WHO: Nearly 10 000 children vaccinated as malaria vaccine rollout in Africa expands
Nearly 10,000 children in Burkina Faso and Cameroon have received the RTS,S malaria vaccine in recent weeks. The vaccine rollout in the two countries is a critical step forward in the fight against one of the leading causes of death in Africa. At least 28 African countries plan to introduce a malaria vaccine as part of their national immunisation programs.
There have been two malaria vaccines endorsed for use in Africa: RTS,S (available now) and R21 (expected to be available in mid 2024). Four doses are recommended for both vaccines; 3 by 9 months of age and the last dose at 18 months of age.
WHO: Nearly 10 000 children vaccinated as malaria vaccine rollout in Africa expands
Gavi: Vaccine profiles: malaria
The Guardian: Brazil starts mass vaccination amid upsurge in dengue fever
Brazil has become the first country to roll out a national dengue vaccination program, in response to a surge of dengue fever cases across the country. The country's health ministry said nearly 365,000 dengue cases were reported in the first five weeks of 2024, four times the number during the same period in 2023.
Brazil has purchased 5.2m doses of the dengue vaccine Qdenga and is commencing vaccination of children aged 10 to 14 years.
Dengue is a viral infection, spread by mosquitoes to people. Since the beginning of 2023, there have been more than five million cases globally and more than 5,000 dengue-related deaths reported.
The Guardian: Brazil starts mass vaccination amid upsurge in dengue fever
WHO: Disease outbreak news: Dengue
MCRI: Study into rare side effects of COVID-19 vaccines
A new international study will examine the rare side effects caused by COVID-19 vaccines.
The University of Alberta in Canada is leading the study, through the विशेष टीकाकरण सेवाओं का अंतर्राष्ट्रीय नेटवर्क (INSIS). INSIS brings together specialist clinicians in vaccine safety, systems biology and genomics, including AusVaxSafety, to characterise the risk factors and underlying mechanism of adverse events following COVID-19 immunisation.
INSIS focuses on very rare adverse reactions, those which affect less than 0.001 % of the population, that occur after COVID-19 vaccination. This study aims to understand the causes and risk factors behind these occurrences, to ensure the development of even safer vaccines in potential future pandemics.
Read more on the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) website.
एमवीईसी: विशेष टीकाकरण सेवाओं का अंतर्राष्ट्रीय नेटवर्क
एमवीईसी: ऑसवैक्ससेफ्टी: ऑस्ट्रेलिया में वैक्सीन सुरक्षा निगरानी
MVEC: AEFI-CAN: Adverse Events Following Immunisation – Clinical Assessment Network
Updated immunisation reference page: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the leading causes of respiratory tract infections in young children. While for some it can cause the common cold, for others, it may lead to more severe infection. Children under 1 year of age, individuals with underlying medical conditions (e.g. chronic cardiac and lung disease), the older population and immunocompromised people are more likely to experience serious disease and hospitalisation.
MVEC has recently updated its RSV reference page to include information about the newly approved AREXVY vaccine and with more detail on RSV symptoms, epidemiology and prevention.
एमवीईसी: रेस्पिरेटरी सिंकाइटियल वायरस (आरएसवी)
OPTIONS XII for the Control of Influenza: Abstract submissions open
OPTIONS for the Control of Influenza is a global scientific meeting with a dedicated focus on influenza. OPTIONS XII will be held in Brisbane from Sunday 29 September to Wednesday 2 October 2024.
Highlights of this year’s conference include focuses on:
- Pacific Island and First Nations health
- Interdisciplinary science
- Knowledge exchange and networking
- Policy and advocacy.
Abstracts submission is now open. Abstracts must be submitted by Friday 5 April 2024.
Learn more about OPTIONS XII and abstract submission on the OPTIONS XII website.
Mobile-based game designed to fight misinformation around climate change, and now vaccines
The ‘Cranky Uncle’ game – a mobile/web game designed to fight misinformation on climate change – has been adapted into the ‘Cranky Uncle Vaccine’ game for use in East African countries.
Melbourne academic Dr John Cook developed the ‘Cranky Uncle’ game to incentivise players to build resilience against misinformation.
The game relies on inoculation theory as a solution to misinformation. In the game, the cranky uncle character teaches the player techniques of science denial (e.g. fake experts and logical fallacies). The theory is that exposure to a weakened form of misinformation can develop cognitive immunity.
The new ‘Cranky Uncle Vaccine’ game was co-designed through workshops held in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, and informed by a review of studies on vaccine misinformation.
Though it is climate-focused, the original version of the ‘Cranky Uncle’ game provides helpful tools for fighting misinformation in general.
Learn about and play the ‘Cranky Uncle’ game
Read the paper published in the Journal of Health Communication Co-Designing a mobile-based game to improve misinformation resistance and vaccine knowledge in Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda
Save the date for MVEC's Immunisation Skills Workshop
Save the date – MVEC will be holding an Immunisation Skills Workshop in Melbourne on Friday 15 March 2024.
More details about the workshop, including information about the program and tickets, will be made available closer to the event. Registration will open in early February.
Read more at Immunisation Skills Workshop – Friday 15 March 2024
Updated immunisation reference page: Injection site nodules
Injection site nodules (ISNs) are a rare adverse event following immunisation (AEFI). Nodules can occur following the administration of an injected vaccine. They are most often asymptomatic, but may be intermittently tender, itchy, or show overlying skin changes. They generally resolve on their own without intervention.
We have recently updated our ISN reference page. The updated page includes information on ISN diagnosis, possible causes, and treatment, and recommendations for future vaccine doses.
एमवीईसी: इंजेक्शन साइट नोड्यूल
Updated immunisation reference page: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples immunisation recommendations
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, or First Nations Australians, have higher rates of some vaccine‑preventable diseases compared to non‑Indigenous Australians. First Nations Australians are prioritised for additional protection through the funding of additional vaccines on the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
We have recently updated our reference page on immunisation recommendations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The newly updated page includes:
- a comprehensive table of funded vaccines available in each state
- information about vaccine‑preventable diseases targeted through funding
- information about vaccine access
- links to helpful resources.
एमवीईसी: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people immunisation recommendations
अद्यतित टीकाकरण संदर्भ पृष्ठ: इम्यूनोसप्रेशन और टीके
Individuals who are immunocompromised have a weakened immune system, resulting in a decreased ability to fight infections. Immunocompromise can be caused by many different factors such as certain medical conditions, being a transplant recipient, advancing age or taking medications that suppress the immune system.
Vaccination is particularly important for those who are immunocompromised, due to the increased risk of developing severe disease if exposed to vaccine-preventable diseases.
We have recently reviewed our reference page on immunocompromise/immunosuppression and vaccines. The page includes up-to-date information on vaccine timing, contraindicated vaccines and safe alternatives, what to do in the event of inadvertent administration of a live-attenuated vaccines, and advice for household contacts of immunocompromised people.
एमवीईसी: इम्यूनोसप्रेशन और टीके