Several health reports have recently confirmed that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have reached a record high for an eighth consecutive year. 
Cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis have been impacting the health of teenagers, college students, and young adults more than ever.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported these bacteria-related STIs reached more than 2.5 million people over the past year. 

From a modest start in February 2000, ClinicalTrials.gov has become a critical part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) efforts to protect public health.
Making clinical trial information publicly available fulfills the FDA's commitment to research participants and also enhances public trust.
Another significant benefit is the sharing of unfavorable study results.
Before launching ClinicalTrials.gov, many (vaccine) studies went unreported in the scientific literature, leading to a biased perspective on the benefits and risks of interventions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published the latest information on pediatric pneumonia.
Released on December 1, 2023, this data shows the weekly percent of emergency department visits diagnosed with pneumonia is mainly consistent with previous years for children aged 0 to 4 years, with slight increases for those aged 5 to 17 years.
The U.S. National Syndromic Surveillance Program data as of November 25, 2023, indicated that the weekly percent of emergency department visits with diagnosed pneumonia was as follows:

As the global outbreak of the dengue virus continues to impact over 100 countries in late 2023, the Region of the Americas was recently issued an updated Travel Health Advisory.
On November 27, 2023, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reissued its Level 1- Practice Usual Precautions, confirming dengue is a risk in many parts of Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, with some countries reporting increased numbers of cases of the mosquito-transmitted disease.

With the 2023-2024 influenza season accelerating in late 2023, a recent study reported good news for seniors also concerned about Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease.

While the world awaits the approval of a herpes vaccine, a very old vaccine was recently found to offer some protection against this sexually transmitted disease (STD).
As of December 1, 2023, various studies have found the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine offers beneficial off-target effects that might impact the recurrence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections in certain people.

Despite strides in expanding access to insecticide-treated nets and medicines that help prevent malaria in children and pregnant women, more people were infected with malaria in 2022, according to a new report published by the World Health Organization (WHO).
In 2022, there were an estimated 249 million malaria cases globally, exceeding 2019 by 16 million patients. 
The WHO's 2023 World Malaria Report, published on November 30, 2023, discloses the changes that influence the behavior and survival of the malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquito.

While the end of polio is within reach, immunization efforts can easily be derailed by spreading vaccine misinformation, wrote the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
While it is near impossible to eliminate vaccine misinformation after it has spread, national health systems can actively monitor for and address misinformation as it arises. Digital Community Engagement enables countries to bridge the gap between their on-the-ground work and digital communities while fostering trust in childhood immunization.

The U.S. Administration recently confirmed officials met with suppliers to discuss the manufacturing, distribution, and accessibility of Respiratory Syncytia Virus (RSV) immunizations through the private market.
On November 27, 2023, senior administration officials underscored the importance of manufacturers such as Sanofi and AstraZeneca working to meet demand with a sense of urgency.

The journal Vaccines recently reported that microarray patches (MAPs) have the potential to be a safer, more acceptable, easier-to-use, and more cost-effective means for the administration of vaccines than injection by needle and syringe.