New research being presented at the ESCMID Global Congress shows that ChatGPT, a free-to-use, and widely accessible AI-powered chatbot, could be an effective tool in reducing vaccine hesitancy among the general public.
Even though AI chatbots like ChatGPT were introduced in late 2022, they have been struggling with accuracy issues.
Furthermore, individuals who mistrust health professionals may use technology to address their concerns.
AI Technologies Correctly Curtail Vaccine Misconceptions
Smallpox's Return Would Cause Global Concerns
An ad hoc committee under the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine announced a study that analyzed the lessons derived from the recent pandemic and the mpox multi-country outbreak.
The Future State of Smallpox Medical Countermeasures report argues that the United States and the global community should prepare for smallpox to make an unfortunate return.
According to the report, smallpox could return through an accidental leak or even an intentional act.
Why Was the Maternal RSV Vaccine Study Stopped
Recently, a clinical trial enrollment was stopped ahead of schedule because of safety concerns. The trial's early findings indicated that the risk of severe lower respiratory tract disease in infants caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was lower with the maternal vaccine candidate than with the placebo.
However, the risk of preterm birth was found to be higher with the candidate vaccine.
Transient Increase Seen in Contraceptive Use After Dobbs Decision
Temporary increase seen in month after Dobbs, followed by decrease in contraceptive services, apart from vasectomy
Pediatric Mental Health ED Visits Lower Than Expected in Late Pandemic
Visit rates higher than expected for females and for specific mental health conditions during 2022
U.S. May Lose Measles Free Status
After being designated measles-free for two decades, the United States risks losing its status due to recent measles outbreaks.
Over the past fifteen months, 338 cases of measles have been reported in the U.S. Among these cases, 96% were associated with measles virus importation.
Among the 326 import-associated measles cases, 61% occurred among U.S. residents who were eligible for vaccination but were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown.
Furthermore, in 2024 alone, seven measles outbreaks (3+ cases) have been reported in the U.S.
Philippines Deploys Pentavalent Vaccine Against Pertussis Outbreak
The Department of Health (DOH) in the Republic of the Philippines has taken action to address the Pertussis outbreak.
Data as of March 30, 2024, indicates that there have been 1,112 Pertussis (whooping cough) cases since the start of 2024, which is almost 34 times higher than during the same period in 2023.
The majority of these cases were found in unvaccinated children under the age of five.
On April 11, 2024, the DOH reassured the public that outbreak response immunization was underway—however, the national government's inventory is in short supply.
Real World Evidence Supports Protein-based COVID-19 Vaccination
In the early stages of the recent pandemic, clinical studies reported differing levels of effectiveness for COVID-19 vaccines.
One reason for this was that people's immune composition was continuously changing due to new SARS-CoV-2 variants, booster doses, and updated vaccine types.
However, one missing data component was needed to understand these innovative vaccines' effectiveness fully.
Recently, real-world evidence was published that supports the continued use of protein-based COVID-19 vaccines.
SARS-CoV-2 Positivity Not Linked to New Asthma Diagnosis in Children
Black race, food allergies, allergic rhinitis significantly associated with new diagnosis of asthma
Decline Seen in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Colon, Rectal Cancer in 2020
Patients undergoing surgery in 2020 versus 2019 had more advanced clinical and pathological tumor stage