Latest news with #KateO'Brien
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Health
- GMA Network
'No evidence of harm' from vaccine ingredient opposed by US panel — WHO
GENEVA, Switzerland - The World Health Organization (WHO) insisted Friday that there was no evidence of any harm from an important vaccine ingredient, which a US medical panel voted to oppose this week. "There is no evidence of harm from the use of Thimerosal," WHO vaccine chief Kate O'Brien told a press conference. Her comment came after a US medical panel newly appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. voted on Thursday to oppose long-held recommendations backing vaccines containing the preservative Thimerosal, which the anti-vaccine movement falsely links to autism. Thimerosal, a preservative that prevents bacterial and fungal contamination in multi-dose vials, has been extensively studied, with authorities finding no evidence of harm beyond minor injection-site reactions. Although 96 percent of US flu vaccines in the 2024-2025 season did not contain thimerosal, the preservative remains important in lower income countries because they are more likely to use lower cost multi-dose vials that must be punctured repeatedly, raising the risk of contamination. Thimerosal contains an artificial form of mercury called ethylmercury that is cleared from the body far more quickly than the form of the chemical found in nature. US manufacturers voluntarily removed it from most pediatric vaccines in 2001. "For some of the vaccine supply, this is an very important ingredient in order to assure that we have the doses that are needed to protect children from serious and life-threatening diseases," said O'Brien, speaking from the UN health agency's headquarters in Geneva. She said that "an extensive effort has made to remove Thimerosal, out of an abundance of caution, from the vaccine supply". But it was important that "the public understands that there has been a thorough review of the evidence around the safety of Thimerosal, and that we continue to need vaccines that... have Thimerosal in them". "This evidence has been reviewed thoroughly." Although the substance is now rarely used in US vaccines, the recommendations by the influential Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices alarmed experts, who say the move has effectively embedded talking points championed by the anti-vaccine movement into national policy. Kennedy -- who spent decades spreading vaccine misinformation before becoming President Donald Trump's top health official -- abruptly fired all 17 ACIP members earlier this month, accusing them without evidence of conflicts of interest. Across three votes, his new panelists recommended that thimerosal be removed from influenza vaccines for children, pregnant women and finally all adults. — Agence France-Presse
Boston Globe
25-06-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Millions of children at risk from stalling global vaccinations, study says
The study said that while global coverage for key vaccines, including those against measles, polio, and tuberculosis, almost doubled between 1980 and 2023, progress slowed in many countries and territories between 2010 and 2019, and has even reversed in some cases in recent years. Advertisement The trend was also seen in wealthier parts of the world, with declines in at least one key vaccine in 21 of 36 high-income countries and territories. The coronavirus pandemic 'exacerbated these challenges, with global rates for these vaccines declining sharply since 2020, and still not returning to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels as of 2023,' the study said, causing tens millions of children to miss doses of routine vaccines and 'increasing their risk for preventable disease and death.' 'Despite the monumental efforts of the past 50 years, progress has been far from universal. Large numbers of children remain under- and un-vaccinated,' senior study author Jonathan Mosser of University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation said in a news release. Advertisement 'Routine childhood vaccinations are among the most powerful and cost-effective public health interventions available, but persistent global inequalities, challenges from the COVID pandemic, and the growth of vaccine misinformation and hesitancy have all contributed to faltering immunization progress,' he added. In many countries, these trends have led to outbreaks of diseases that can be prevented by vaccination, such as measles, polio, and diphtheria, the study said. Kate O'Brien, WHO director for immunization, vaccines, and biologicals, said in an emailed statement that 'despite incredible progress' brought about by vaccines, 'we are now confronting a painful reality: Progress has stalled and in some countries is being lost. Immunization rates have plateaued, and year after year, we are reaching the same proportion of children without extending their reach to those left behind.' 'Unless we intensify efforts to reach more children through equitable routine immunization programmes, increase domestic investment, and strengthen vaccine confidence and demand, we risk undoing years of hard-won progress — leading to a future where more children suffer from preventable illnesses and premature death,' she added. An increase in vaccine hesitancy, as well as misinformation — which the WHO signaled as a leading threat to global public health even before the pandemic — have impacted immunization, the study noted. Conflict is another factor. The outbreak of civil war in Sudan in 2023 led to one key coverage measurement — the number of children receiving the first dose of the DTP vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis — falling from almost 90 percent to about half of that, according to the study. Planned budget cuts to vaccines 'are likely to disproportionately affect low-income and middle income countries,' the study said, but richer countries are also likely to be affected by higher costs caused by increasing outbreaks. Advertisement The study's findings echo a warning this spring from the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who noted outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases were increasing around the world, 'putting lives at risk and exposing countries to increased costs in treating diseases and responding to outbreaks.' He urged countries with limited resources to 'invest in the highest-impact interventions — and that includes vaccines.' The study, which was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, was published in the Lancet medical journal. Last month, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he may stop government scientists from publishing in the Lancet and several other top peer-reviewed journals, accusing them — without evidence — of being 'corrupt.' Shortly after returning to office in January, President Trump announced the United States' withdrawal from the WHO. Two months later, a USAID document showed that the administration planned funding cuts for Gavi, which provides lifesaving vaccinations for millions of people in the world's poorest countries. Domestically, following the deaths of two children in Texas from measles — with a total of 23 outbreaks recorded across the US with more than 1,000 confirmed cases — Kennedy has given mixed messages on measles immunization and caused controversy by announcing placebo testing for new vaccines. David L. Heymann, professor of infectious-disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and who was not involved in the research, said in a telephone interview Wednesday that public trust is a key part of vaccination success. He urged governments to 'take a great interest in this and to make sure that they're getting the right messages to their people,' and emphasized the importance of evidence-based recommendations from trusted organizations like the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Advertisement Professor Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group and a professor at the University of Oxford, who also was not involved in the research, in a statement called the findings a 'worrying trend' that is 'set to deteriorate' amid global health funding cuts. In a separate email Wednesday, he accused the Trump administration of 'undermining' parents' confidence in vaccines, risking further drops in coverage. 'This combined with a catastrophic reduction of global health funding, rejection of scientific evidence on vaccines and challenges to credible scientific leadership on immunisation policy means that the once trusted voice of America on vaccines is diminished,' he said.
IOL News
25-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Millions of children missing vaccines
MILLIONS of children around the world may be at risk because of stalling vaccination efforts in recent years, according to an analysis of a half-century of global vaccination efforts. The study, published Tuesday in the Lancet medical journal, said that the World Health Organization's global vaccination program 'has achieved remarkable success' since it was created in 1974, reaching more than 4 billion children and saving 154 million lives. But progress has stalled in recent decades, the authors said, with inequalities in access and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as an upsurge in vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, continuing to hinder progress. The study said that while global coverage for key vaccines, including those against measles, polio and tuberculosis, almost doubled between 1980 and 2023, progress slowed in many countries and territories between 2010 and 2019, and has even reversed in some cases in recent years. The trend was also seen in wealthier parts of the world, with declines in at least one key vaccine in 21 of 36 high-income countries and territories. The coronavirus pandemic 'exacerbated these challenges, with global rates for these vaccines declining sharply since 2020, and still not returning to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels as of 2023,' the study said, causing tens millions of children to miss doses of routine vaccines and 'increasing their risk for preventable disease and death.' 'Despite the monumental efforts of the past 50 years, progress has been far from universal. Large numbers of children remain under- and un-vaccinated,' senior study author Jonathan Mosser of University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation said in a news release. 'Routine childhood vaccinations are among the most powerful and cost-effective public health interventions available, but persistent global inequalities, challenges from the COVID pandemic, and the growth of vaccine misinformation and hesitancy have all contributed to faltering immunisation progress,' he added. In many countries, these trends have led to outbreaks of diseases that can be prevented by vaccination, such as measles, polio and diphtheria, the study said. Kate O'Brien, WHO director for immunization, vaccines and biologicals, said in an emailed statement that 'despite incredible progress' brought about by vaccines, 'we are now confronting a painful reality: Progress has stalled and in some countries is being lost. Immunization rates have plateaued, and year after year, we are reaching the same proportion of children without extending their reach to those left behind.' 'Unless we intensify efforts to reach more children through equitable routine immunization programmes, increase domestic investment, and strengthen vaccine confidence and demand, we risk undoing years of hard-won progress - leading to a future where more children suffer from preventable illnesses and premature death,' she added. An increase in vaccine hesitancy, as well as misinformation - which the WHO signaled as a leading threat to global public health even before the pandemic - have impacted immunization, the study noted. Conflict is another factor. The outbreak of civil war in Sudan in 2023 led to one key coverage measurement - the number of children receiving the first dose of the DTP vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis - falling from almost 90 percent to about half of that, according to the study. Planned budget cuts to vaccines 'are likely to disproportionately affect low-income and middle income countries,' the study said, but richer countries are also likely to be affected by higher costs caused by increasing outbreaks. The study's findings echo a warning this spring from the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who noted outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases were increasing around the world, 'putting lives at risk and exposing countries to increased costs in treating diseases and responding to outbreaks.' He urged countries with limited resources to 'invest in the highest-impact interventions - and that includes vaccines.' The study, which was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, was published in the Lancet medical journal. Last month, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he may stop government scientists from publishing in the Lancet and several other top peer-reviewed journals, accusing them - without evidence - of being 'corrupt.' Shortly after returning to office in January, President Donald Trump announced the United States' withdrawal from the WHO. Two months later, a USAID document showed that the administration planned funding cuts for Gavi, which provides lifesaving vaccinations for millions of people in the world's poorest countries. Domestically, following the deaths of two children in Texas from measles - with a total of 23 outbreaks recorded across the U.S. with more than 1,000 confirmed cases - Kennedy has given mixed messages on measles immunization and caused controversy by announcing placebo testing for new vaccines. David L. Heymann, professor of infectious-disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and who was not involved in the research, said in a telephone interview Wednesday that public trust is a key part of vaccination success. He urged governments to 'take a great interest in this and to make sure that they're getting the right messages to their people,' and emphasized the importance of evidence-based recommendations from trusted organizations like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sir Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group and a professor at the University of Oxford, who also was not involved in the research, in a statement called the findings a 'worrying trend' that is 'set to deteriorate' amid global health funding cuts. In a separate email Wednesday, he accused the Trump administration of 'undermining' parents' confidence in vaccines, risking further drops in coverage. 'This combined with a catastrophic reduction of global health funding, rejection of scientific evidence on vaccines and challenges to credible scientific leadership on immunisation policy means that the once trusted voice of America on vaccines is diminished,' he said.
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Health Talk: WHO flags RSV deaths in children, calls for new immunisation tools
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently issued recommendations, including the effective use of immunisation products, to protect infants against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), which causes acute lower respiratory infections in children and can become life-threatening. RSV, one of the leading causes of under-five mortality globally (which refers to the death of children before their fifth birthday, typically expressed as a rate per 1,000 live births), is responsible for around 1 lakh deaths and over 3.6 million hospitalisations in children under the age of five every year, according to the United Nation health body. About half of these deaths occur in infants younger than six months of age. The vast majority (97%) of RSV deaths in infants occur in low- and middle-income countries, where there is limited access to supportive medical care such as oxygen or hydration. India also has a high disease burden, particularly around the rainy season. A 'position paper' published by WHO outlines recommendations for two immunisation products — a maternal vaccine that can be given to pregnant women in their third trimester to protect their infant, and a long-acting monoclonal antibody that can be administered to infants from birth, just before or during the RSV season. 'RSV is an incredibly infectious virus that infects people of all ages, but is especially harmful to infants, particularly those born premature, when they are most vulnerable to severe disease,' director of immunization, vaccines, and biologicals at WHO Kate O'Brien said in a statement. 'The WHO-recommended RSV immunisation products can transform the fight against severe RSV disease, dramatically reduce hospitalizations, and deaths, ultimately saving many infant lives globally,' he added. A 2021 study — Disease Burden Due to Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Indian Pediatric Population: A Literature Review — said, 'In India, epidemiology of RSV infection is well documented in young children (0-5 years) as compared to children from other age groups. The rates of RSV detection in various studies conducted in younger children (0-5 years) vary from 2.1% to 62.4% in India which is higher as compared to children from other age groups.' RSV usually causes mild symptoms similar to the common cold, including runny nose, cough, and fever. However, it can lead to serious complications — including pneumonia and bronchiolitis — in infants, young children, older adults, and those with compromised immune systems or underlying health conditions. Better management and putting in place preventive measures is largely the key to stopping any disease from turning big. The WHO recommendations will hopefully serve the purpose, and the world will see fewer deaths in children due to RSV.
Hans India
30-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
WHO calls for maternal vaccine, monoclonal antibody to protect babies against RSV
New Delhi: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday recommended all countries to use both maternal vaccine and a monoclonal antibody to protect babies against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) -– the leading cause of acute lower respiratory infections in children globally. While the maternal vaccine -- RSVpreF -- can be given to pregnant women in their third trimester to protect their infant, the long-acting monoclonal antibody -- nirsevimab -- can be administered to infants from birth, just before or during the RSV season, stated the recommendations, published in the Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER). 'Every year, RSV causes about 100,000 deaths and over 3.6 million hospitalisations in children under the age of 5 years worldwide. About half of these deaths occur in infants younger than 6 months of age,' the WHO said. "The vast majority (97 per cent) of RSV deaths in infants occur in low- and middle-income countries where there is limited access to supportive medical care, such as oxygen or hydration," it added. Although RSV causes mild symptoms similar to the common cold, including runny nose, cough, and fever, it can lead to serious complications. This can include pneumonia and bronchiolitis -– in infants, young children, older adults, and those with compromised immune systems or underlying health conditions. Both RSVpreF and nirsevimab were recommended by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE) for global implementation in September 2024. In addition, the maternal vaccine received WHO prequalification in March 2025, allowing it to be purchased by UN agencies. While the vaccine can be given during routine antenatal care, nirsevimab is given as a single injection of monoclonal antibodies that starts protecting babies against RSV within a week of administration. It lasts for at least 5 months and can cover the entire RSV season in countries with RSV seasonality. The global health body recommends that infants receive a single dose of nirsevimab right after birth or before being discharged from a birthing facility. If not administered at birth, the monoclonal antibody can be given during the baby's first health visit. If a country decides to administer the product only during the RSV season rather than year-round, a single dose can also be given to older infants just before entering their first RSV season, the WHO said. The greatest impact on severe RSV disease will be achieved by administering the monoclonal antibody to infants under 6 months of age. However, there is still a potential benefit among infants up to 12 months of age, it added. 'RSV is an incredibly infectious virus that infects people of all ages, but is especially harmful to infants, particularly those born premature when they are most vulnerable to severe disease,' said Dr Kate O'Brien, Director of Immunisation, Vaccines, and Biologicals at WHO. 'The WHO-recommended RSV immunisation products can transform the fight against severe RSV disease, dramatically reduce hospitalisations, and deaths, ultimately saving many infants lives globally,' O'Brien added.
