Latest news with #Respiratory
Scoop
4 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Education Suffers Amid DR Congo Violence, WHO Greenlights RSV Vaccines, More Hurricanes Ahead For Haiti
According to UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, more than 290 schools have been damaged or destroyed in Ituri this year alone, bringing the total number of out-of-school children in the province to over 1.3 million. Protection crisis Between January and April 2025, a surge in violence displaced more than 100,000 people – half of them children. During this period, reported cases of abduction, maiming, sexual violence, and the recruitment and use of children by armed groups rose by 32 per cent compared to the same timeframe last year. John Adbor, UNICEF's representative in the DRC, referred to the situation as a 'protection crisis', stating: 'Violence and conflict are shattering children's right to learn – putting them at far greater risk of being recruited by armed groups, exploited, and abused.' 'The needs are immense, and our resources are not enough,' Mr. Adbor added, referring to UNICEF's emergency response in the region. With more than 1.8 million conflict-affected children now out of school across the DRC, UNICEF is prioritising mental health and psychosocial support through child-friendly spaces, reintegration of children formerly associated with armed groups, and treatment for acute malnutrition. WHO approves two new vaccines to protect infants from RSV Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of severe lung infections in young children globally, resulting in approximately 100,000 deaths each year among children under the age of five. Alarmingly, 97 per cent of these deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. Although RSV can infect people of all ages, 'it is especially harmful to infants, particularly those born prematurely,' said Kate O'Brien from the World Health Organization (WHO). Around half of all RSV-related deaths occur in babies younger than six months. New immunisation products On Friday, WHO issued recommendations for two new immunisation tools: a maternal vaccine, administered to pregnant women in their third trimester to protect their newborns; and a long-acting antibody injection for infants, which begins to protect within a week of administration and lasts for at least five months. Considering the global burden of severe RSV illness in infants, WHO recommends that all countries adopt either the maternal vaccine or the antibody injection as part of their national immunisation strategies. 'These RSV immunisation products can transform the fight against severe RSV disease, dramatically reduce hospitalisations and deaths, and ultimately save many infant lives worldwide,' said Ms O'Brien. Dire hurricane forecasts compound Haiti woes UN humanitarians have raised alarm over Haiti's heightened vulnerability to natural disasters, warning that the country's limited capacity to respond could be severely tested during the 2025 hurricane season – forecast to be significantly more intense than average across Latin America and the Caribbean. Running from June to November, the upcoming season poses a serious threat to the impoverished island nation, where economic crisis, ongoing gang-related violence and rampant insecurity have already displaced over one million people. Displacement sites at risk More than 200,000 people are currently living in displacement sites across the country, many of which are situated in flood-prone areas. Lacking proper shelter, drainage and sanitation, these camps 'leave families acutely vulnerable to storms,' said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is working with national authorities and humanitarian partners to prepare for the hurricane season. Ongoing efforts include contingency planning, mapping of high-risk areas – particularly displacement sites – and strengthening early warning systems. However, humanitarian access remains limited, and preparedness is severely hindered by the lack of pre-positioned supplies throughout the country. This is a 'direct consequence of underfunding,' said Mr. Dujarric, adding that 'funding remains a major obstacle' to the UN's emergency response in Haiti.
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Study finds lab-created antibody effective in preventing severe respiratory illness in infants
A monoclonal antibody -- a protein created in a lab which mimics the work of a natural antibody -- could be highly effective in preventing severe RSV-- Respiratory syncytial virus, a respiratory infection and major cause of serious illness in infants, according to a research. Study findings Findings of the study, published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal, show that injecting infants with the antibody 'nirsevimab' reduces risk of RSV-related hospitalisations by 83 per cent and intensive care admissions by 81 per cent. Infant immunisation programmes could, therefore, help address the health and economic burden due to RSV in the high-risk period following birth, a team of researchers from Canada and the US said. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is one of the leading causes of serious respiratory ill-health in the early years of one's life, and is usually prevalent during early winter months. Globally, the condition is estimated to cause 36 lakh hospitalisations a year among children aged under five, according to the World Health Organization. Nirsevimab was approved in 2023 by regulatory agencies, including the US' Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency, after the lab-created antibody was found to be safe and effective in clinical trials. Effectiveness of nirsevimab Through national programmes, infants in high-income countries, such as in the US and European Union, have been injected with nirsevimab. The researchers said that efficacy of nirsevimab seen in the controlled settings of a clinical trial may not fully reflect how the lab-created antibody performs in real-world settings. Real-world effectiveness studies are essential to evaluate the effectiveness of nirsevimab across diverse infant populations and clinical settings, the team added. For this study, the researchers analysed 27 previously published studies, which were conducted during the RSV seasons of 2023-2024 across five countries -- France, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and the US. The team mainly focussed on infants aged under 12 months. "Nirsevimab is highly effective in preventing RSV-related outcomes in infants, with a pooled real-world effectiveness of 83 per cent against hospitalisation, 81 per cent against ICU admission, and 75 per cent against LRTI (lower respiratory tract infections)," the authors wrote. The lab-created antibody was also found to be more effective among infants aged over three months, compared to those aged under three months. Monoclonal is an antibody, not a vaccine The researchers noted that nirsevimab is not a vaccine, despite being delivered as an injection. A monoclonal antibody is created in a lab to mimic how an antibody works, whereas a vaccine empowers the body's immune system to produce an immune response, which involves creating antibodies, they said. The findings indicate that the benefits of nirsevimab seen in clinical trials could be translated into real-world settings, potentially reducing the burden of RSV disease among infants and use of healthcare resources, the authors said.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Respiratory Disease Vaccines Market Research Report 2025: Analysis and Forecast (2020-2030) Featuring GSK, Johnson & Johnson Services, Pfizer, Sanofi, Serum Institute of India, SINOVAC Biotech & More
Analyze Global, Regional, and Country-Level Growth Trends by Type, Infection, and Distribution Channel Respiratory Disease Vaccine Market Dublin, Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Respiratory Disease Vaccine Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2020-2030F" report has been added to Respiratory Disease Vaccine Market was valued at USD 94.60 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 101.56 billion by 2030, rising at a CAGR of 1.15%. The global aging population is at a higher risk of respiratory diseases. As the elderly population grows, there is a greater need for vaccines to protect this vulnerable group. Government and healthcare organizations worldwide recommend or mandate vaccinations for certain respiratory diseases, such as influenza. These recommendations drive vaccine adoption and coverage rates. The emergence of new respiratory viruses, as witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the importance of preparedness through and organizations invest in vaccines as a key part of pandemic response plans. Public health campaigns and initiatives promote vaccination and raise awareness about the benefits of respiratory disease vaccines. These efforts aim to increase vaccine uptake. International organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF work to expand vaccination access in low- and middle-income countries. Global immunization programs aim to reduce the burden of respiratory Market Drivers Increasing Prevalence of Respiratory Diseases Rising Aging Population Vaccine Mandates and Recommendations Global Immunization Programs Key Market Challenges Vaccine Hesitancy and Misinformation Supply Chain Disruptions Key Market Trends Pneumococcal Vaccines Asia Pacific held the largest market share in the Global Respiratory Disease Vaccine Market in 2024. The Asia Pacific region is home to a substantial portion of the world's population, including densely populated countries like China and India. The sheer number of people in the region creates a significant market for respiratory disease vaccines. Many countries in the Asia Pacific have been experiencing economic growth, leading to increased healthcare spending. This has allowed for greater investment in healthcare infrastructure, including vaccination about the importance of vaccination has been on the rise in the Asia Pacific region. Governments and healthcare organizations have been actively promoting immunization, including respiratory disease vaccines, to combat the burden of preventable diseases. Like many other regions, the Asia Pacific is experiencing demographic changes with a growing aging population. Older adults are more susceptible to respiratory diseases, such as influenza and pneumonia, driving the demand for Market Players GSK PLC Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. Pfizer Inc. Sanofi SA Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. SINOVAC Biotech Ltd. Bavarian Nordic A/S Merck & Co. Inc. AstraZeneca PLC Report ScopeIn this report, the Global Respiratory Disease Vaccine Market has been segmented into the following categories:By Type Viral Vaccine Bacterial Vaccine Combination Vaccine By Infection COVID-19 Influenza Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Pneumonia Others By Distribution Channel Hospital & Retail Pharmacies Government Suppliers Others By Region North America United States Canada Mexico Asia-Pacific China India South Korea Australia Japan Europe Germany France United Kingdom Spain Italy South America Brazil Argentina Colombia Middle East & Africa South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 180 Forecast Period 2024-2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $94.6 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $101.56 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 1.1% Regions Covered Global For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Respiratory Disease Vaccine Market CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
