The epidemiology of human papillomavirus (HPV) in men is less known than in women, according to research in a study published in The Lancet Global Health.
In early September 2023, a group of researchers published a global systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the prevalence of genital HPV infection in the male population.
They identified 5,685 publications from database searches, of which 65 studies were included from 35 countries.
Colorado doctors are predicting an earlier flu season, and are urging everyone to get the flu shot as early as possible.
11 News spoke with UCHealth, which uses predictions for the upcoming flu season based on trends in the Southern Hemisphere. According to health officials, in Australia, the combination of COVID-19, RSV and the flu reached higher-than-average levels.
“The reason we pick Australia is because the data is available and they’re opposite us in terms of seasons. … The seasonality of these viruses is not unique to the United States,” said Senior Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control Dr. Michelle Barron.
Covid cases have risen. Flu season is approaching. And new vaccines for the virus known as R.S.V. recently became available.
This swirl of developments has left many people wondering which vaccine shots they should be getting and when. Today’s newsletter offers a guide.
Health authorities and scientists say they are now racing to study BA.2.86, a new strain of the virus that causes COVID-19, after the highly mutated variant was spotted spreading in multiple countries around the world and at least four different U.S. states.
For now, officials say they remain well-equipped to deal with the strain if it continues to spread. Early assessments suggest current treatments and tests, as well as upcoming vaccines to be rolled out in September, will not be rendered useless by BA.2.86.
Kindergartners across the country were granted exemptions to required vaccines at a higher rate last school year than pre-pandemic numbers.
Vaccine exemptions among the nation’s kindergartners are trending upward, with 2.6% being granted exemptions for the 2021-22 school year, according to the latest data, compared to 2.2% in the 2020-21 school year.
Since 2021, COVID-19 vaccines have been available to the US public free of charge through the US government’s COVID-19 vaccination program. Government procurement and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine started to phase out as of August 3, 2023, ending in mid- to late September 2023. The end date is anticipated to coincide with the Food and Drug Administration’s authorization of a new monovalent vaccine with XBB.1.5 composition and the transition of COVID-19 vaccine distribution to commercial-market mechanisms.
The updated COVID vaccine should become available in mid-September, along with a likely recommendation that everyone should get the booster shot, U.S. health officials said this week.
The timeline was laid out by officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration in a briefing with reporters.
“Vaccination is going to continue to be key this year because immunity wanes and because the COVID-19 virus continues to change,” a CDC official said. “For those reasons, vaccines remain the best protection against hospitalization and death. And in the case of the COVID vaccines they also help reduce the likelihood of ‘long COVID.'”
Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations have increased statewide, mirroring a rise in transmission that is taking place across the United States as immunity wanes and new variants circulate, according to public health officials.
COVID-19 cases in Colorado have gradually increased since June, but now the uptick in transmission is coming as children are heading back to school and as the cold and flu season is approaching, both of which could further spread the virus, they said.
Summer is soon coming to an end, and health officials are planning ahead for flu season. On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made its annual flu shot recommendations for health professionals ahead of flu season.
They again underscore the importance of flu shots: Preliminary estimates show that last season, people vaccinated against the flu were about 40% to 70% less likely to be hospitalized because of flu illness or related complications, according to the CDC.
The public agency maintains the effectiveness of flu vaccines depends, in part, on the match between the vaccine viruses and circulating viruses.
Here’s what to know about this year’s recommendations:
The number of kindergarteners in Colorado entering school this month who have completed their childhood immunizations fell to 88.4%, tying the lowest point in the past six years.
The measles, mumps, and rubella shot has even lower compliance.
“About 86.8 percent of kindergartners were vaccinated this latest year and it’s down about 2 percent,” said Emily Bustos, Executive Director of Immunize Colorado.
“So, we are seeing specifically that one having more decrease.”
All three diseases covered by the vaccine are highly contagious.
