As mpox cases rise, experts urge complete, 2-part vaccinations

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The number of U.S. mpox cases has more than doubled compared with last year, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been urging clinicians across states to encourage vaccinations for those at risk.

As of May 25, the nation had seen a roughly 150% increase in cases of the disease formerly known as monkeypox — from 434 at that time last year to 1,089 this year, according to the CDC. About a third of the cases are in New York state, New York City (which the CDC reports separately), New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Read more at Stateline.

FDA approves Moderna’s mRNA RSV vaccine for older adults

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The US Food and Drug Administration has approved another vaccine to help protect older people from respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV. The shot, made by Moderna and sold under the name of mResvia, could be another tool in the country’s RSV arsenal in the fall.

Moderna’s shot is the third RSV vaccine for people 60 and older that’s gotten the green light from the FDA and the first mRNA vaccine among them. It’s the company’s second product to receive FDA approval, behind its Covid-19 vaccine.

Read more at CNN.

The Chicken and Egg Problem of Fighting Another Flu Pandemic

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Even a peep of news about a new flu pandemic is enough to set scientists clucking about eggs.

They worried about them in 2005, and in 2009, and they’re worrying now. That’s because millions of fertilized hen eggs are still the main ingredient in making vaccines that, hopefully, will protect people against the outbreak of a new flu strain.

“It’s almost comical to be using a 1940s technology for a 21st-century pandemic,” said Rick Bright, who led the Health and Human Services Department’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) during the Trump administration.

Read more at KFF Health News.

Moderna’s RSV vaccine for older adults approved

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Moderna’s RSV shot for adults 60 and older was approved by the Food and Drug Administration on Friday, joining a growing group of vaccines protecting against the major respiratory threat.

Why it matters: It’s Moderna’s second approved product, and company officials said it’s the first mRNA vaccine approved for a disease other than COVID-19.

Driving the news: Moderna expects to launch its vaccine, mResvia, in time for respiratory virus season this fall.

Read more at Axios.

Third person infected in U.S. bird flu outbreak — but with new symptoms

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Another human case of bird flu linked to sick dairy cows has been detected in Michigan, marking the third farmworker diagnosed with the illness in the United States since March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday. None of the cases are connected.

This is the second farmworker in Michigan in a week to be diagnosed with the illness. And a dairy worker in Texas was diagnosed in March. In those cases, the patients’ only sign of illness was pinkeye, or conjunctivitis.

Read more at NBC.

HPV vaccine can reduce risk of multiple cancers in men, new study suggests

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Nearly two decades after the launch of the first HPV vaccine, mounting evidence shows that people who got vaccinated are dramatically less likely to develop HPV-related cancers in adulthood.

HPV is a common viral infection that causes an estimated 690,000 cases of cancer every year across the globe, according to researchers from the World Health Organization. The virus infects specific tissues, predisposing patients to develop cancers – including cervical, anal, and head and neck cancer.

Read more at ABC.

Researchers are developing an experimental bird flu mRNA vaccine

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Researchers are developing an mRNA-based vaccine against the contagious H5N1 bird flu virus that is spreading rapidly among poultry and cattle and has already infected two humans in the United States.

The experimental vaccine is being produced using the same techniques as the ones used to make mRNA vaccines for the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers said that mRNA vaccines are faster to develop and target to specific virus strains compared with traditional vaccines.

“The mRNA technology allows us to be much more agile in developing vaccines; we can start creating a mRNA vaccine within hours of sequencing a new viral strain with pandemic potential,” said senior researcher Scott Hensley, a professor of Microbiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, in a press release. “During previous influenza pandemics, like the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, vaccines were difficult to manufacture and did not become available until after the initial pandemic waves subsided.”

Read more at Quartz.

How to Stay Safe from Mpox This Summer

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We haven’t reached the summer solstice just yet, but by all other accounts, summer is here. With its arrival, summer brings celebrations of many kinds. As people gather at festivals and other crowded events, the risk for transmitting diseases like mpox increases. In Colorado, we are already seeing an increase in mpox transmission; there have been 61 cases in 2024 as of May 22. You might be wondering what exactly mpox is and how you can stay safe. Today, we’ll share just that, along with who’s most at risk and information on treatments and vaccines.

What is mpox?

Mpox is a viral infection that most notably causes a rash that can appear on the hands, feet, chest, face, mouth, or areas around the genitals. While most infected people will recover within 2 – 4 weeks, mpox can cause severe illness. The rash from mpox starts out looking like pimples, but progresses to blister and then scab and causes itching and pain. The rash is not considered fully healed until a new layer of skin has formed. 

Other symptoms of mpox include flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, and achiness. Sore throat, congestion, or cough may also occur. Symptoms of mpox begin within 21 days of exposure to and may not develop until up to that point. Flu-like symptoms appear first and the rash appears 1 – 4 days later. 

How is mpox spread?

Mpox is spread through close skin-to-skin, intimate, or sexual contact with an infected person. This includes contact with mpox rashes or scabs, contact with saliva, mucus, bodily fluids from an infected person, or extended close face-to-face talking and breathing. Mpox is also spread through contact with objects such as bedding, clothing, or surfaces used by an infected person. 

Mpox is a zoonotic disease, which means it can spread from animals to humans and vice versa. People infected with mpox should avoid contact with animals, including pets, to prevent further spread of the virus. 

It’s not clear if mpox can spread in pools, hot tubs, or splash pads, but the mpox virus is killed in water containing the proper chlorine level recommended by the CDC for disinfection. 

Who is most at risk of contracting mpox?

Anyone can get mpox. The virus does not discriminate. That said, data does indicate that certain people may be at increased risk. These include:

  • Men who have sex with men
  • Transgender people
  • Gender-diverse people
  • Sex workers
  • People who have had (in the last 6 months) or will have more than one sexual or intimate partner
  • People who have one or more sexually transmitted infections
  • People who have sex at large public events in areas with mpox transmission
What should I do if I think I’ve been exposed to mpox?

If you think you’ve been exposed to mpox, you should contact a healthcare provider. Currently, testing is only available to people experiencing a rash, sores, or bumps. Even if you have previously been vaccinated or infected with mpox, you should get tested if you develop a rash and think you may have been exposed. 

At your testing appointment, you will need to take preventive measures to ensure you don’t transmit mpox to others. You will need to wear a mask that completely covers both your nose and mouth and make sure that any rashes or sores are completely covered by either clothing or bandages. 

You can find a list of providers who offer mpox testing on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) website.

If you do test positive for mpox, you will need to isolate yourself from others including those you live with and pets. You should not share any personal items such as soap or toothbrushes. Avoid using razors, contact lenses, and makeup until your rash is fully healed to keep from spreading mpox to other body parts. You should also wash dishes immediately after use. You can find more in-depth isolation guidance, including how to properly disinfect surfaces and laundry, from CDPHE.

You should also notify others with whom you have been in close contact after an mpox diagnosis. This includes not only sexual or intimate partners, but people you’ve hugged, cuddled, or kissed, or shared cups, utensils, towels, bedding, or other objects with. If you prefer to notify people anonymously, there are services like tellyourpartner.org that will notify them and assist them with testing recommendations.

What about vaccines and treatments?  

There is not a specific treatment for mpox. Medicines like over the counter pain relievers and rash relief products can help manage symptoms. If you are at risk for or develop a severe infection, your provider may order antiviral treatment which will help lower the amount of the virus in your body. While we don’t have specific treatments for mpox, we can help prevent its spread by avoiding social gatherings such as raves, parties, or clubs where there is minimal clothing and a chance for close skin-to-skin contact. Staying home if you feel sick is another important way to prevent transmission of diseases like mpox. 

While avoiding gatherings and situations where mpox can spread this summer is helpful, the mpox vaccine is the best way to prevent the spread of mpox. Anyone who thinks they are at risk of exposure to mpox can be vaccinated. You should get vaccinated if you have had intimate or sexual contact with a person at risk of contracting mpox or who may have an mpox infection. Two doses of the mpox vaccine four weeks apart are needed for maximum protection. It will take two weeks after the second dose to be fully protected. Get vaccinated as soon as possible if you are exposed to mpox. 

The mpox vaccine can be given intradermally (between the top layers of skin) or subcutaneously into the fat layer underneath the skin on the back of the arm. Intradermal vaccination may leave a scar. You can ask for subcutaneous vaccination if you’d like to avoid the risk of visible scarring. Both methods of vaccination are equally effective.

You can find a list of Colorado mpox vaccine providers on CDPHE’s website. The vaccine is free and you will not need to show an ID or insurance to receive it.

Vaccines, like the mpox vaccine, are an important tool to ensure a safe and healthy summer. Ensure you and your loved ones are protected. If you have questions about mpox or the mpox vaccine, contact a trusted source of information like your medical provider or your local public health agency. 

Immunize Colorado was formed in 1991 in response to alarmingly low vaccination rates across the state. At the time, only about 50% of Colorado’s children were adequately vaccinated. A group of physicians and other concerned individuals came together to strategize how to protect Coloradans from vaccine-preventable diseases and increase vaccine uptake. Much work remains. Discover ways to support our commitment to healthy Colorado communities at our website or make a donation today!

This COVID vaccine program offered a ‘bridge’ to uninsured adults, and then the funding crumbled

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Uninsured adults will lose an option this August to get vaccinated against COVID for free, weeks before an updated vaccine is expected to be released going into respiratory virus season.

Launched in 2023 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Bridge Access Program began as a way to connect U.S. adults with little to no health insurance to COVID vaccines. It was set into motion just as those vaccines shifted from federal administrators to commercial markets, which complicated access for many who had previously enjoyed more freedom over where they received their dose.

Rather than anyone being able to get a free shot wherever they could get an appointment, people with health coverage can seek out COVID vaccines at sites approved by their insurance plans – or pay out of pocket.

Read more at PBS.

HPV Vaccines Prevent Cancer in Men as Well as Women, New Research Suggests

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New research suggests the HPV vaccine is preventing cancer in men, as well as in women, but fewer boys than girls are getting the shots in the United States.

The HPV vaccine was developed to prevent cervical cancer in women and experts give it credit, along with screening, for lowering cervical cancer rates. Evidence that the shots are preventing HPV-related cancers in men has been slower to emerge, but the new research suggests vaccinated men have fewer cancers of the mouth and throat compared to those who didn’t get the shots. These cancers are more than twice as common in men than in women.

For the study, researchers compared 3.4 million people of similar ages — half vaccinated versus half unvaccinated — in a large health care dataset.

Read more at Time.

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