Travel Vaccine Breaking News

While the Southern Hemisphere is ending its annual flu season, the north is preparing for new influenza viruses to arrive.

For example, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently published the Weekly National Influenza Surveillance report for week #36. Through the Respiratory Datamart system, overall influenza positivity remains low throughout the UK.

As of September 9, 2022, the influenza positivity increased to 1.2%, with 31 samples testing positive for influenza (including nine influenza A(H3N2), one influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, 20 influenza A(not subtypes), and one influenza B).

Additionally, other indicators for influenza, such as hospital admissions and GP influenzalike illness consultation rates, remain low.

And parainfluenza positivity decreased slightly to 1.2%, while human metapneumovirus positivity remained very low at 0.3%.

This updated UKHSA Guidelines Summary, published on September 1, 2022, covers vital information on the 2022–2023 national flu program, including recommendations on the use of antivirals, agents against flu, exposure of healthcare professionals to live attenuated flu vaccine (LAIV) viruses, inadvertent administration of LAIV, and flu vaccination in people who have immunosuppression and/or HIV infection, severe asthma or active wheezing, or egg allergy.

The U.S. CDC says, 'be aware of current health issues in the United Kingdom.'

This CDC advice includes getting a flu shot before visiting the UK.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reissued its polio travel advisory yesterday for various African countries.

On September 6, 2022, the CDC's Level 2 Practice Enhanced Precautions Alert listed twenty-eight African countries where poliovirus is currently spreading.

The CDC says, 'Everyone should be fully vaccinated against poliovirus according to the CDC's updated schedule published in February 2022.'

And 'before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine.'

This CDC Alert may apply to cities currently detecting poliovirus in wastewater samples, such as London and New York City.

Previously, the World Health Organization reaffirmed in June 2022 that the risk of international spread of poliovirus remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Most people with polio do not feel sick, but some have minor symptoms. In rare cases, polio infection causes permanent loss of muscle function.

Furthermore, polio can be fatal if the muscles used for breathing are paralyzed or if there is an infection of the brain, says the CDC.

Since 2000, the IPV and combination vaccines have been given in the USA.

The IVP produces antibodies to all three poliovirus types (Type 1 (Mahoney), Type 2 (MEF-1), and Type 3 (Saukett).

In 2021, more than 372 million children were vaccinated against polio multiple times in 30 countries, using more than one billion oral polio vaccines, which are not offered in the USA.

Polio vaccines are generally available in clinics and pharmacies in the USA.

This CDC notice was initially posted on December 11, 2019.

London-based GSK plc's Thomas Breuer, Chief Global Health Officer, commented yesterday that the “World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification of Mosquirix™ (RTS,S) is a key step in reaching children with the first and only approved malaria vaccine."

"Malaria remains a significant cause of illness and death for children in many parts of the world, and it is a significant driver of inequality."

"So far, over one million children in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi have had at least one dose of Mosquirix." 

The "WHO’s prequalification paves the way for more children to benefit from the (malaria) vaccine," stated Breuer in a related press release on September 6, 2022.

Mosquirix vaccination triggers the human immune system to defend against the first stages of disease when the Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite enters the host's bloodstream through a mosquito bite and infects liver cells.

On October 6, 2021, the WHO recommended the RTS,S malaria vaccine for sub-Saharan Africa and regions with moderate to high malaria transmission.

GSK is currently working with partners to accelerate a product transfer for long-term antigen production, including technology transfer, to Bharat Biotech of India. 

According to the U.S. CDC, Malaria is a vaccine-preventable mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. 

As of September 7, 2022, the U.S. FDA had not approved a malaria vaccine. 

Additional malaria vaccine news is posted at Vax-Before-Travel.com/Malaria.

Maryland-based Emergent BioSolutions Inc. today announced that it had dosed the first participant in its Phase 1 study evaluating the safety and immunogenicity of EBS-LASV, a recombinant VSV-vectored Lassa virus vaccine candidate being developed for the prevention of disease caused by Lassa virus infection.

This is essential news since the U.S. FDA has not approved any Lass fever vaccine for use as of September 6, 2022.

Kelly Warfield, Ph.D., SVP for research and development at Emergent BioSolutions, commented in a related press release, “We are proud to deploy our product development and partnering capabilities to address emerging infectious diseases like Lassa fever, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or therapeutic, and to advance our pipeline for patients.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) says Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus.

Though first described in the 1950s, the virus causing Lassa disease was not identified until 1969.

Humans usually become infected with the Lassa virus through exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or feces of infected Mastomys rats.

Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in health care settings in the absence of adequate infection prevention and control measures.  

The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa.  

Lassa fever is endemic in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Nigeria but probably exists in other West African countries.  

Among patients hospitalized with severe clinical presentation of Lassa fever, case fatality is estimated at around 15%.

However, early supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival, says the WHO.

Lassa fever is one of the pathogens in the WHO R&D Blueprint list of epidemic threats.

The R&D Blueprint is a global strategy and preparedness plan that allows the rapid activation of research and development activities during epidemics. 

The Government of Bermuda recently clarified that arriving airline passengers over two years must have an approved Bermuda Travel Authorisation (TA) before departure.

To receive a TA as of August 22, 2022, prospective Bermuda visitors need to have:

• A Mastercard or Visa credit card to pay the $40 Travel Authorisation application fee.
• If fully vaccinated, have your vaccination certificate/card ready to upload to your application.
• If unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated, have proof of travel health insurance ready to upload to your application.
• Take a COVID-19 test at a testing facility no more than two days before arrival (fully vaccinated travelers can take a PCR test up to 4 days before arrival). However, children under two years old do not need to test.

If approved, the Bermuda Quarantine Authority will email an approved TA.

For any TA queries, contact Bermuda's COVID hotline at 1-833-570-2594) or via email at [email protected].

Previously, the U.S. CDC issued a Level 3 Travel Advisory for Bermuda regarding its COVID-19 outbreak.

On April 18, 2022, the CDC stated, 'If you are not up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, avoid traveling to Bermuda.

However, based on recent sequencing results, Bermuda's outbreak may be subsiding.

The Ministry of Health recently received 5,011 test results, and 128 were positive for the coronavirus, giving a test positivity rate of 3%.

Furthermore, it was determined that the Omicron BA.5 variant was identified as circulating in Bermuda from May 2022 and BA.4 from July.

Additional sequencing results are pending to determine when these sub-variants may have been introduced to Bermuda.

Minister of Health Kim Wilson, JP, MP, advised: "We recently sent COVID-19 test samples to the Caribbean Public Health Agency for gene sequencing. Gene sequencing allows scientists to classify a virus as a particular variant and determine its lineage. "

"We must continue vigilance as we are not out of the woods yet."

"I encourage everyone to be cautious, and if you are eligible for the COVID vaccine, please get it," stated the government's August 31, 2022, media release.

"In closing... always practice good hand hygiene, ensure proper ventilation indoors, maintain physical distance, and wear a quality, well-fitted mask for extra protection if you choose to do so."

"Stay home if you test positive or if you have symptoms."

Since March 2020, Bermuda has recorded 17,913 coronavirus cases, out of which 17,624 have recovered, and sadly there have been 148 coronavirus-related deaths.

In addition to COVID-19 vaccination, the U.S. CDC recommends prospective visitors to Bermuda be up-to-date on all Routine Vaccines, as well as travel-related vaccines.

These travel vaccines, including the U.S. FDA-approved yellow fever YF-Vax vaccine, are generally available at certified Texas and Austin, TX, certified pharmacies.

Various flights depart from Austin (AUS-Austin-Bergstrom Intl.) and arrive at St. George's, Bermuda (BDA-L.F.).

Note: If you are arriving in Bermuda on a cruise ship, click HERE for related TA information. This data was manually translated and curated for international travelers.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it is prepared to handle the increase in the number of travelers expected to be flying out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) over the Labor Day weekend.

Over the past two days, the TSA reported airport security has been more active than before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019!

"We continue to see increased traveler volume at airport security checkpoints," commented Gilbert Almaraz, TSA's Federal Security Director for AUS, in a media release on September 2, 2022.

"At AUS, our officers are prepared for the influx of travelers."

"I remind travelers to arrive early, be weather aware as rain storms may impact travel schedules, and double-check carry-on luggage for prohibited items."

While standing in a security line, remove items from pockets such as wallets, keys, lip balm, tissues, and cell phones and place them into carry-on bags instead of putting things from pockets directly into bins.

Additionally, the TSA PreCheck® expedited screening program allows travelers to leave on shoes, jackets, and belts and enables them to keep their electronics in their carry-on bags.

Due to these benefits, the TSA PreCheck lanes move the quickest. 

Furthermore, the TSA no longer requires travelers to wear masks but remains optional.

Separately, the U.S. CDC suggests international travelers confirm their vaccination status at least one month before departure.

In Austin, travel vaccines, such as yellow fever and polio, are offered at certified pharmacies.

As the original terminal serving Austin-Bergstrom International Airport since it opened in 1999, the Barbara Jordan Terminal is accessed from SH-71. 

Travelers or families of passengers with disabilities and/or medical conditions may call the TSA Cares helpline toll-free at 855-787-2227 at least 72 hours prior to flying with any questions about screening policies, procedures, as well as arrange for assistance at Austin's TSA checkpoint.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General shared opening remarks at a digital media briefing today. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, "We don't have to live with monkeypox."

This is encouraging news since the monkeypox virus (MPXV) outbreak began in early May 2022; there are now over 53,000 cases globally, including 18,989 in the USA.

As of August 31, 2022, the Director-General commented, "Some European countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, are also seeing a clear slowing of the outbreak, demonstrating the effectiveness of public health interventions and community engagement to track infections and prevent transmission."

"These signs confirm what we have said consistently since the beginning: that with the right measures, this is an outbreak that can be stopped."

"And in regions that do not have animal-to-human transmission, such as Africa, this is a virus that can be eliminated."

"But it won't just happen."

"Eliminating monkeypox needs three things: the evidence that it's possible, which we are now beginning to see; political will and commitment; and the implementation of public health measures in the communities that need them most."

The WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern regarding MPXV outbreaks on July 23, 2022.

Additional MPXV outbreak news is posted at Vax-Before-Travel.com/Monketpox.