DPT vaccine

• (Nasdaq:DCGO), a leading provider of technology-enabled mobile health services, today announced the expansion of its vaccination and public health initiatives in Arizona through a new contract with the Department of Health in Santa Cruz County, Arizona.
• Beginning in late November, DocGo now operates a mobile clinic to enhance vaccine accessibility in a rural area with limited access to medical resources.
• Santa Cruz County is designated as a medically underserved area by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
• DocGo previously offered flu and COVID vaccines in mobile clinics with Santa Cruz County Health Department, as well as with the Maricopa County Health Department and the state of Arizona Department of Health.

• RSV is the most common cause of lower respiratory infections in young children and can be especially severe for infants under 6 months of age.
• It is the leading cause of infant hospitalization in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Each year, RSV is associated with half a million emergency room visits, nearly 100,000 hospitalizations and 300 deaths in young U.S. children.
• The approval of a maternal vaccine and monoclonal antibody signals a major milestone in the medical profession’s ability to prevent RSV disease in children.

A game-changer in the fight against RSV

• Abrysvo stimulates the mother’s immune system to produce antibodies that cross the placenta and offer protection to the newborn against RSV illness, starting at birth.
• In the trial, the maternal RSV vaccine prevented 82% of severe lower-respiratory illnesses caused by RSV in infants in the first 3 months of life, and 69.4% through 6 months of age.
• Abrysvo was also approved by the FDA in May 2023 to prevent RSV illness in adults 60 years and older.

Monoclonal antibodies also provide protection

• For those who are unable to get the RSV vaccine during their pregnancy, there is also an option to provide ready-made antibodies to protect the baby.
• These antibodies help protect against lower-respiratory tract disease, including bronchiolitis and pneumonia, caused by RSV.

Parsing the differences

• Clinical trials showed that the vaccine was protective up to 6 months of age and the antibody up to 5 months of age.
• While Abrysvo stimulates the production of the mother’s own antibodies that get passed on to the baby, Beyfortus is not actually a vaccine.
• It instead provides ready-made antibodies given as an injection to protect the child.
• The cost of Abrysvo and how it will be covered by insurance will depend on what the CDC says in October.

The bottom line

• Both products are safe and effective, and it is important to protect young infants and children at risk from RSV.
• Until now, effective monoclonal antibodies were only available for the most premature babies.

• NEWARK, N.J., May 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey, in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Health, has announced the winners of the 11th annual Protect Me With 3+ adolescent immunization awareness poster and video contest.
• The artistic submissions we received showcase the talent of New Jersey's middle and high school students.
• "We're so grateful for the opportunity to partner with the New Jersey Department of Health again on this fun, youthful contest.
• "This contest empowers students to advocate for their health and promotes the importance of immunizations across the lifespan."

• In Australia, tetanus is rare because of high vaccination coverage, with around 14 cases reported to health authorities a year.
• If you have a tetanus-prone wound and there is any doubt about your tetanus immunisation status, you should receive tetanus immunoglobulin as soon as possible.
• If you’re overseas, it could be hard and expensive to get access to both tetanus immunoglobulin and tetanus vaccine.
• If it has been more than ten years since your last dose, ask your GP about getting a booster.