Viruses & Vaccinations

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Flu vaccines didn’t work that well in the US, officials find

NEW YORK (AP) — As the U.S. flu season winds down, health officials say the flu vaccine didn’t work very well, with one of its worst effectiveness rates in more than a decade.

https://apnews.com/article/flu-season-cdc-subclade-k-vaccination-11952f89201d2396ec0c52461441c82b?

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Lyme Disease Vaccine

Pfizer is seeking regulatory approval for a Lyme disease vaccine that showed 73.2% efficacy in a late-stage clinical trial. If cleared, it would be the first human vaccine against the tick-borne disease approved in over two decades.  Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected deer tick, with symptoms ranging from a rash to fatigue and arthritis. Roughly 500,000 Americans are diagnosed with or treated for the bacterial infection annually (explore prevalence near you), and most fully recover after a 10- to 14-day course of oral antibiotics. Some patients—including several celebrities—report persistent symptoms, though chronic Lyme disease is not recognized by conventional medicine. The last human Lyme disease vaccine was introduced in 1998 but withdrawn in 2002 after unproven side-effect concerns sank demand. Pfizer's vaccine application may face scrutiny; too few trial participants contracted Lyme disease to prove the shot was effective in at least 20% of the worst cases—a key metric.  PS—A recent edition of our 1440 Health & Medicine newsletter explored Lyme disease. See the best resources we found on the topic here, and sign up for the weekly deep-dive series here.

[Asia Joe]

Pfizer and Valneva’s experimental Lyme disease vaccine, VLA15, failed to meet the primary endpoint of its late-stage clinical trial, even though the shot demonstrated more than 70% efficacy against confirmed Lyme disease. The result creates an unusual tension: a vaccine that clearly reduced infections in a large, well-designed study still did not clear the statistical bar its own trial protocol set. For the millions of people living in tick-endemic areas of the United States and Europe who have had no vaccine option for more than two decades, the outcome raises hard questions about what happens next......

https://www.msn.com/en-us/science/biology/pfizer-valneva-lyme-vaccine-misses-primary-endpoint-despite-efficacy/ar-AA1ZiDz3

The distinction matters for patients. A vaccine with 70%-plus efficacy against a disease that can cause joint pain, neurological complications, and prolonged symptoms in some patients is clinically meaningful. Yet regulators evaluate products against the endpoints sponsors pre-register, not against informal benchmarks or post hoc interpretations. The gap between “this vaccine works” and “this trial succeeded” is where VLA15 now sits, and it is a gap that can delay or complicate any path to licensure

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6 years after COVID-19, Arkansas leaders need to do more to battle vaccine skepticism

Like most people in Arkansas, my daily routine changed completely six years ago this month when the state announced its first case of COVID-19. My beat as an AP statehouse reporter shifted almost entirely to covering the pandemic’s impact on nearly every aspect of Arkansans’ lives.

https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/6-years-after-covid-19-arkansas-leaders-need-do-more-battle-vaccine-skepticism?

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Adult Vaccines: Protect Yourself Against Tetanus and More

https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/ss/cm/slideshow-adult-vaccines?

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On the rise

RSV continues to spread later into the spring than usual, so most states extended the immunization window for infants and toddlers. The respiratory virus can cause serious illness in young children.

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Too young for the MMR shot, babies are at high risk in measles outbreaks

Babies too young to be vaccinated are among the most vulnerable in a measles outbreak. The disease can wreak havoc on their fragile bodies, making them so sick they stop eating and drinking. They can develop pneumonia or brain swelling, and sometimes die. Babies depend entirely on herd immunity — at least 95% of a community must be vaccinated to prevent measles outbreaks. But dropping vaccination rates have eroded protection and across the nation. “Babies become sitting ducks,” said Dr. Deborah Greenhouse, a pediatrician. “The burden is on all of us to protect all of us.” Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

Updated rules for CDC vaccine advisory panel reflect Kennedy skepticism

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Adult Vaccines: Protect Yourself Against Tetanus and More

Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on March 07, 2025

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/ss/skin-viral-rashes-guide

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‘Collective remembering’

With nearly 1,000 confirmed cases and at least 21 hospitalizations over six months, South Carolina’s measles outbreak — the largest in decades — is finally over. Experts explain how they reined it in.

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What Is Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome?

Hantavirus is a group of viruses that spread through contact with infected rats and mice. It causes flu-like symptoms that include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, chills, and nausea. The symptoms can get worse quickly and may lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), which can be life-threatening. 

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-hantavirus-pulmonary-syndrome?

[phkrause]

💉 Vaccine reckoning

Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A pivotal series of decisions in the next few months will determine the shape of U.S. vaccine policy for years to come, Axios' Adriel Bettelheim reports. Why it matters: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. came into office promising to restore public trust in vaccines and to scrutinize the medical and pharmaceutical establishment. But his boldest moves have drawn political blowback, along with charges that he's spreading misinformation and debunked theories. 💉 State of play: Kennedy shook up precedent and touched off a legal firestorm with moves like limiting eligibility for COVID shots and narrowing the schedule of recommended immunizations for children. Some of his most sweeping efforts have been temporarily frozen by courts. And the actions of a handpicked group of advisers have been stalled. But it's possible that Kennedy will try again by appointing a new panel of advisers. A decision is expected by the end of the year in a high-profile case, brought by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups, to overturn Kennedy's childhood vaccine recommendations. 🔎 Trump's continued interest in long-discredited links between vaccines and autism remains a wild card in any federal policymaking. ps:Pathetic, truly pathetic!!!!!

[phkrause]

Measles smashes 2025 levels

Data: Johns Hopkins; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals The number of reported U.S. measles cases this year has already surpassed last year's final total, Axios' Tina Reed writes from the latest Johns Hopkins University data. 2,295 cases have been reported so far in 2026, a 35-year record. 2,286 cases were reported across all of 2025. 💉 Measles is rebounding in areas with low vaccine coverage, threatening the country's elimination status. 95% of reported cases are among people who are unvaccinated, or whose vaccination status is unknown. While overall vaccination rates are still relatively high, public health officials say they must remain above 95% to maintain herd immunity. William Moss, a professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, tells The Washington Post: "The fact that we've reached this total this early in the year is really a reflection of those large outbreaks earlier in the year, particularly in South Carolina and Utah." "It's very frustrating. This is a reflection that we have been unable to stop measles virus transmission in this country." (Gift link.) 🤧 Measles symptoms often include a cough, high fever and conjunctivitis, plus a telltale rash. It can escalate into severe ear infections, pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain that can lead to permanent brain damage and even death). On average, measles kills 1–3 of every 1,000 infected children. The rebound comes as a number of key public health positions — including CDC director and surgeon general — remain vacant, and after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. initially downplayed the virus' threat. He's since said that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles spread, while noting that vaccination is a personal choice. Go deeper. ps:Just imagine we had Measles beaten and this administration just undid all the good that previous ones had  done!!

[phkrause]

There are already more US measles cases this year than in all of 2025

The number of measles cases in the U.S. has surpassed the record-breaking tally for all of 2025, with five more months of 2026 still to come.

https://apnews.com/article/2026-measles-cases-cdc-outbreak-elimination-371823df32b92169c3d220295f00f054?

ps:Just pathetic!!!!!

[Asia Joe]

On 7/24/2026 at 5:28 AM, phkrause said:

🤧 Measles symptoms often include a cough, high fever and conjunctivitis, plus a telltale rash.

• It can escalate into severe ear infections, pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain that can lead to permanent brain damage and even death).
• On average, measles kills 1–3 of every 1,000 infected children.

I had measles, as did all my classmates and neighborhood friends.  Not a big deal.

1 in every 1000 children gets sicker. 

Quote

As of 2021, about 1 in 127 persons worldwide are estimated to have autism, while in the United States, the rate is approximately 1 in 31 children.

Now that's a big deal. 

[phkrause]

🩺 Measles hotspots

Data: CDC. Map: Sara Wise/Axios Seven states account for the majority of measles cases in the United States, Axios' Herb Scribner reports. Why it matters: The U.S. measles case count has officially shattered last year's record — hitting levels unseen in more than three decades, according to new CDC data. ⚠️ As of late July, the CDC had recorded 2,318 cases for the year. The vast majority of those sickened are under 20 years old and are either unvaccinated or their status is unknown. There have been no recorded deaths. By the numbers: South Carolina has reported 670 cases, while Utah has reported 522 cases. Together, they account for half of the cases. South Carolina, Utah, Texas, Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania and Arizona represent 84% of the total. 23 states — plus D.C. — have seen three or fewer cases, per the CDC. Go deeper.

[phkrause]

On 7/27/2026 at 8:53 AM, Asia Joe said:

Now that's a big deal. 

Yes it also is a big deal!! One of my grandsons is autistic!!

[phkrause]

Measles cases have reached a 35-year high

Measles cases this year have surpassed all of 2025 to become the worst since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000, with cases now in 44 states and the District of Columbia, according to a federal report released Friday. 

https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/07/27/repub/measles-cases-have-reached-a-35-year-high/?

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Adult Vaccines: Protect Yourself Against Tetanus and More

Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on March 07, 2025

https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/ss/cm/slideshow-adult-vaccines

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AI-Designed Viruses

Scientists have used artificial intelligence to design new viruses that don't occur in nature and can infect bacteria, according to a study published yesterday. The breakthrough could accelerate efforts to fight antibiotic-resistant infections by creating customized viruses. The researchers trained AI models on the genetic blueprints of roughly 2 million bacteriophage—viruses that infect bacteria, not humans—before building thousands of new viral designs. Lab testing showed 16 AI-made viruses killed E. coli, including strains resistant to naturally occurring phages. The work could help advance phage therapy, an experimental alternative to antibiotics, as drug-resistant infections are expected to kill roughly 40 million people worldwide by 2050. Researchers caution that increasingly powerful AI tools raise biosafety and biosecurity questions.  Bacteriophages are the most abundant biological entities on Earth, including in the human body. More than 10 nonillion bacteriophages exist at any given time.  Meet the deadliest viruses that hunt bacteria. (w/video)

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🎒 Kindergarten vaccine rates drop

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Vaccination rates among American kindergartners fell during the 2025–2026 school year, Axios' Adriel Bettelheim and Tina Reed write from new CDC data. Exemptions from one or more vaccines increased in 41 states and D.C., growing nationally to 4.2% from 3.6% the year before. Why it matters: The dropoff coincided with the Trump administration's controversial vaccine policy changes and measles cases hitting levels not seen in more than three decades. Keep reading. ps:Pretty pathetic if you ask me!

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Top Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

Written by Stephanie Booth

Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on April 17, 2026

https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/ss/slideshow-vaccine-preventable-diseases

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Novel Cancer Vaccine

A personalized mRNA vaccine helps prevent skin cancer from returning or spreading, drugmakers Moderna and Merck said yesterday. The result marks the first positive late-stage trial for an mRNA cancer therapy, an approach scientists have been developing for decades (w/audio). Researchers sequenced tumors from patients with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. They then encoded the genetic instructions for those mutations into molecular messengers called mRNA and used them to manufacture bespoke vaccines—a process that took about six weeks. These vaccines train the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. The drugmakers have yet to release the full late-stage trial data, but an earlier trial found that pairing the vaccine with immunotherapy nearly halved the risk of recurrence or death after five years, compared with immunotherapy alone. Similar vaccines are being tested for breast, lung, kidney, and other cancers.  mRNA was first discovered in the 1960s, but the first mRNA vaccine didn't come to market until the COVID-19 pandemic. Explore the obstacles here.   A promising cancer vaccine A new experimental vaccine succeeded in a large trial for the deadly skin cancer melanoma, potentially opening up a new way of treating the disease. The study is ongoing, but interim results found that the treatment, intismeran, reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence or death by 49% after five years. The drug is being developed by Moderna and Merck, which also makes Keytruda. Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel called the results “as big a day for humanity as Nov. 16, 2020,” when the company released late-stage trial results showing its Covid-19 vaccine worked. “This is a new chapter in cancer care,” he told CNN. Moderna said it and Merck plan to seek regulatory approval within months. + Read more: What to know about the melanoma vaccine trial + Video: MRNA vaccine for skin cancer shows promise + Plus: How much of a cancer drug is too much? Patients, researchers challenge FDA-approved dosages

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Cancer vaccine trial shows promise

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios A new personalized mRNA treatment from Moderna and Merck prevented skin cancer from recurring or spreading in a late-stage trial, Axios' Tina Reed reports. The results could help lift the cloud hanging over mRNA technology, after Trump administration health officials cut federal funding and asserted that it poses more risks than rewards. 🔬 The experimental therapy, called intismeran, was tested in combination with Merck's cancer drug Keytruda in more than 1,100 patients with high-risk melanoma that had been surgically removed. The combination demonstrated a "clinically meaningful improvement" over treatment with Keytruda alone. 🧬 The mRNA-based drugs train the immune system to find mutations that cause tumors. That's in contrast to chemotherapy, which damages or destroys cancer cells. Moderna President Stephen Hoge tells Axios: "I do hope that this will move people away from pigeonholing mRNA as a vaccine platform, or maybe even more incorrectly, tying it to the things they didn't like about the pandemic era that had nothing to do with the technology." "I hope this starts to move us past that because it is, we think, a transformational moment in cancer." 📊 What's next: The full results of the trial will be released at an upcoming medical meeting. Go deeper.

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Two people have died of measles in Lancaster County, Pa. — the state's first such deaths in 35 years. Both were unvaccinated. Get the latest.

ps:Pathetic, absolutely pathetic!!!!!