The prospect of Israel making it mandatory to get an experimental vaccine against the new coronavirus has quickly become a concern, commented Ronny Linder in an editorial published by The Haaretz.
‘This possibility didn't emerge from thin air, but rather comments by the professionals in charge of managing Israel’s COVID-19 pandemic response.’
Will Israel Mandate COVID-19 Vaccination?
Measles Outbreaks Returned in Every Region
Around the world, measles cases surged in 2019 reaching the highest level in 23 years, reported the World Health Organization (WHO), and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Global measles fatalities climbed nearly 50 percent since 2016, claiming an estimated 207,500 lives in 2019 alone, reported the WHO on November 12, 2020.
New COVID-19 Vaccine Billing Codes Issued
The Chicago based American Medical Association (AMA) published an update to the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code set that includes new vaccine-specific codes to report immunizations for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
Announced on November 10, 2020, the CPT Editorial Panel approved a unique CPT code for each of two coronavirus vaccines as well as administration codes unique to each such vaccine.
Texas Activates Overwhelming Resources to Confront Coronavirus Outbreaks
Coronavirus outbreaks are being confirmed throughout the state of Texas, but incremental medical resources are being sent to areas in the southwest and Mexico border.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the state has deployed additional medical resources to the cities of El Paso and Lubbock to help manage COVID-19 outbreaks in these communities.
According to the City of Lubbock’s COVID dashboard and El Paso’s dashboard, both cities are reporting additional coronavirus infections, and several COVID-19 fatalities each day.
Fewest Influenza Cases Confirmed in Years
The World Health Organization (WHO) new influenza report ‘should be interpreted with caution as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has influenced to varying extents health-seeking behaviors, as well as testing priorities and capacities in Member States.’
The WHO’s Influenza Update Report #380 published on November 9, 2020, says ‘various hygiene and physical distancing measures implemented by Member States to reduce SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus transmission have likely played a role in reducing influenza virus transmission.’
Fewest Influenza Cases Confirmed in Years
The World Health Organization (WHO) new influenza report ‘should be interpreted with caution as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has influenced to varying extents health-seeking behaviors, as well as testing priorities and capacities in Member States.’
The WHO’s Influenza Update Report #380 published on November 9, 2020, says ‘various hygiene and physical distancing measures implemented by Member States to reduce SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus transmission have likely played a role in reducing influenza virus transmission.’
U.S. FDA Offers Guidance to Enhance Diversity in Clinical Trials
The U.S Food and Drug Administration issued final guidance with the agency’s recommendations on designing and executing clinical trials of drugs and biologics that include people with different demographic characteristics and non-demographic characteristics.
Are Pharmacies the Problem or the COVID-19 Vaccination Solution
When New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and others called attention to potential shortcomings in the US government's COVID-19 vaccination plan, he highlighted under-served communities access to pharmacy services.
On November 1, 2020, Governor Cuomo’s press statement “criticized the current federal plan for relying on the existing influenza vaccination infrastructure and private healthcare entities, which have historically resulted in under-vaccination rates and worse health outcomes in communities of color.”
Herpes Vaccine Candidates Have Alternative Approaches
The worldwide need for an effective herpes simplex virus (HSV) vaccine remains a priority because it is a common infection that causes physical and economic disadvantages.
A new study published by Nature on November 6, 2020, reported the recent ‘failure of the subunit gD2 vaccine in a clinical trial demonstrated that new approaches to HSV vaccines are needed, especially those that present multiple HSV antigens.’
New York Lawyers Recommend Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations
The New York State Bar Association passed a resolution urging the state to consider enforcing mandatory COVID-19 vaccination, even if people object for “religious, philosophical or personal reasons.”
Mary Beth Morrissey, chair of the New York Bar association’s Health Law Section’s Task Force on COVID-19, said in a statement on November 7, 2020, “The authority of the state to respond to a public health crisis is well-established in constitutional law.”