical technique looks set to become a game changer in the fight against diseases associated with age. Vaccines, the most commonly used injections for infectious diseases like COVID-19 and measles, are now showing promise for treating non-infectious diseases, particularly those associated with age. The field is advancing rapidly, and there are signs that, in the right winds, I and others my age might be able to benefit from these vaccinations. It’s so…

Source: www.newscientist.com

FDA advises updating COVID-19 vaccine to target KP.2 variant

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The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday recommended that pharmaceutical companies develop coronavirus vaccines targeting the KP.2 strain, a descendant of the highly contagious JN.1 variant that began spreading widely in the United States this winter. The announcement comes just one week after an FDA advisory committee unanimously recommended updating COVID-19 vaccines in the fall to target the JN.1 variant or its descendants.

After the vote, there was disagreement between committee members and Dr. Peter Marks, the agency’s top vaccine regulator, over which strain the agency should choose. Most committee members expressed a preference for JN.1, but Dr. Marks favored choosing a newer strain like KP.2. “We’re paying an incredibly high premium for the mRNA vaccines to get the freshest vaccine,” Marks said, likening getting the vaccine to buying milk at the store.

The FDA said it had initially advised drugmakers on June 6 to target the JN.1 variant, but the agency continues to monitor circulating strains and “based on the latest available data and recent increases in COVID-19 cases in areas of the country, the FDA has further determined that the JN.1 lineage is preferred for improved vaccines,” with the KP.2 strain preferred “when possible,” the FDA said.

The JN.1 is hardly in circulation in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention As of Saturday, KP.2 accounted for 22.5% of new coronavirus cases in the U.S., while its sister variant, KP.3, accounted for 25% of new cases.

The FDA’s decision allows pharmaceutical companies to begin manufacturing and distributing the vaccine, which is expected to be used as part of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns this fall.

Three pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax, are producing coronavirus vaccines. Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines are mRNA-based, while Novavax’s vaccine is protein-based. Because protein-based vaccines take a long time to produce, Novavax has indicated that it will not be able to produce the KP.2 vaccine by the fall. Instead, it plans to distribute the JN.1 vaccine that it has already produced.

This is the third time the vaccine has been updated to target circulating strains. The process of selecting the next vaccine is becoming more routine, similar to the annual influenza vaccination update, with vaccinologists selecting the strains in the spring and then conducting vaccination campaigns in the fall.

At the advisory committee meeting, the pharmaceutical company presented data showing that compared to current vaccines that target the variant XBB.1.5, which is not currently in circulation, the JN.1 vaccine should generate higher levels of antibodies against circulating virus strains.

The committee did not recommend who should get the latest vaccine, leaving that to the CDC, which will be holding its own advisory committee meeting later this month.

Source: www.nbcnews.com