Vaccine-related MMWRs published
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), “Cases of Meningococcal Disease Associated with Travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah Pilgrimage — United States, United Kingdom, and France, 2024.” While outbreaks of meningococcal disease can occur in large gatherings, this report of meningococcal infections is important both because of its discussion of prevention opportunities as well as considerations for antimicrobial treatment. In a three-month period, 12 meningococcal cases were associated with Umrah travel to Saudi Arabia. Nine of these patients were unvaccinated, and of the 11 cases with antimicrobial susceptibility testing, three were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Providers can use this information when advising patients traveling for Umrah to ensure they have had a quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine within the three to five years prior to travel. Additionally, when providing post-exposure prophylaxis to close contacts of cases with an origin in Saudi Arabia, rifampin, ceftriaxone or azithromycin are preferred over ciprofloxacin.
Check out the complete MMWR for detailed recommendations.
The CDC also published an article in MMWR titled “Mpox Surveillance Based on Rash Characteristics — 13 Emergency Departments, United States, June–December 2023.” After the 2022 global mpox outbreak, U.S. cases have declined, but ongoing low-level transmission continues. This report reviews 196 individuals who were tested for monkeypox in 13 U.S. emergency departments. Of those tested, only three patients (1.5%) tested positive for monkeypox virus by PCR. These three individuals were unvaccinated gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Of note, only about 23% of the at-risk U.S. population received mpox vaccination. Clinicians should continue to be vigilant for monkeypox virus infections.
Read more about the surveillance study.
Meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization met in March 2024. A recently published report summarizes their discussions, conclusions and recommendations. The World Health Organization’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) shared updated data related to the Immunization Agenda 2030. Global goals for immunization are off course due to the pandemic although the first half of 2023 provided some optimism due to a targeted initiative, called the “Big Catch-up.” The 2030 agenda has a number of priorities, including introduction of malaria vaccines; improved uptake of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination; and reduction of neonatal and early infant mortality caused by infections, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and group B streptococcus (GBS).
The report also contained updates from GAVI, WHO regional offices, and information related to updates on polio, hepatitis E, COVID-19, mpox and RSV. It also included a discussion around considering immune correlates of protection in situations when large phase 3 randomized clinical trials are difficult due to the need for large sample sizes or unpredictable outbreaks.
Need continuing education credits?
Medscape and Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) recently released a free module to get continuing education credits. Titled “Coverage with Selected Vaccines and Exemptions from School Vaccine Requirements Among Children in the Kindergarten-United States, 2022-23 School Year,” the module reviews data on vaccine coverage and exemptions for kindergarteners in the U.S., including identifying states with the lowest rates of vaccine coverage and describing trends in vaccine exemptions.
Take the module or find out more. (Note: You may need a free Medscape account to view this.)
Vaccine-related MMWRs published
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), “Cases of Meningococcal Disease Associated with Travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah Pilgrimage — United States, United Kingdom, and France, 2024.” While outbreaks of meningococcal disease can occur in large gatherings, this report of meningococcal infections is important both because of its discussion of prevention opportunities as well as considerations for antimicrobial treatment. In a three-month period, 12 meningococcal cases were associated with Umrah travel to Saudi Arabia. Nine of these patients were unvaccinated, and of the 11 cases with antimicrobial susceptibility testing, three were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Providers can use this information when advising patients traveling for Umrah to ensure they have had a quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine within the three to five years prior to travel. Additionally, when providing post-exposure prophylaxis to close contacts of cases with an origin in Saudi Arabia, rifampin, ceftriaxone or azithromycin are preferred over ciprofloxacin.
Check out the complete MMWR for detailed recommendations.
The CDC also published an article in MMWR titled “Mpox Surveillance Based on Rash Characteristics — 13 Emergency Departments, United States, June–December 2023.” After the 2022 global mpox outbreak, U.S. cases have declined, but ongoing low-level transmission continues. This report reviews 196 individuals who were tested for monkeypox in 13 U.S. emergency departments. Of those tested, only three patients (1.5%) tested positive for monkeypox virus by PCR. These three individuals were unvaccinated gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Of note, only about 23% of the at-risk U.S. population received mpox vaccination. Clinicians should continue to be vigilant for monkeypox virus infections.
Read more about the surveillance study.
Meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization met in March 2024. A recently published report summarizes their discussions, conclusions and recommendations. The World Health Organization’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) shared updated data related to the Immunization Agenda 2030. Global goals for immunization are off course due to the pandemic although the first half of 2023 provided some optimism due to a targeted initiative, called the “Big Catch-up.” The 2030 agenda has a number of priorities, including introduction of malaria vaccines; improved uptake of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination; and reduction of neonatal and early infant mortality caused by infections, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and group B streptococcus (GBS).
The report also contained updates from GAVI, WHO regional offices, and information related to updates on polio, hepatitis E, COVID-19, mpox and RSV. It also included a discussion around considering immune correlates of protection in situations when large phase 3 randomized clinical trials are difficult due to the need for large sample sizes or unpredictable outbreaks.
Need continuing education credits?
Medscape and Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) recently released a free module to get continuing education credits. Titled “Coverage with Selected Vaccines and Exemptions from School Vaccine Requirements Among Children in the Kindergarten-United States, 2022-23 School Year,” the module reviews data on vaccine coverage and exemptions for kindergarteners in the U.S., including identifying states with the lowest rates of vaccine coverage and describing trends in vaccine exemptions.
Take the module or find out more. (Note: You may need a free Medscape account to view this.)