Latest news with #AndrewPollard
Medscape
16-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Global Childhood Vaccination Stalls, 2030 Targets at Risk
Global childhood vaccination coverage plateaued between 2010 and 2023, according to a new analysis published in The Lancet by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study vaccination research consortium. Between 2010 and 2019, 100 of the 204 countries monitored saw a decline in measles vaccine coverage. Notably, 21 of the 36 high-income countries experienced a drop in coverage for at least one vaccine dose of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP); measles; or polio. 'These types of study will always be limited by the lack of high quality national data from most countries in the world which means there has to be extrapolation and assumption,' said Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group and professor of Infection and Immunity at the Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, in a press statement. 'Nevertheless, these are important data providing a concerning picture of recent declines in vaccine coverage and an increase in the number of zero dose children which risks the future health and lives of millions of children.' Between 1980 and 2023, global coverage of vaccines against DTP, measles, polio, and tuberculosis nearly doubled. These gains reflect the success of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Expanded Program on Immunization, launched in 1974 to ensure universal access to essential vaccines. Between 1980 and 2019, the number of children who received no doses of DTP in their first year of life dropped from 58.8 million to 14.7 million — figures recorded just before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted immunization programs worldwide. To support the WHO's 2019 goal of improving global vaccination coverage by 2030, the GBD consortium conducted an in-depth analysis of routine childhood immunization trends in 204 countries and territories from 1980 to 2023, with projections through 2030. The findings are intended to inform global and regional strategies for closing coverage gaps over the next 5 years. Progress Slowed After 2010 The study found that global progress in childhood immunization stalled around 2010 and has since reversed in several regions. Coverage rates for DTP, measles, and polio declined notably in many countries. Polio remains endemic in parts of the world, including Pakistan and Afghanistan, which continue to report outbreaks caused by wild poliovirus. In Papua New Guinea, less than half of the population is vaccinated against the disease. The COVID-19 pandemic further disrupted global vaccination efforts. Between 2020 and 2023, approximately 15.6 million children missed all three doses of DTP, another 15.6 million missed their first dose of the measles vaccine, 15.9 million went without all three polio vaccine doses, and 9.2 million were not immunized with the BCG vaccine. In 2023 alone, an estimated 15.7 million children worldwide did not receive any dose of the DTP vaccine in their first year of life. Brazil ranked eighth globally, with roughly 452,000 unvaccinated children. The countries with the highest numbers of zero-dose children included Nigeria (2.48 million), India (1.44 million), the Democratic Republic of Congo (882,000), Ethiopia (782,000), Somalia (710,000), Sudan (627,000), and Indonesia (538,000). Mixed Forecasts for 2030 Goals Looking ahead, projections for 2030 suggest that only DTP coverage is on track to reach 90% globally. Coverage for measles and other routine vaccines is expected to remain highly variable by region. Among the 204 countries and territories analyzed, only 85 are currently estimated to have achieved 90% coverage for the full three-dose DTP series, 56 for pneumococcal vaccine, and 57 for the two-dose measles schedule. In the baseline scenario, those numbers are projected to rise by 2030 to 108 countries achieving 90% DTP coverage, 83 for pneumococcal, and 91 for measles. Only high-income regions are expected to maintain ≥ 90% coverage for all three vaccines. In the most optimistic scenario, 186 countries could meet the DTP target, 171 for pneumococcal, and 161 for measles. In contrast, a worst-case scenario would see even high-performing countries fall below the 90% threshold by 2030. Call for Change To achieve the Immunization Agenda 2030 goal of halving the number of zero-dose children and reaching 90% coverage across all vaccines throughout the life course, the study highlights the urgent need for 'transformational improvements in equity.' These include targeted immunization strategies, strengthening of primary care, and efforts to counter vaccine hesitancy. Emily Haeuser, PhD, lead author of the study, emphasized the challenge of improving vaccine delivery and uptake in underserved areas. 'The diversity of challenges and barriers to immunization varies widely across countries and within communities,' she said, pointing to factors such as displacement, armed conflict, political instability, economic uncertainty, climate crises, misinformation, and vaccine hesitancy. 'This underscores the need for new, locally tailored solutions.' Helen Bedford, PhD, professor of child health at University College London, London, England, who was not involved in the study, added that the decline in vaccine uptake stems from a complex set of issues. 'Addressing these challenges requires commitment and resources to tackle growing social inequalities, misinformation about vaccine safety, and the need to rebuild public trust in immunization programs,' she said. 'Vaccination remains our most powerful tool to protect child health, but its success depends on sustained investment, equity, and public confidence.'
Euronews
25-06-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Why children aren't getting vaccinated anymore
Millions of children are skipping routine vaccinations, and the downward trend could continue in the coming years, according to a new global study. Over the past half-century, routine immunisations against diseases like measles, polio, and tuberculosis (TB) have saved an estimated 154 million lives, mostly among children under the age of five, according to the report published in The Lancet medical journal. But both wealthy and developing countries are now backsliding on vaccinations due to healthcare disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of vaccine misinformation, the study found. Experts believe recent cuts to global aid will make the situation worse. The share of children who got the measles vaccine, for example, dropped in 100 countries between 2010 and 2019, according to the analysis of 11 immunisations across 204 countries and territories. The consequences can be fatal. Measles outbreaks in Europe and the United States have killed 17 people and sickened thousands of others over the past year. 'More children will be hospitalised, permanently damaged and die from fully preventable diseases if the trend is not reversed,' Andrew Pollard, who leads the Oxford Vaccine Group and was not involved with the new study, said in a statement. Millions of children went without routine jabs due to COVID-era disruptions between 2020 and 2023, the analysis found. An estimated 15.6 million children missed a measles jab or the full three doses of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, while 15.9 million did not get the polio vaccine and 9.18 million missed the TB jab. By 2023, there were 15.7 million so-called 'zero-dose children' who likely had not gotten any vaccines, which is down from 58.8 million in 1980 but an increase from pre-pandemic levels, the study found. Today, most of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, though the European Union and the United Kingdom are home to more than 165,000 zero-dose children. Vaccine coverage still falling While vaccination rates tend to be higher in Europe, they are not immune to these trends. Since 2010, vaccine coverage has fallen for at least one jab in 21 wealthy countries, including Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. 'The challenge now is how to improve vaccine delivery and uptake in areas of low coverage,' Emily Haeuser, the study's lead author and a researcher at the US-based Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), said in a statement. The findings also indicate that key global health targets will likely not be met. Health officials wanted to halve the number of zero-dose children between 2019 and 2030, but only 18 countries had met this threshold by 2023. Health experts say recent cuts to global health funding could further undermine that goal. 'Around the world, the increasing number of countries torn apart by civil unrest and wars, combined with the drastic cuts in foreign aid from rich nations, such as USA and UK, makes it difficult to get vaccines to many populations,' David Elliman, an honorary associate professor at University College London who was not involved with the study, said in a statement. Even so, researchers called for renewed investment in immunisation campaigns, as well as targeted efforts to combat vaccine hesitancy and misinformation and initiatives to rebuild public trust in health authorities. 'It is in everyone's interest that this situation is rectified,' Elliman said. 'Not only is it a moral imperative to improve the health of all children [but also] no one is safe until everyone is safe'.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
World-first gonorrhoea vaccine launched by NHS England as infections soar
England will be the first country in the world to start vaccinating people against the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea. It will not be available for everyone. The focus will mainly be on gay and bisexual men with a history of multiple sexual partners or an STI. The vaccine is 30-40% effective, but NHS England hopes it will reverse soaring numbers of infections. There were more than 85,000 cases in 2023 – the highest since records began in 1918. Gonorrhoea does not always have symptoms, but they can include pain, unusual discharge, inflammation of the genitals and infertility. How many people will chose to be immunised is uncertain. But projections by Imperial College London show that if the jab proves popular then it could prevent 100,000 cases and save the NHS nearly £8m over the next decade. Max, a sexual health campaigner, told BBC Newsbeat he would "100%" take the vaccine after being diagnosed with gonorrhoea twice within a year. "I think this is great that it's been announced", he says, adding: "It's going to take the pressure off the clinics, it's just a big win all round." Vaccination will start in August and will be offered through sexual health services. Public Health Scotland said it was also working on plans to launch its own programme for high-risk individuals. BBC Newsbeat has asked health bodies in Wales and Northern Ireland whether they intend to do the same. This vaccine wasn't designed for gonorrhoea. It's the meningitis B vaccine currently given to babies. But the bacteria that cause the two diseases are so closely related that the MenB jab appears to cut gonorrhoea cases by around a third. That will require a delicate conversation in sexual health clinics as the vaccine will not eliminate the risk of catching gonorrhoea. It is normally caught while having sex without a condom. But Prof Andrew Pollard, the chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which recommended the vaccine, said despite it only being 30% effective, it was "worth having" and could have "a huge impact" overall. The decision is not just about the record numbers of cases. Gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly difficult to treat. Most cases are treated with a single dose of antibiotics, but there is an 80-year history of the bacterium which causes gonorrhoea repeatedly evolving resistance to our antibiotics. It's happening to the current treatments too and is why some doctors are concerned gonorrhoea could one-day become untreatable. The best way to deal with a drug-resistant infection is to never catch it in the first place. Dr Amanda Doyle, from NHS England, said: "The launch of a world-first routine vaccination for gonorrhoea is a huge step forward for sexual health and will be crucial in protecting individuals, helping to prevent the spread of infection and reduce the rising rates of antibiotic resistant strains of the bacteria." The people most affected by gonorrhoea in the UK are those aged 16-to-25, gay and bisexual men, and those of black and Caribbean ancestry. The vaccine – which costs around £8 per dose – is value for money when primarily offered to gay and bisexual men, rather than all teenagers. However, clinicians do have the freedom to use their own judgement and offer the vaccine to people using sexual health services they think are of equally high risk. People will be offered mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), HPV and hepatitis vaccines at the same time. Potential new antibiotic for treating gonorrhoea Don't ditch condoms, sexual health experts say Prof Matt Phillips, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said: "This is excellent news and a landmark moment for sexual health in England. "Gonorrhoea diagnoses are at their highest since records began and this has the potential to help us to turn that around." It is not known how long the protection provided by the vaccine will last or how often booster jabs might be required. The decision comes almost a year and a half after a vaccination programme was recommended by the UK's JCVI. Sexual health campaigners had criticised that long wait, but have welcomed this decision. Katie Clark, head of policy and advocacy at the Terrance Higgins Trust, called it a "huge win". Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
World-first gonorrhoea vaccine launched by NHS England as infections soar
England will be the first country in the world to start vaccinating people against the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea. It will not be available for everyone. The focus will mainly be on gay and bisexual men with a history of multiple sexual partners or an STI. The vaccine is 30-40% effective, but NHS England hopes it will reverse soaring numbers of infections. There were more than 85,000 cases in 2023 – the highest since records began in 1918. Gonorrhoea does not always have symptoms, but they can include pain, unusual discharge, inflammation of the genitals and infertility. How many people will chose to be immunised is uncertain. But projections by Imperial College London show that if the jab proves popular then it could prevent 100,000 cases and save the NHS nearly £8m over the next decade. Max, a sexual health campaigner, told BBC Newsbeat he would "100%" take the vaccine after being diagnosed with gonorrhoea twice within a year. "I think this is great that it's been announced", he says, adding: "It's going to take the pressure off the clinics, it's just a big win all round." Vaccination will start in August and will be offered through sexual health services. Public Health Scotland said it was also working on plans to launch its own programme for high-risk individuals. BBC Newsbeat has asked health bodies in Wales and Northern Ireland whether they intend to do the same. This vaccine wasn't designed for gonorrhoea. It's the meningitis B vaccine currently given to babies. But the bacteria that cause the two diseases are so closely related that the MenB jab appears to cut gonorrhoea cases by around a third. That will require a delicate conversation in sexual health clinics as the vaccine will not eliminate the risk of catching gonorrhoea. It is normally caught while having sex without a condom. But Prof Andrew Pollard, the chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which recommended the vaccine, said despite it only being 30% effective, it was "worth having" and could have "a huge impact" overall. The decision is not just about the record numbers of cases. Gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly difficult to treat. Most cases are treated with a single dose of antibiotics, but there is an 80-year history of the bacterium which causes gonorrhoea repeatedly evolving resistance to our antibiotics. It's happening to the current treatments too and is why some doctors are concerned gonorrhoea could one-day become untreatable. The best way to deal with a drug-resistant infection is to never catch it in the first place. Dr Amanda Doyle, from NHS England, said: "The launch of a world-first routine vaccination for gonorrhoea is a huge step forward for sexual health and will be crucial in protecting individuals, helping to prevent the spread of infection and reduce the rising rates of antibiotic resistant strains of the bacteria." The people most affected by gonorrhoea in the UK are those aged 16-to-25, gay and bisexual men, and those of black and Caribbean ancestry. The vaccine – which costs around £8 per dose – is value for money when primarily offered to gay and bisexual men, rather than all teenagers. However, clinicians do have the freedom to use their own judgement and offer the vaccine to people using sexual health services they think are of equally high risk. People will be offered mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), HPV and hepatitis vaccines at the same time. Potential new antibiotic for treating gonorrhoea Don't ditch condoms, sexual health experts say Prof Matt Phillips, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said: "This is excellent news and a landmark moment for sexual health in England. "Gonorrhoea diagnoses are at their highest since records began and this has the potential to help us to turn that around." It is not known how long the protection provided by the vaccine will last or how often booster jabs might be required. The decision comes almost a year and a half after a vaccination programme was recommended by the UK's JCVI. Sexual health campaigners had criticised that long wait, but have welcomed this decision. Katie Clark, head of policy and advocacy at the Terrance Higgins Trust, called it a "huge win". Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Blackrock Silver Begins Placement of Hydrologic Monitoring Wells at Tonopah West
The collection of hydrologic data from piezometers is a crucial step in obtaining permits for the proposed exploration decline, test mining and bulk sample extraction at Tonopah West Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2025) - Blackrock Silver Corp. (TSXV: BRC) (OTCQX: BKRRF) (FSE: AHZ0) ("Blackrock" or the "Company") announces commencement of a core drilling program for piezometer instrumentation installation, which is a critical path item for the permitting process of the proposed exploration decline, test mining and bulk sample extraction at the Company's Tonopah West project ("Tonopah West") located in Nye and Esmeralda Counties, Nevada. The Company's hydrologic program includes four core holes, totalling 1,565 metres (5,150 ft). Each drillhole will contain multiple piezometers strategically placed to measure water flow along faults, lithologic contacts and within specific lithologies along the projected alignment of the proposed decline. The data collected from these piezometers will help address questions related to water management in an underground mine, including information for required permits, engineering design and water disposal. The hydrologic program aims to gather critical hydrologic data to support the permitting and development phases of Tonopah West. This initiative highlights Blackrock's commitment to advancing Tonopah West while adhering to stringent environmental and regulatory standards. The data collected from these piezometers will inform the design and management of the proposed exploration decline and assist in optimizing the design for safety and efficiency. "The initiation of our hydrologic program marks a pivotal milestone as we continue to advance our high-grade Tonopah West silver-gold asset towards development," commented Andrew Pollard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Blackrock. "The installation of these monitoring wells is a critical component in unlocking the permitting process for our proposed exploration decline and test mining. By gathering essential hydrologic data, we're not only optimizing our mine plan for efficiency and safety but also reinforcing our commitment to responsible development as we aim to build a project that meets the highest regulatory and sustainability standards." Qualified Persons Blackrock's exploration activities at Tonopah West are conducted and supervised by Mr. William Howald, Executive Chairman of Blackrock. Mr. William Howald, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist #11041, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. He has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release. About Blackrock Silver Corp. Backed by gold and silver ounces in the ground, Blackrock is a junior precious metal focused exploration and development company driven to add shareholder value. Anchored by a seasoned Board of Directors, the Company is focused on its 100% controlled Nevada portfolio of properties consisting of low-sulphidation, epithermal gold and silver mineralization located along the established Northern Nevada Rift in north-central Nevada and the Walker Lane trend in western Nevada. Additional information on Blackrock Silver Corp. can be found on its website at and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR+ at Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of Canadian and United States securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things: the Company's hydrologic program and the intended use of the information gathered therefrom; exploration, permitting and test mining at Tonopah West; and the Company's strategic plans. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include, among other things: conditions in general economic and financial markets; accuracy of assay results; geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services; future operating costs; the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones; the availability of skilled labour and no labour related disruptions at any of the Company's operations; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled activities; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals for operations are received in a timely manner; the ability to secure and maintain title and ownership to properties and the surface rights necessary for operations; and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation and uncertainties of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project costs overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; availability of funds; failure to delineate potential quantities and grades of the target zones based on historical data; general market and industry conditions; and those factors identified under the caption "Risks Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For Further Information, Contact: Andrew PollardPresident and Chief Executive Officer(604) 817-6044info@ To view the source version of this press release, please visit
