Journal Content Recommendation
01
Global Vaccine Market Report 2024: Achievements and Challenges of the 50-Year Immunization Program
On December 19, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) released the 2024 Global Vaccine Market Report (GVMR) on its official website. The release coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), marking a significant milestone. Over the past half-century, EPI has saved more than 150 million lives and contributed to a remarkable 40% reduction in global infant mortality rates. However, despite these significant achievements, stagnation in childhood immunization coverage over the years continues to raise widespread concerns within the global immunization community, leaving millions of children unprotected by vaccines year after year.
The 2024 GVMR provides a comprehensive overview of the global vaccine market in 2023. It covers data from 116 manufacturers producing 88 vaccine products distributed through various procurement channels across 207 countries and regions worldwide. The report not only delves into the market dynamics of vaccines across countries and regions with different income levels but also reveals overall trends in market changes based on historical data. This provides a systematic perspective for understanding various vaccine markets and their common challenges.
The report offers valuable market insights to governments, vaccine manufacturers, global public health institutions, and other decision-makers. It helps stakeholders identify challenges and opportunities in vaccine accessibility, thereby advancing equitable vaccine coverage. This goal aligns closely with the Action Initiative to Accelerate Vaccine Equity proposed in the 2022 Global Vaccine Market Report, an initiative that remains highly relevant in the current global health context.
The WHO hopes that by deepening the understanding of vaccine markets, global stakeholders can collaborate to elevate immunization programs to higher levels, ensuring that vaccines protect more children and communities. This will lay a solid foundation for the sustainable development of global public health.
https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/global-vaccine-market-report-2024
02
Efficacy, reactogenicity, and safety of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine for the prevention of herpes zoster in Chinese adults ≥ 50 years: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial
This article was published by Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutic. This study was an IV observer-blind study (NCT04869982) conducted between 2021 and 2023 in China, and aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) in immunocompetent Chinese adults aged 50 and above. Phase III multi-country studies (ZOE-50/70) demonstrated that the adjuvanted RZV was well tolerated and prevented herpes zoster (HZ) in healthy adults ≥ 50-year-olds, with vaccine efficacy (VE) > 90% across age groups. However, these pivotal trials did not enroll participants from mainland China where RZV is licensed, therefore similar clinical data are missing for this population.
The study was conducted across six centers in China from May 2021 to April 2023, enrolling a total of 6,138 healthy participants aged 50 and above. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups in a 1:1 ratio to receive two doses of the RZV or a placebo, administered two months apart. The primary objective was to evaluate the overall efficacy of the vaccine, with a descriptive analysis by age groups (50–69 years and ≥70 years). The study also assessed the vaccine’s tolerability and safety. During a mean follow-up period of 15.2 (±1.1) months, 31 HZ episodes were confirmed (RZV = 0; placebo = 31) for an incidence rate of 0.0 vs 8.2 per 1000 person-years and an overall VE of 100% (89.82–100). The descriptive VE was 100% (85.29–100) for 50–69-year-olds and 100% (60.90–100) for ≥ 70-year-olds.
Solicited adverse events (AEs) were more frequent in the RZV vs the placebo group (median duration: 1–3 days for both groups). Pain and fatigue were the most frequent local and general AEs (RZV: 72.1% and 43.4%; placebo: 9.2% and 5.3%). The frequencies of unsolicited AEs, serious AEs, potential immune-mediated diseases, and deaths were similar between both groups.
The study results indicate that RZV demonstrates good tolerability and efficacy in preventing herpes zoster among Chinese adults aged 50 and above, consistent with efficacy findings observed in populations of similar age and medical characteristics worldwide. This discovery provides strong scientific evidence for the broader use of RZV in China, further supporting its role as an effective tool for preventing herpes zoster in individuals aged 50 and above.
*This study was funded by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA.
https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2024.2351584
03
Evaluating potential program cost savings with a single-dose HPV vaccination schedule: a modeling study
This article was published by JNCI Monographs, aiming to evaluate the potential cost-saving benefits of the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended single-dose HPV vaccination program. Although current evidence on cost savings from single-dose schedules is limited, this study utilized modeling to analyze the program’s advantages in terms of vaccine procurement and distribution costs.
The analysis leveraged primary data during a study evaluating the HPV vaccine delivery costs and operational context in 5 countries (Ethiopia, Guyana, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, and Uganda) implementing a two-dose schedule. To estimate the cost for the single-dose schedule, we adjusted the two-dose schedule cost estimates to account for differences in the frequency of activities, whether activities differed by HPV vaccine dose or session, and differences in relative quantity or storage volume of HPV vaccines delivered. We estimated the cost per dose and cost per adolescent receiving the full (single-dose or two-dose) vaccination schedule in 2019 US dollars from a health system perspective.
The results indicate that while the per-dose cost of a single-dose regimen may be slightly higher, the average cost per adolescent completing the full vaccination schedule is significantly reduced. For the two-dose regimen, the financial cost per adolescent ranged from $9.64 in Sri Lanka to $23.43 in Guyana; for the single-dose regimen, this cost dropped to $4.84 and $12.34, respectively, achieving savings of up to 50%. In terms of economic costs, the single-dose regimen ranged from $7.86 in Rwanda to $28.53 in Guyana.
The study demonstrates that a single-dose HPV vaccination program can significantly reduce the costs of immunization programs while enhancing their economic affordability and sustainability. This finding provides crucial evidence for countries to optimize their HPV vaccination strategies, facilitating broader vaccine coverage and contributing to the achievement of global public health goals.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jncimonographs/lgae037
04
2024 Pneumonia & Diarrhea Progress Report Card by Johns Hopkins University
The 2024 Global Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhea (GAPPD) report, published by the International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC) at Johns Hopkins University, aims to track and evaluate progress on 10 key GAPPD interventions in the 15 countries and regions with the highest burden of child pneumonia and diarrhea mortality. These interventions include the administration of five vaccines (the third dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine (DTP3), the first dose of the measles-containing vaccine (MCV1), the third dose of the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (Hib3), the third dose of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV3), and the final dose of the rotavirus vaccine (RotaC) as well as treatment indicators.
The report reveals that the included countries have not achieved the target of 90% overall vaccine coverage, and progress in vaccine rollout remains uneven. Coverage rates for DTP3 (72%), Hib3 (72%), and PCV3 (73%) are relatively high, while RotaC has yet to be introduced in some countries, such as Chad and Somalia, where coverage remains at 0%. India and Tanzania have excelled, with multiple vaccine coverage rates exceeding 90%.
Notable improvements in vaccine coverage were observed in some countries: Niger’s MCV1 coverage rose by 15 percentage points, Madagascar’s PCV3 coverage increased by 16 percentage points, and Nigeria’s RotaC coverage surged by 37 percentage points. Angola and Chad also showed progress in PCV3 and basic vaccine coverage (DTP3, Hib3, and MCV1), respectively. However, significant declines were noted in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan, with Sudan’s RotaC coverage dropping by 23 percentage points.
Overall, global vaccine coverage continues to face challenges, particularly in the rollout of rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines in resource-limited countries. Greater efforts are needed to close the coverage gaps between countries and ensure equitable access to these life-saving vaccines.
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/ivac/resources/pneumonia-diarrhea-progress-reports
Policy Updates
01
Notice on the Issuance of the “Shandong Province Compensation Measures for Adverse Reactions to Vaccination (2024 Edition)” by the Shandong Provincial Administration for Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Department of Finance, and Shandong Provincial Health Commission
The “Shandong Province Compensation Measures for Adverse Reactions to Vaccination (2024 Edition)” has been jointly issued by the Shandong Provincial Administration for Disease Control and Prevention (SPADCP), the Provincial Department of Finance, and the Provincial Health Commission and will come into effect on January 15, 2025. This revision aims to further standardize compensation work for adverse reactions to vaccination across the province and ensure the continuity and legality of related policies. The revision is based on the “Notice on the Transfer of Responsibilities and Rights” issued by the Shandong Provincial Health Commission in 2024, which specified the transfer of responsibilities for compensating adverse reactions to immunization program vaccines to the SPADCP. To adapt to new circumstances and management needs, the “2019 Edition of Measures” has undergone a comprehensive update after five years of implementation.
The new “Measures” consist of five chapters and 37 articles, covering all aspects of compensation work, including General Provisions, Investigation, Diagnosis, and Appraisal, Compensation Standards and Calculation Methods, Application Acceptance and Compensation Procedures, and Supplementary Provisions. This revision further clarifies legal bases, removes the now-repealed “Regulations on Vaccine Circulation and Vaccination Management,” and adjusts responsibility assignments, consolidating related duties under joint management by the SPADCP and health departments. Additionally, the delivery of investigation and diagnosis conclusions has been changed from an “expert group” to “disease prevention and control institutions,” and the reimbursement procedures for appraisal fees have been optimized. Regarding compensation procedures, the new “Measures” specify detailed processing timelines and documentation requirements, and introduce exploratory provisions for compensation via commercial insurance, reflecting a trend toward diversifying compensation mechanisms.
Furthermore, while the new “Measures” retain the compensation standards and calculation methods of the “2019 Edition,” they add restrictive clauses for compensation in cases not conforming to laws, regulations, or related departmental provisions to further ensure fairness and justice. The document also proposes optimizing work procedures for grading harm severity and provides clearer guidance on legal recourse.
The issuance of the “2024 Edition Measures” not only strengthens the protection of vaccine recipients’ rights but also establishes a solid institutional foundation for the healthy development of vaccination efforts across the province. By enhancing inter-departmental coordination and optimizing compensation mechanisms, the new “Measures” further improve the scientific and standardized management of vaccine safety in the province, demonstrating Shandong Province’s strong commitment to safeguarding public health security.
http://wsjkw.shandong.gov.cn/zwgk/fdzdgknr/gfxwj/202412/t20241212_4777632.html
Content Editor: Xiaotong Yang
Page Editor: Ziqi Liu
