Public health emergency of international concern

FTLife won six awards and named "Insurance Company of the Year 2022", becoming the most awarded insurer at the Benchmark Wealth Management Awards 2022

Retrieved on:

Friday, June 9, 2023

I feel very proud of the smashing success of my team, who has won us six accolades at the 2022 Benchmark Wealth Management Awards, taking home the grand title of 'Insurance Company of the Year 2022'.

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I feel very proud of the smashing success of my team, who has won us six accolades at the 2022 Benchmark Wealth Management Awards, taking home the grand title of 'Insurance Company of the Year 2022'.
Being named the "Broker Support - Best-in-Class" for the sixth consecutive year, FTLife is also well recognised in the industry for its robust support for its partners.
True to its accolade as the "Academy of the Year", FTLife places great emphasis on talent development.
It is not an offer to sell or solicitation to buy or provision of any insurance product outside Hong Kong.

The first line of vaccines was highly effective at restricting COVID-19’s damage

Retrieved on:

Thursday, June 1, 2023

COVID-19 vaccination was deemed crucial to prevent the continued spread of the disease, protect those infected from experiencing severe effects, counter the rise of new variants, and ultimately end the pandemic.

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COVID-19 vaccination was deemed crucial to prevent the continued spread of the disease, protect those infected from experiencing severe effects, counter the rise of new variants, and ultimately end the pandemic.
Understanding the effectiveness of vaccines remains crucial.

Primary doses and boosters

A total of 5.09 billion people have completed a primary COVID-19 vaccination series (i.e., two doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a one-dose vaccine).
First, how well does the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines protect people (against infections, hospitalizations and deaths) four months or more after completing vaccination?
Answering these questions will provide invaluable information for policymakers to make evidence-based decisions, such as the timing of administering COVID-19 vaccine booster doses.

In total, we identified 68 studies that met these criteria, representing 23 countries. We then combined all the data to better understand how the vaccines’ protection changes over time. The results were published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

Protection against COVID-19, in general

Specifically, vaccines should show at least 70 per cent protection against infections and 90 per cent protection against hospitalizations and deaths.
We found that the primary series offered excellent protection against hospitalizations and deaths in the short term, showing over 90 per cent protection against both outcomes within 42 days after vaccination.
Protection then fell to around 45 per cent against infections and to around 70 per cent against hospitalizations after four months had passed.

Protection against the Omicron variant

Vaccines were generally less effective against the Omicron variant, which emerged in fall 2021, about a year after COVID-19 vaccines were introduced.
The primary series’ protection against hospitalization for Omicron infections reached around 70 per cent within the first 42 days, but also dropped over time, reaching closer to 50 per cent after six months.
Yet, booster protection also waned over time, falling to about 40 per cent against Omicron infections and 70 per cent against hospitalizations after four months post-booster.
With Omicron, boosters are particularly needed to maintain adequate protection, but this protection also needs additional boosting as it wanes over time.

Behaviour-based prevention measures remain necessary

That means measures like wearing a mask, washing one’s hands, and staying at home when sick remain essential complements to vaccination.
Contrary to vaccines, these measures do not decline in effectiveness over time and are particularly well suited to protect people against infections.
Keven Joyal-Desmarais receives funding from the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Government of Canada continues to monitor and invest in COVID-19 wastewater monitoring

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) continues to use innovative science and research to inform the sustainable approach to the ongoing management of COVID-19 in Canada by investing in wastewater monitoring across the nation.

Key Points:

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) continues to use innovative science and research to inform the sustainable approach to the ongoing management of COVID-19 in Canada by investing in wastewater monitoring across the nation.
By translating the most up-to-date science and research and consolidating expertise, this investment will help public health authorities, communities, government agencies, and researchers to successfully interpret and communicate COVID-19 wastewater monitoring data.
CWN is a non-profit organization and a leader in the rapidly evolving field of wastewater monitoring across Canada.
"COVID-19 continues to circulate in Canada and around the world and investing in wastewater technology is helping us better monitor its impacts.

Encouraging vaccine confidence through community-led initiatives by the Métis Nation Saskatchewan

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Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Vaccine, Tea, Vaccine-preventable diseases, PHEIC, Education, Vaccination, Public, Public Health Agency of Canada, COVID-19, Vaccine hesitancy, Government, Public health emergency of international concern, PHAC, Local government in Canada, Health, IPF, Public Health Agency, World Health Organization, Pharmaceutical industry

Through the Immunization Partnership Fund (IPF), PHAC invested $200,000 in a project led by Métis Nation-Saskatchewan: Improving Métis-specific Immunization Access and Promotion in Saskatchewan.

Key Points:

Through the Immunization Partnership Fund (IPF), PHAC invested $200,000 in a project led by Métis Nation-Saskatchewan: Improving Métis-specific Immunization Access and Promotion in Saskatchewan.
This project supported COVID-19 vaccine confidence, education, and uptake among Métis people in Saskatchewan.
These initiatives helped to bring resources to Métis communities in Saskatchewan, providing individuals with unique opportunities to learn about vaccination in comfortable and accessible settings.
By increasing vaccine confidence, this initiative worked to protect the health of individuals, communities, and our healthcare system as a whole."

Learning from COVID-19: The global health emergency has ended. Here's what is needed to prepare for the next one

Retrieved on:

Sunday, May 14, 2023

However, it would be a mistake to assume that this is a mere formality.

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However, it would be a mistake to assume that this is a mere formality.
A PHEIC, like the one adopted for COVID-19 on Jan. 30, 2020, is declared if a public health event is determined to constitute:

A PHEIC means the WHO is sounding the loudest possible alarm to national governments to act together with urgency.
However, the heightened state of emergency under a PHEIC is not meant to be sustained indefinitely.

Significance of the end of the COVID-19 PHEIC

Moreover, the phrase “no one is safe until everyone is safe” may have become a familiar tagline during the pandemic.
Yet, many people, mostly in low- and middle-income countries, still struggle to access COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics and treatments.
Second, the standing down of the PHEIC declaration is accompanied by an understandable desire — and necessity — to “move on” from COVID-19 after three difficult years.
The lack of real-world authority by the WHO to enforce the legally binding IHR has become abundantly clear.

Global co-ordination fell short

Still, what ensued fell far short of a co-ordinated global effort.
Read more:
COVID-19 vaccine inequity allowed Omicron to emerge
The need for collective action during global public health emergencies like COVID-19 has only been reinforced by the past three years.
Additionally, travel measures implemented in response to COVID-19, and in previous PHEICs, fell inequitably upon different population groups.
Meanwhile, a new pandemic may already be on the horizon as the global and interspecies spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza is raising growing alarm.

STATEMENT - Update on mpox in Canada - May 11, 2023

Retrieved on:

Thursday, May 11, 2023

The WHO Director General considered the advice offered by the Committee and determined that mpox no longer constitutes a PHEIC.

Key Points:

The WHO Director General considered the advice offered by the Committee and determined that mpox no longer constitutes a PHEIC.
Since the beginning of the mpox outbreak, the Government of Canada has taken swift action to protect the health and safety of people in Canada.
Efforts continue with provincial/territorial partners to increase vaccine uptake across Canada for those most at risk of mpox.
Although the WHO Director General determined the current mpox situation is no longer a PHEIC, the Government of Canada recognizes that mpox is still circulating globally.

STATEMENT - Update on the COVID-19 situation in Canada - May 5, 2023

Retrieved on:

Friday, May 5, 2023

The WHO Director General originally declared that the COVID-19 pandemic constituted a PHEIC on January 30, 2020.

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The WHO Director General originally declared that the COVID-19 pandemic constituted a PHEIC on January 30, 2020.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Government of Canada's top priority has been protecting the health and safety of all Canadians.
Even though the WHO Director General determined the current COVID-19 situation no longer constitutes a PHEIC, the Government of Canada recognizes that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is still circulating across Canada and worldwide.
PHAC will continue to provide public updates as new information related to our domestic situation arises.

Socially Determined Launches Redetermination Risk Solution to Empower Managed Care Organizations to Retain Eligible Medicaid Members as Pandemic-Era Continuous Enrollment Provision Ends

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Socially Determined ®, the social risk analytics and solutions company leading the integration of health and social care, today announced a new solution for Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) nationwide.

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Socially Determined ®, the social risk analytics and solutions company leading the integration of health and social care, today announced a new solution for Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) nationwide.
According to the Urban Institute, over the coming year up to 18 million current Medicaid beneficiaries are at risk of losing coverage as part of this process.
Socially Determined built the Redetermination Risk Solution on top of its SocialScape platform, which already provides social risk data, analytics, and expertise to payers, providers, life science companies and risk-bearing entities.
For more information on the Redetermination Risk Roster, contact Socially Determined at https://www.sociallydetermined.com/contact-us .

Global Contrast Media Strategic Business Report 2023: Growing Preference for Non-Ionizing Radiation-Based Radioimaging Drives Demand for Contrast Enhanced MRI

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

DUBLIN, March 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Contrast Media: Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

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DUBLIN, March 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Contrast Media: Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
Taking into account the ongoing post pandemic recovery, growth in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (mri) segment is readjusted to a revised 3.7% CAGR for the next 8-year period.
The global economy is at a critical crossroads with a number of interlocking challenges and crises running in parallel.
Lower capital expenditure is in the offing as companies go slow on investments, held back by inflation worries and weaker demand.

Mexico Needs mpox Vaccine, Says AHF and Vaccine Advocates in The Lancet Letter

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

The European Medicines Agency and the US FDA have also authorized the use of the vaccine.

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The European Medicines Agency and the US FDA have also authorized the use of the vaccine.
Among the authors of this study is the highest decision-maker in public health in Mexico, Dr. Hugo López-Gatell, Undersecretary of Health.
The letter was accepted and finally published by the same magazine in its correspondence section titled " MPOX vaccines are needed in Mexico ,” on March 6, 2023.
To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org , find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare .