#Vaccination coverage during the pandemic

[covid-safer-hotties]

The US Government Is Shutting Down A Key Covid Website

Tomorrow the US government agency responsible for biomedical and public health research, The National Institutes of Health, will shut down its Covid-19 ‘special populations’ website.

This site hosts a huge amount of information about how to treat covid and long covid in the immunocompromised and in people with HIV, cancer and similar immune supressing conditions - so-called ‘special populations.’

The site is going totally offline.

It’s a shameful dereliction of duty by the NIH which, behind Harvard, is the second largest publisher of biomedical research papers in the world. Doctors and clinicians all over the world use the NIH site for advice and treatment ideas.

And it’s going offline during a massive summer surge of covid infections in the US, a surge that is now topping 1.3 million infections per day. (One of whom was Anthony Fauci, who was infected for the third time last week). A surge killing 750 people a week in the US. Many of whom will be precisely the type of people this website is intended to help clinicians treat.

It’s a scandal.

The message it sends to vulnerable people could hardly be clearer - when it comes to covid, there’s nothing else we can do for you. Sorry. That’s it. We’re done.

It’s so terrifying.

It also sends a terrible signal to the medical community about where we are with covid

and will be materially damaging in efforts to treat vulnerable people, both in the acute stage of the disease and those with long covid.

The move to shut the page down is premised on an entirely false assumption: that we already know everything we’ll ever know about how to manage covid so there’s no point keeping a live web resource because they’ll never be anything to update it with ever again.

This is simply not true. While we know a lot about treating covid four years in, we absolutely do not know everything, not by a long stretch. As evidenced by the hundreds still dying every week in summer 2024. And as for long covid, we know very little about how to treat it. For a start, there is no agreed treatment plan. Absolutely none. But apparently we also know so much about this disease we can start shutting down online resources dedicated to it.

Please imagine for a second if a Trump administration rather than a Biden-Harris administration was doing this.

There would be an outcry.

But this move has so far been greeted by media silence.

It is left to a few disability activists and the covid aware to shout into the social media void.

Not that this is a surprise. This is how it has been for the last two years at least, guided by the business as usual, vax-and-forget strategy. More people have died of covid under the Biden-Harris administration than died under Trump. Despite having vaccines since 2021. You’d never know it by mainstream media coverage.

Some people have written to the director of the NIH, Monica Bertagnolli, and asked them to keep the advice live and up-to-date. If you want to do this her email address is:

monica.bertagnolli@nih.gov

Long Covid Action has archived the site here

Maybe if enough people write to her and enough noise is made the decision will be reversed. Worth a try.

Overall it’s just another grim episode in the handling of the pandemic by the current US administration, an administration who, we should never forget, won power in large part due to the outrage at Trump’s handling of the first nine months of covid.

Solidarity to everyone still trying to protect themselves and their communities from covid against all the odds.

At least we can keep fighting for each other.

[dertaglichedan]

Anthony Fauci breaks his silence with bold statement after being PARDONED by Biden over Trump COVID crimes claims

Dr. Anthony Fauci has broken his silence just hours after he was pardoned by outgoing President Joe Biden in one of his last acts as commander-in-chief.

The former head of the National Institute of Allergy Infectious Diseases spoke with CNN's Dana Bash during the network's coverage of President Donald Trump's inauguration to express his gratitude to Biden.

While Fauci said he is 'very appreciative' of the pardon, he once again insisted he did not commit any crimes while overseeing the United States' response to the COVID pandemic.

'As [Biden] said, we did nothing wrong, but the baseless accusations and threats are real for me and my family,' Fauci told Bash.

Trump's base has blamed the 84-year-old doctor for strict COVID-19 restrictions, including social distancing, mask wearing and harsh vaccine mandates that led to members of the armed forces being forcibly discharged. 

Fauci is also accused of lying to Congress about the U.S. sending money to fund gain-of-function research at the laboratory in Wuhan, China, where the virus is thought to have originated and leaked from.

*** Prison

[follow-up-news]

Even though a record number of kids died from the flu last year, the percentage of children getting flu shots continues to plummet. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday that as of Nov. 30, just over a third of U.S. kids — 37% — had gotten flu shots, down from 43% at the same time last year. The downward trend worries pediatricians who are starting to see an uptick in flu cases. “I always have a little bit of dread when flu season is around the corner,” said Dr. Kristina Bryant, a pediatric infectious disease doctor at Norton Children’s in Louisville, Kentucky, “because children experience illness and suffering during flu season, and much of that can be prevented through vaccination.” Just over half of kids, 55%, got the flu shot during the 2023-24 season, the lowest rate in 12 years, said Alicia Budd, head of the CDC’s domestic influenza surveillance team. “Flu coverage had been slowly increasing” before Covid hit, Budd said. “Flu vaccination levels have not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.” This year’s flu shot covers the two main strains of the virus circulating so far, H1N1 and H3N2.

[thoughtportal]

COVID-19 makes a worrying comeback, WHO warns amid summertime surge

COVID-19 infections are surging globally, including at the Paris Olympics, and are unlikely to decline anytime soon, the World Health Organization (WHO) says. The UN health agency is also warning that more severe variants of the coronavirus may soon be on the horizon.

“COVID-19 is still very much with us,” and circulating in all countries, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove of WHO told journalists in Geneva.

“Data from our sentinel-based surveillance system across 84 countries reports that the percent of positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 has been rising over several weeks,” she said. “Overall, test positivity is above 10 per cent, but this fluctuates per region. In Europe, percent positivity is above 20 per cent,” Dr. Van Kerkhove added.

New waves of infection have been registered in the Americas, Europe and Western Pacific. Wastewater surveillance suggests that the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 is two to 20 times higher than what is currently being reported. Such high infection circulation rates in the northern hemisphere’s summer months are atypical for respiratory viruses, which tend to spread mostly in cold temperatures.

“In recent months, regardless of the season, many countries have experienced surges of COVID-19, including at the Olympics where at least 40 athletes have tested positive,” Dr. Van Kerkhove said.

As the virus continues to evolve and spread, there is a growing risk of a more severe strain of the virus that could potentially evade detection systems and be unresponsive to medical intervention. While COVID-19 hospital admissions, including for Intensive Care Units (ICUs), are still much lower than they were during the peak of the pandemic, WHO is urging governments to strengthen their vaccination campaigns, making sure that the highest risk groups get vaccinated once every 12 months.

“As individuals it is important to take measures to reduce risk of infection and severe disease, including ensuring that you have had a COVID-19 vaccination dose in the last 12 months, especially, if you are in an at-risk group,” stressed Dr. Van Kerkhove.

Vaccines availability has declined substantially over the last 12-18 months, WHO admits, because the number of producers of COVID-19 vaccines has recently decreased.“It is very difficult for them to maintain the pace,” Dr. Van Kerkhove explained. “And certainly, they don't need to maintain the pace that they had in 2021 and 2022. But let's be very clear, there is a market for COVID-19 vaccines that are out there.”

Nasal vaccines are still under development but could potentially address transmission, thereby reducing the risk of further variants, infection and severe disease.

“I am concerned, “ Dr. Van Kerkhove said. “With such low coverage and with such large circulation, if we were to have a variant that would be more severe, then the susceptibility of the at-risk populations to develop severe disease is huge,” Dr. Van Kerkhove warned.

[saddiedotdk]

Kamala Harris accomplishments as VP:

Cast tie-breaking vote for the American Rescue Plan of 2021.

Passed the American Rescue Plan, resulting in $1.9 trillion in economic stimulus.

Extended the Child Tax Credit through the American Rescue Plan.

Extended unemployment benefits through the American Rescue Plan.

Passed the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Secured funding for electric school buses in the infrastructure bill.

Secured funding to combat wildfires and droughts in the infrastructure bill.

Secured funding for replacing lead water service lines.

Engaged with lawmakers at least 150 times for infrastructure investment.

Led diplomatic mission to Guatemala and Mexico to address migration issues.

Launched the "Central America Forward" initiative.

Secured $4.2 billion in private sector commitments for Central America.

Visited Paris to strengthen US-France relations.

Visited Singapore and Vietnam to bolster economic and strategic ties.

Visited Poland to support NATO allies during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Visited Romania to support NATO allies during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Launched the "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour.

Visited a Planned Parenthood clinic in Minnesota.

Passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act.

Promoted racial equity in pandemic response through specific initiatives.

Chaired the National Space Council.

Visited NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center to promote space policies.

Passed the Freedom to Vote Act in the House.

Passed the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in the House.

Built coalitions for voting rights protections.

Supported the Affordable Care Act through specific policy measures.

Expanded healthcare coverage through policy initiatives.

Passed initiatives for debt-free college education.

Hosted a STEM event for women and girls at the White House.

Championed criminal justice reform through specific legislation.

Secured passage of the bipartisan assault weapons ban.

Expanded background checks for gun purchases through legislation.

Increased the minimum wage through specific policy actions.

Implemented economic justice policies.

Expanded healthcare coverage through policy initiatives.

Secured funding for affordable housing.

Secured funding for affordable education initiatives.

Launched the "Justice is Coming Home" campaign for veterans' mental health.

Proposed legislation for easier legal actions against financial institutions.

Strengthened the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Secured investment in early childhood education.

Launched maternal health initiatives.

Launched the "Call to Action to Reduce Maternal Mortality and Morbidity".

Made Black maternal health a national priority through policy actions.

Increased diversity in government appointments.

Passed legislation for renewable energy production.

Secured funding for combating climate change.

Passed infrastructure development initiatives.

Secured transportation funding through the infrastructure bill.

Developed a plan to combat climate change.

Reduced illegal immigration through policy actions.

Equitable vaccine distribution through specific policy measures.

Supported small businesses through pandemic recovery funds.

Secured educational resources during the pandemic.

Promoted international cooperation on climate initiatives.

Secured international agreements on climate change.

Passed economic policies benefiting the middle class.

Criticized policies benefiting the wealthy at the expense of the working class.

Promoted racial equity in healthcare through specific actions.

Promoted racial equity in economic policies.

Reduced racial disparities in education through specific initiatives.

Increased mental health resources for underserved communities.

Secured funding for affordable childcare.

Secured federal funding for community colleges.

Increased funding for HBCUs.

Increased vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secured policies for pandemic preparedness.

Ensured equitable vaccine distribution through policy actions.

Secured international cooperation for COVID-19 responses.

Reduced economic disparities exacerbated by the pandemic.

Passed digital equity initiatives for broadband access.

Expanded rural broadband through specific policies.

Secured cybersecurity policies through legislation.

Protected election integrity through specific actions.

Secured fair and secure elections through policy measures.

Strengthened international alliances through diplomacy.

Supported the Paris Climate Agreement through policy actions.

Led U.S. climate negotiations through international initiatives.

Passed initiatives for clean energy jobs.

Secured policies for energy efficiency.

Reduced carbon emissions through specific legislation.

Secured international climate finance.

Promoted public health policies through specific initiatives.

Passed reproductive health services policies.

Supported LGBTQ+ rights through specific actions.

Secured initiatives to reduce homelessness.

Increased veterans' benefits through legislation.

Secured affordable healthcare for veterans.

Passed policies to support military families.

Secured initiatives for veteran employment.

Increased mental health resources for veterans.

Passed disability rights legislation.

Secured policies for accessible infrastructure.

Increased funding for workforce development.

Implemented economic mobility policies.

Secured consumer protection policies through legislation.

Engaged in community outreach through public events.

Organized public engagement efforts.

Participated in over 720 official events, averaging three per day since taking office.

Supported efforts to modernize public health data systems.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Gideon Taaffe at MMFA:

Last week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his independent campaign for president and endorsed the Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump. Kennedy’s campaign — and arguably his political career — was founded on anti-vaccine beliefs. However, Fox News’ coverage of Kennedy’s endorsement has barely mentioned the former candidate’s record of spreading dangerous vaccine misinformation. Fox personalities have been quick to whitewash Kennedy’s beliefs by calling him a public health advocate, citing his views on food and chronic illness. While Fox has discussed Kennedy a significant amount, the network spent only 3 minutes talking about his unfounded anti-vaccine and COVID-19 beliefs.

RFK Jr. has taken his dangerous conspiracy theories on vaccines to the Trump campaign

Long before COVID-19, Kennedy made a career out of pushing a litany of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories and spread the debunked claim that vaccines are linked with autism. He became an anti-vaccine activist with the Children’s Health Defense, where he spread unfounded claims about so-called vaccine injury, global surveillance through microchips, and censorship of vaccine misinformation. [Media Matters, 4/7/23]

Kennedy later was a vector of misinformation during the pandemic, even dubbing the COVID-19 vaccine “the deadliest vaccine ever made.” Kennedy attacked Dr. Anthony Fauci in his book “The Real Anthony Fauci,” which is dedicated to numerous anti-vaccine figures. [FactCheck.org, 8/11/23]

Kennedy has since announced he will be working with Donald Trump should Trump win the election. The former presidential candidate was also linked to “health-focused summits” with TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk. [The New Republic, 8/27/24; Real America’s Voice, The Charlie Kirk Show, 8/26/24]

GOP propaganda organ Fox “News” embrace RFK Jr.’s endorsement of Donald Trump (while still remaining on the ballot in most states), yet ignores his anti-vaxxer extremism.

[mariacallous]

Today’s newsletter is about a recent report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

But it’s also about a major policy initiative that helped lots of Americans even though almost nobody seems to have noticed — and how that lack of attention has made it more difficult to renew the program now that it has expired.

The subject of the report is child care. As you may know firsthand ― or if you’ve read HuffPost’s coverage of the issue ― finding quality, affordable child care providers in the U.S. is difficult. A big reason is that it costs a lot of money to run a high-performing child care center, and the fees to sustain that kind of operation are more than many families can afford.

These problems have existed for years but got even worse during the coronavirus pandemic, when public health closures and illness-related absences reduced revenue for providers, putting some into debt while forcing others to reduce capacity or close. Those that survived struggled to hire (or rehire) workers once demand returned, in part because they were increasingly competing with retail and hospitality industries that could raise wages more easily.

The federal government stepped in by providing $24 billion in emergency assistance as part of the American Rescue Plan, which Democrats in Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed in early 2021. The money went directly to state governments, which, in turn, gave it to providers. Some used it for workers, while others used it to maintain equipment or acquire equipment. Others paid off debts.

All of this made a big difference, according to that new Council of Economic Advisers report I mentioned.

In particular, the council’s economists determined, emergency child care money:

“Saved families with young children who rely on paid child care,”

“Helped hundreds of thousands of women with young children enter or reenter the workforce more quickly,” and

“Boosted the child care workforce and helped raise the real wages of child care workers.”

These conclusions make intuitive sense. And although the council is part of the White House, its staff is composed of well-credentialed economists who have a legal mandate to provide objective analysis ― and these conclusions make intuitive sense. In other words, there’s good reason to think this Biden-Democratic initiative propped up child care at a moment of crisis, preserving access for a significant number of families.

That’s a big deal. Just ask any working parent — or any employer, for that matter. But few Americans even realize Biden and the Democrats in Congress took this action, let alone that it had such an impact.

So what happened? And what does that tell us about how politics works nowadays? I have a few ideas about that...

Why Nobody Noticed The Child Care Money

For one thing, the child care assistance was part of a larger bill that never generated much of a substantive debate, except when it came to its overall size. And it went through Congress at a time when other news stories, such as the distribution of (still new) COVID vaccines, were getting a lot more attention.

What’s more, the assistance wasn’t in the form of checks with Biden’s name on them that went to families. It was money that went through states directly to providers.

Then there’s the fact that the program’s effects consisted primarily of things that didn’t happen rather than things that did. Child care costs didn’t rise as fast as they would otherwise. Providers that would have closed stayed open. Workers who might have left child care for positions in retail or hospitality didn’t. Working parents, especially women, didn’t cut back hours or leave the workforce.

You’re not going to recognize this kind of effect unless you contemplate the counterfactual ― in other words, what might have happened without the assistance in place. And that’s just not how most people think.

What’s Happening To Child Care Now

As it happens, a version of that counterfactual may be starting to play out now, because the temporary assistance program has expired. On Oct. 1, the federal government stopped writing new assistance checks.

That might not seem significant, given that the pandemic emergency is effectively over. But the system’s pre-existing problems are still there ― and now appear to be compounded by other, newer factors, like those tight labor markets that make it even harder for providers to hire and retain qualified workers.

It takes a while for money to work its way through government bureaucracies, so it’s going to take time to see just how big a deal the end of federal emergency funds will be. Many experts (including several quoted in this October Vox article) have raised questions about the most dire predictions, which suggest 3 million child care slots could vanish nationwide.

But it’s hard to imagine there won’t be some fallout. Already there are reports of sporadic closures around the country. That includes in rural communities of western North Carolina, where a nonprofit agency called the Southwestern Child Development Commission announced in late October that seven centers were shutting down.

Sheila Hoyle, the commission’s executive director, confirmed to me by phone that the end of federal emergency funds was the catalyst that led to the closings, which in turn reduced available slots for children by more than 300. And while many of the kids ended up with other providers, Hoyle said, the new arrangements for families — at least, the ones that were able to find them — are generally less well-suited to parent working hours, came with higher expenses for parents, or both.

“We’re asking our parents to patch together programs that weren’t designed to fulfill the needs of working parents, and we need to ask what happens to that child,” Hoyle said. “There’s Grandma or Grandpa on Tuesday, and Daddy gets off early on Fridays, and Mama tries to do Monday and Wednesday, and then you take them to a relative’s house or a next-door neighbor’s house.”

“It’s all just getting by,” Hoyle added, “and just getting by is not what we intend for young children who need a good solid early childhood learning experience while their families work, so that they can succeed in school and eventually become successful young adults.”

How ‘Invisible’ Policy Creates Political Problems

The Biden administration and Democratic leaders in Congress want to do something about that, by restoring at least some of the funding, starting with $16 billion for the coming year. The hope is to attach something to a must-pass spending bill whenever an opportunity presents itself.

But it will take political pressure to round up the votes, especially given Republican skepticism of federal spending and conservative doubts about the structure of federal child care assistance. And it’s hard to generate pressure to restore a program most Americans never knew existed.

Of course, this is not exactly a new problem for Biden, or for Democrats more generally.

Programs nowadays frequently operate invisibly through indirect grants to states or via the tax code, in what political scientist Susan Mettler has called “the submerged state.” Other initiatives are more visible but, like the pandemic child care finding, have primarily prevented bad outcomes rather than creating good ones.

Those problems help explain why, for example, Democrats weren’t able to extend another pandemic measure, a tax credit for children, even though its existence had caused child poverty to plummet. It expired at the end of 2021. Now child poverty is back up, and virtually nobody seems to recognize what it accomplished or Biden’s role in initially reducing it ― making it even harder to get such a program going again. It’s even possible that the expiration of these programs is contributing to voter frustration with Biden, saddling him with blame for the end of assistance that he’s been trying to save.

Politics is like that sometimes, with credit or blame for policy falling in ways that align poorly with what elected officials have actually done. But if Biden and the Democrats lose next November, the chances of meaningful new investments in child care — and plenty of other, similar needs — will be even lower than they are now.

[readingsquotes]

At the last minute, Harris added expanding Medicare to cover some home care and addressing the high costs of ambulance rides, into her platform. But it was too little, too late. (Notably, Harris backed Medicare for All during her 2020 campaign.)

“I think the result of elections around the world have shown that ‘back to normal’ messaging was ineffective, with many incumbent governments losing office in large part due to a failure in acknowledging people’s pain and providing real plans to help people in the long term,” said Tran.

Trump’s brand of economic populism appealed to voters who are hoping for something different. But if things were already bad when it comes to health care, public health agencies, and health research, they are bound to get worse over the next four years. 

“A second Trump presidency will erode essential public health and health care infrastructure, increase distrust in science and public health, and will put many people at greater risk of death and serious illness,” Tran warned.

Though Trump is no longer saying he necessarily wants to repeal the ACA—and is in fact now taking credit for “saving” it (um, OK), he can still do a ton of damage to this important health insurance program. For example, Democrats are worried about a looming expiration to ACA deductible subsidies, which make coverage possible for many, and fewer protections for people with preexisting conditions (that is to say: most people) who could not get health care before Obamacare outside of employer-sponsored plans. 

Beyond that, Trump says he’ll let Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “go wild on health” and plans to give him a high-level Cabinet role, perhaps leading the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy, who has zero health experience (and who once suffered from a literal brain worm) is a notorious anti-vaxxer—so much so that his views got him kicked off Facebook. An HHS under his watch would surely limit access to vaccines, leading to outbreaks of diseases we thought we left behind in the twentieth century. Even if he is unable to outright ban vaccines, his efforts would surely stigmatize and discourage them. In a time when we still need a durable, variant-proof Covid vaccine and bird flu threatens to become a new pandemic, the outcome will be devastating.

“All of the policies which make the U.S. more vulnerable to Covid will also make the U.S. less prepared for future pandemic threats like bird flu because to prevent them we need health agencies that are competent, objective, and transparent; wide access to prevention and treatment tools; and strong trust in science and public health information, all of which will be under attack by the new administration,” said Tran.

Kennedy has also pledged to cut funding to the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, and National Institutes of Health, which means more public health disruptions such as listeria outbreaks, as well as inaccurate or absent public messaging about current and future diseases, and less funding for biomedical research to help us understand and treat diseases affecting millions of Americans. 

[autisticadvocacy]

On May 11th, 2023, the Biden administration will end the national emergency and public health emergency (PHE) related to COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic is not over. Ending the public health emergency will harm many people. Over a million people have died. The number of COVID cases are at record highs, and over 3,000 people in the United States are still dying of COVID every week. Less than 20% of the US has the bivalent booster. This is especially true for marginalized people. For all of these reasons, COVID is continuing to harm our communities.

Ending the public health emergency gives the dangerous impression that the COVID-19 pandemic is over. People need to continue to think about risk and community transmission. People need to continue to mask, people need to ensure that they are up to date with all boosters. People with developmental disabilities are especially vulnerable to COVID-19. Many in our community have additional risk factors, like heart or lung issues. COVID-19 is especially dangerous in congregate settings such as nursing homes, and it will continue to spread. COVID-19 was the leading cause of death for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in 2020. People with disabilities, low income people, and people of color are more likely to have bad outcomes from COVID-19, including death.

Ending the PHE will negatively impact health care and health care coverage, especially for marginalized people who had difficulty accessing care even before the pandemic. During the public health emergency, Medicaid coverage has been more open and flexible than usual in many states. Medicaid has had enhanced federal funding. States could also not take people off of Medicaid. Over 19 million people enrolled in Medicaid since February 2020, whether due to this expansion or people who newly qualified due to changes in disability status, financial status, or age. On April 1, states will be able to reduce coverage and will no longer have the enhanced federal funding for Medicaid. Millions of people will no longer qualify and lose Medicaid coverage. Even more will lose coverage even though they still qualify, because the requirements to keep this coverage will be more demanding. The groups who will lose the most coverage despite qualifying will disproportionately be children and people of color. This is expected to be the biggest increase in uninsured children in the history of the United States.

Hospitals that relied on pandemic-response higher reimbursement rates for Medicare and flexible waivers and eligibility requirements for certain classes of health care will no longer receive these payments. This will result in decreased access to care. Ending these reimbursements will leave hospitals worse-equipped to handle future Covid cases. This is especially bad because COVID-19 is a mass disabling event. Health systems serving hard-hit communities will struggle to meet the additional medical need COVID has brought about. This will mean that many people who need health care because they became disabled from COVID will not have access to it.

Cost sharing provisions for COVID-19 tests for people on private insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare are ending. People on these plans will have to pay more for COVID tests. Tests will become less available as a result, leading to more spread and less-accurate information about COVID risk in communities. Uninsured people used to be covered for COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines, but without additional federal funding for these programs, people without insurance have been left vulnerable since last spring.

Ending the public health emergency also means there will be fewer tools to help people make informed decisions about COVID. States will stop having to report COVID-19 data to the government. ASAN had to end our COVID-19 case tracker for congregate settings in January of this year due to lack of data. This lack of information will make it hard for people to find out how much COVID is circulating in their communities. It also makes it more difficult to see the impact specifically on marginalized communities.

The public health emergency status provided care to many people who need care to survive the pandemic. Ending it harms our communities. COVID-19 is not over.

[broadlyepi]

MMWR Booster #7: Progress Toward Measles and Rubella Elimination — India, 2005–2021

Top 5 Takeaways

Increased Vaccine Coverage: From 2005 to 2021, coverage with the first dose of a measles-containing vaccine (MCV) increased from 68% to 89%, and the second dose from 27% to 82%.

Decline in Disease Incidence: Measles and rubella incidence decreased by 62% and 48% respectively during 2017–2021.

Implementation of National Strategies: This includes the introduction of the rubella-containing vaccine (RCV) in 2017 and large-scale supplementary immunization activities (SIAs).

Challenges During COVID-19: The pandemic led to a decrease in routine vaccination coverage and challenges in surveillance sensitivity.

Future Goals: The “Roadmap to Measles and Rubella Elimination in India by 2023” aims to intensify efforts towards eliminating these diseases with a focus on district-level implementation.

link to full summary: BroadlyEpi.com

Enjoying these summaries? Check back every day at 8am and 4pm Pacific Time (UTC - 8) for a new MMWR Booster. A reblog would also be greatly appreciated, and thanks to everyone who already has! BroadlyEpi hopes to make Epidemiology and Public Health more approachable to anyone who's interested.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

April 3, 2023

Heather Cox Richardson

On Saturday, April 1, the emergency measures Congress put in place to extend medical coverage at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic expired. This means that states can end Medicaid coverage for people who do not meet the pre-pandemic eligibility requirements, which are based primarily on income. As many as 15 million of the 85 million people covered by Medicaid could lose coverage, although most will be eligible for other coverage either through employers or through the Affordable Care Act. The 383,000 who will fall through the cracks are in the 10 states that have refused to expand Medicaid.

The pandemic prompted the United States to reverse 40 years of cutbacks to the social safety net. These cuts were prescribed by Republican politicians who argued that concentrating money upward would promote economic growth by enabling private investment in the economy. That “supply side” economic policy, they said, would expand the economy so effectively that everyone would prosper. In 2017, Republicans passed yet another tax cut, primarily for the wealthy and for corporations, to advance this policy.

As the economy fell apart during the coronavirus pandemic, though, it was clear the government must do something to shore up the tattered social safety net, and even Republicans got on board fast. On March 6, 2020, Trump signed the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, allocating $8.3 billion to fund vaccine research and give money to states and local governments to try to stop the spread of the virus. On March 18, he signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which provided food assistance, sick leave, $1 billion in unemployment insurance, and Covid testing. On the same day, the Federal Housing Administration put moratoriums on foreclosure and eviction for people with government-backed loans.

On March 27, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), which appropriated $2.3 trillion, including $500 billion for companies, $349 billion for small businesses, $175 billion for hospitals, $150 billion to state and local government, $30.75 billion for schools and universities, individual one-time cash payments, and expanded unemployment benefits.

Trump signed another stimulus package on April 24, 2020, which appropriated another $484 billion. And on December 27, 2020, he signed another $900 billion stimulus and relief package.

When he took office, President Joe Biden promised to rebuild the American middle class. He and the Democratic Congress began to shift the government’s investment from shoring up the social safety net to repairing the economy. On March 19, 2021, he signed the American Rescue Plan into law, putting $1.9 trillion behind economic stimulus and relief proposals.

Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Law, also known as the Bipartisan infrastructure Act, on November 15, 2021, putting $1.2 trillion into so-called hard infrastructure projects: roads and bridges and broadband.

On August 9, 2022, he signed the CHIPS and Science Act, putting about $280 billion in new funding behind scientific research and the manufacturing of semiconductors. And days later, on August 16, Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Law, putting billions behind addressing climate change and energy security while also raising money to pay for new policies and to reduce the deficit by raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy, funding the Internal Revenue Service to stop cheating, and permitting Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies over drug prices.

This dramatic investment in the demand side, rather than the supply side, of the economy helped to spark record inflation, compounded by supply chain issues that created shortages and encouraged price gouging. To combat that inflation, the Federal Reserve has been raising interest rates. Numbers released Friday show that inflation cooled in February, suggesting that the Federal Reserve is seeing the downward trend it has been hoping for, although there is concern that the sudden decision of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) this weekend to slash production of crude oil might drive the price of oil back up, dragging prices with it.

That investment in the demand side of the economy also meant that the child poverty rate in the U.S. fell almost 30%, while food insufficiency fell by 26% in households that received the expanded child tax credit. The U.S. economy recovered faster than that of any other G7 nation after the worst of the pandemic. Wages for low-paid workers grew at their fastest rate in 40 years, with real income growing by 9%. MIddle-income workers’ wages grew by only between 2.4% and 3.9% after inflation, but that, too, was the biggest jump in 40 years. Unemployment has fallen to its lowest level since 1969, and a record 10 million people have applied to start small businesses.

This public investment in the economy has attracted billions in private-sector investment—chipmakers have planned almost $200 billion of investments in 17 states—while it has also pressured certain companies to act in the public interest: the three major insulin producers in the U.S., making up 90% of the market, have all capped prices at $35 a month.  

As the economy begins to smooth out, Biden and members of his administration are touting the benefits of investing in the economy “from the bottom up and the middle out.” They have emphasized that they are working to support unions and the rights of consumers, taking on “junk fees,” noncompete agreements, and nondisparagement clauses. After the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank, the administration has suggested that deregulation of banking institutions went too far, and Biden has continued to push increased support for child care and health care.

A recent Associated Press–NORC poll shows that while 60% of Americans say the federal government spends too much money, they actually want increased investment in specific programs: 65% want more on education (12% want less); 63% want more on health care (16% want less); 62% want more on Social Security (7% want less); 58% want more spending on Medicare (10% want less); 53% want more on border security (23% want less); and 35% want more spending on the military (29% want less).

This puts the political parties in an odd spot. A week ago, Biden and members of the administration began barnstorming the country to highlight how their policy of “Investing in America” has been building the economy: “unleashing a manufacturing boom, helping rebuild our infrastructure and bring back supply chains, lowering costs for hardworking families, and creating jobs that don’t require a four-year degree across the country,” as the White House puts it.

Meanwhile,  the Republicans are doubling down on the idea that such investments are a waste of money, and are forcing a fight over the debt ceiling to try to slash the very programs that the administration is celebrating. Ignoring that the 2017 Trump tax cuts and spending under Trump added about 25% to the debt, they are focusing on Biden’s policies and demanding  that the government balance the budget in 10 years without raising taxes and without cutting defense, veterans benefits, Social Security, or Medicare, which would require slashing everything else by an impossible 85%, at least (some estimates say even 100% cuts wouldn’t do it).

As David Firestone put it today in the New York Times: “Cutting spending…might sound attractive to many voters until you explain what you’re actually cutting and what effect it would have.” Republicans cut taxes and then complain about deficits “but don’t want to discuss how many veterans won’t get care or whose damaged homes won’t get rebuilt or which dangerous products won’t get recalled.” Firestone noted that this disconnect is why the House Republicans cannot come up with a budget. “The details of austerity are unpopular,” Firestone notes, “and it’s easier to just issue fiery news releases.”

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

By Bill Shaw

The latest wastewater surveillance data show that the COVID-19 pandemic has entered its tenth wave in the United States. Last week’s spike in wastewater was the highest percentage increase in transmission in almost three years, though these figures could be revised downwards and the full severity of the wave will only become clear in the coming weeks. One reason for the rapid jump appears to be a later start for the “winter surge” than is typical, and thus the virus could be quickly rising to a level that has now become typical for this time of year.

The Pandemic Mitigation Collaborative (PMC) model estimates that 1.6 percent of Americans are presently infected and capable of transmitting the virus to others. That is 1 in 64 people and represents nearly 750,000 new COVID-19 cases per day. That means that on a flight of 100 people, there is an 80 percent chance that at least one person is infectious; on a flight of 300 people that rises to a 99 percent chance.

This level of transmission exceeds the levels for 73 percent of the duration of the pandemic to date. Given the known incidence of Long COVID, the current levels of transmission are generating an estimated 200,000 new cases of Long COVID per week.

Not a word about this latest COVID-19 wave has been uttered by the Biden administration or any major outlet in the corporate media. The entire political establishment is in agreement on the need to enforce the pro-corporate policy of “forever COVID,” in which the working class and broad layers of society as a whole are condemned to unending waves of mass infection, death and debilitation with Long COVID.

The PMC model projects that the current winter surge could peak between New Year’s Day and January 7. Because COVID-19 transmission followed a completely different pattern in 2024 than any other year of the pandemic, it is more difficult to forecast transmission during the current surge. This year’s summer surge was unusually late and sustained, while also declining abnormally rapidly, and the lull between the summer and winter surges was atypically long.

The latest data on test positivity and emergency department visits from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show both these indicators on the increase. Hospitalizations and deaths are typically lagging indicators, and although they have not yet increased, they are likely to rise as well in the coming week or two.

The new XEC variant continues to increase as a percentage of COVID-19 infections, now estimated at 44 percent, compared to 33 percent a week ago. It is now the most common variant, having surpassed the KP3.1.1 variant per the most recent data.

Given the total absence of governmental support for the renovation of infrastructure to ensure that indoor air is purified in public spaces, the only defenses against COVID-19 continue to be vaccines and non-pharmaceutical measures, such as social distancing and masking. Vaccination additionally protects against the most adverse outcomes of COVID-19, including death and hospitalization, while providing moderate protection against Long COVID.

Unfortunately, misinformation coupled with the potential expense of paying for a costly vaccine have resulted in extremely low vaccination rates for COVID-19. Per the latest CDC data, only 21.0 percent of American adults reported that they have received the latest vaccine released at the beginning of the Fall. Coverage of children is even worse at 10.6 percent, or approximately half the rate of adults.

Dr. Alexander Sloboda, medical director of immunizations for the Chicago Department of Public Health, said:

There’s still a lot of misinformation, disinformation, particularly around the COVID vaccine, so just trying to overcome the misinformation, disinformation that’s out there with correct information is what we’re trying to do. Obviously, it’s a kind of an uphill battle.

In another development this week related to the science of COVID-19 treatment, a study from 2020 that purported to show that hydroxychloroquine was an effective treatment was finally retracted. According to the journal’s retraction notice, the paper was pulled because of ethical transgressions and major flaws in methodology.

Even though numerous scientists immediately spotted and exposed the flaws of the study, it took four years of campaigning before the journal editors finally relented and retracted the paper this month. In fact, a lead author on the study, Didier Raoult, at one point threatened legal action against the whistleblowers who challenged the study. One of the journal editors was a co-author of the study, likely a factor in the long time period between the paper being discredited and it being retracted.

The scientific discourse over the study included subsequent identification of additional serious methodological flaws in 2023. Recently, three of the study’s authors wrote a letter to the journal requesting a retraction, acknowledging that no confidence could be placed in the “results” and stating explicitly that they no longer wished to be associated with the paper.

Notably, Raoult has so far had 28 papers retracted, including this one. Raoult leads the French Hospital Institute of Marseille Mediterranean Infection (IHU). Overall, 32 papers authored by IHU members, including Raoult, have been retracted. Investigations are underway on at least 100 more papers by this group, mostly due to concerns that the studies violated ethical standards.

The discredited hydroxychloroquine study spawned massive misinformation promoting the drug as a treatment for COVID-19. The most infamous episodes involved then-President Donald Trump, who in a period of two months in 2020 made 11 tweets about unproven therapies for COVID-19 and mentioned them 65 times in White House briefings. Trump repeatedly referenced this now-retracted study, even after it had been discredited. During that time, purchases of hydroxychloroquine on Amazon surged by 200 percent.

With Trump returning to the presidency and having nominated a slate of anti-science quacks to every public health-related leadership position in the federal government—overseen by the notorious purveyor of anti-vaccine disinformation Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.—the working class must heighten its vigilance against medical misinformation and follow the advice of principled scientists. Any one of Trump’s nominees is damaging, but collectively it will be catastrophic when their pseudo-science becomes official policy.

Official policy under Biden already is criminally permitting the pandemic to continue to cause death and disability virtually unchecked. The constant emergence of new variants, including at least three major new variants this year alone, is a product of the dismantling of public health measures to contain the virus. Protecting the public’s health requires more than just vigilance. The working class must organize on its own political program to replace capitalism with socialism, a social system that prioritizes human health over private profit.

[ajunicetryagain]

If you’re uninsured in the US, you should as well – Biden is set to end the emergency declaration for Covid and that means a LOT of things are about to change.

Free vaccines and boosters? Gone.

Free testing? Gone.

Depending on your coverage (or lack thereof), these things might be free or discounted or expensive or only with a doctor’s request. But millions of people are going to be suddenly without coverage too.

Medicaid will be dis-enrolling people who are no longer eligible. Everyone who went on Medicaid during the pandemic, stayed on during the pandemic – no reporting the first W-2 that put you over the monthly limit, no re-enrolling every single year.

Dis-enrollment will hit especially hard in states like mine where Republicans’ refusal to take the Medicaid expansion means there’s a sizeable gap between who qualifies for Medicaid (<$12k) and who qualifies for subsidies (>$21k).

Hospitals will also be losing a lot of additional funding so expect that to be real fun.

We have more time – not til May 11 – so prepare as much as you can. It’s gonna be a rough ride.

hey UK followers, go get your covid boosters ASAP before these bastards take away yet another covid protection. jfc

[ivankahasbeentreatedsounfairly]

By New York Times Opinion

Perhaps never before has a nomination for health and human services secretary generated as much attention and divisiveness as that of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Times Opinion invited experts and leaders across disciplines and ideologies to share questions they believe Mr. Kennedy must answer before serving in a role that oversees a $1.7 trillion budget and wields enormous influence over drug approvals, public health and the nation’s research agenda. The questions reveal the stakes surrounding his nomination and offer a view of the broader fault lines in American health policy.

Vaccines

1. In 2019, Samoa experienced a devastating measles epidemic, resulting in nearly 2,000 hospitalizations and 83 deaths, mostly among children under age 4. During this crisis, Mr. Kennedy, you visited Samoa, promoted anti-vaccine misinformation through your organization, Children’s Health Defense, and met with anti-vaccine activists, undermining trust in public health leaders. These actions contributed to declining vaccination rates and delays in lifesaving M.M.R. vaccinations.

If confirmed as health secretary, you will bear responsibility for protecting vulnerable communities in the United States. If a vaccine-preventable outbreak happened here, how would you respond? — Dr. Nadine Tenn Salle, pediatrician and chief medical officer of the 2019 Hawaii medical response team to Samoa

2. You recently said that “if vaccines are working for somebody, I’m not going to take them away.” However, as health secretary, you could appoint individuals who might try to change the childhood vaccine schedule or weaken recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the group of experts that provides vaccine guidance to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These recommendations shape insurance coverage and school entry requirements.

Will you now commit to not using this kind of soft recall where certain vaccines remain technically available but are no longer widely recommended or reimbursed by insurance, making them effectively inaccessible to much of the public? — Dr. Tom Frieden, former director of the C.D.C. and current chief executive of Resolve to Save Lives

3. You have a long record of vaccine skepticism — including having said repeatedly and recently that there’s “no vaccine” that is “safe and effective.” But you also recently said that you’re “all for” the polio vaccine and won’t take away anyone’s vaccines. Is this true? Which vaccines do you now believe to be safe and effective and what evidence changed your mind? — Kathleen Sebelius, former secretary of health and human services

Infectious diseases

4. Most presidents since Gerald Ford have faced an infectious disease emergency. Research has shown that trust, including in the government, is important in how well countries fare. We are facing a potential pandemic of H5N1 and whatever other unknowns Mother Nature sends our way. And yet, you have said you will tell National Institutes of Health scientists to take “a break” from studying infectious diseases for about eight years. How will you help the country develop and have confidence to use effective countermeasures if they are needed to control a pandemic? — Dr.Nicole Lurie, former assistant secretary for preparedness and response at H.H.S. 5. In your book “The Real Anthony Fauci” and in a recent interview with New York magazine, you suggested that H.I.V. isn’t the most likely cause of AIDS. You have suggested that lifestyle choices and the use of amyl nitrate may instead be to blame for the disease and that AIDS drugs may have caused “mass murder.” These views are scientifically baseless and dangerous.

Do you promise to support increased funding for and reauthorization of programs in the United States and around the world, such as the Ryan White Care Act and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which have been critical in saving millions of lives and protecting millions of infants from H.I.V. infection? — Gregg Gonsalves, associate professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health and longtime AIDS activist

Food

6. Ultraprocessed foods account for nearly 70 percent of the American diet and have been linked not only to weight gain but also to a variety of chronic diseases. You’ve voiced strong criticisms of ultraprocessed foods. As health secretary, what regulatory steps, if any, are you prepared to take in order to curb their ubiquity? And would you consider proposing a tax on them? — Michael Pollan, journalist and author of numerous books on food, including “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”

Global health security

7. The search for Covid-19’s origin has revealed low visibility and minimal tracking of research that can cause pandemics. The new U.S. government policy to put guardrails on such research still leaves the door open for experiments that can inadvertently cause a pathogen to become more transmissible or deadly. How will you ensure that the United States is not continuing to fund risky research that can cause pandemics? — Alina Chan, molecular biologist and co-author of “Viral: The Search for the Origin of Covid-19”

8. The United States has always had a leadership role in global health and in the World Health Organization, whether it’s responding to outbreaks or developing and disseminating access to treatment or preventive measures like vaccines. If diseases are global, what is the United States supposed to do to protect its citizens without being a part of international organizations like the W.H.O.? — Dr. Helene D. Gayle, president emerita of Spelman College and former president and chief executive of the Chicago Community Trust

Health care

9. You’ve expressed skepticism over the use of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. Many people have found them enormously effective in helping them to lose weight when all else fails. Given that obesity can be a significant cause of chronic illness and early death, not to mention a huge financial burden on the health care system, this has been a welcome development. Unfortunately, it’s hard for many people to obtain these drugs. The drugs exemplify how high drug prices can drive unequal outcomes and strain the health system. What role do you see for emerging technologies in creating a more equitable and cost-effective health care system? — Dr. AaronCarroll, pediatrician and president of the health policy organization AcademyHealth

10. Subsidies to help patients afford premiums for insurance plans purchased on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces are set to expire at the end of 2025. Enacted during the pandemic by the Biden administration, they have helped millions afford insurance, generally capping premium payments at 8.5 percent of income. If those subsidies are allowed to expire, premiums will jump by an average of 75 percent and will double for many, making coverage out of reach for millions of Americans. Will the new administration work to renew those subsidies, and if not, how does it intend to help Americans afford health care? — Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal, physician and health care journalist

Abortion

11. Following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, federal health agencies have found themselves at the center of the debate around abortion and contraception access. Do you believe agencies under your purview should restrict access to drugs such as mifepristone in states with laws limiting access to abortion? — M. Anthony Mills, director of the Center for Technology, Science and Energy at the American Enterprise Institute

12. During your independent campaign to be elected president, you said you supported limits on abortion after fetal viability. But fetal viability has changed as our medicine has improved. Sixty years ago, doctors often struggled to save babies born at 34 weeks, like your cousin Patrick Bouvier Kennedy. Today, some hospitals specialize in saving children born at 22 weeks. Does viability really indicate something about the limits of fetal personhood or just the limits of our technology and our empathy? — Leah Libresco Sargeant, journalist and author of “The Dignity of Dependence”

Health disparities

13. Rural and urban Americans have stark differences in life expectancy, health and health care access. Rural Americans live significantly shorter lives than urban Americans, with higher rates of death from accidents, cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Health conditions have consistently improved over the past 15 years in urban areas, but not in rural ones or among our tribal nations. This is often presented as a Republican versus Democratic issue — rural versus urban — but it’s really not about how Americans vote, but rather where they live.

What will you specifically do to address the health disparities of rural Americans, who for many diseases have survival rates as much as 15 percent to 30 percent lower than urban Americans? — Dr. Deborah Birx, former White House coronavirus response coordinator

[global-research-report]

Future of Veterinary Care: Companion Animal Medicine Market Insights and Projections for 2030

The global companion animal medicine market size is expected to reach USD 41.18 billion by 2030 and is expected to expand at 9.9% CAGR from 2023 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The key factors driving the growth of the market for companion animal medicine include the rising pet population, the increased prevalence of diseases, and the availability of pet insurance.

In Canada for example, more than half of the country’s households (around 60% of households) owned at least one dog or cat in 2022, according to the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI). The country’s dog population increased from 7.7 million in 2020 to 7.9 million in 2022, whereas the cat population increased from 8.1 million in 2020 to 8.5 million in 2022. CAHI also reported a surge in feline vet visits following the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic notably affected the market for companion animal medicine. The impact included dampened sales, supply chain challenges, operational hurdles, falling inpatient visits, and reduced demand. Elanco for instance reported a 20% decline in revenue during Q2 2020. The company’s companion animal segment, in particular, was adversely impacted by the fall in brands in international markets and those administered in the clinic e.g. vaccines.

The company reported a recovery in sales during H2 2020. Vetoquinol on the other hand reported an increase in sales, driven by its essential portfolio including veterinary drugs in 2020 despite limited access to vet clinics and hospitals due to lockdown protocols. Boehringer Ingelheim too registered increased sales in the companion animal segment.

With the rising number of pets across the globe, the trend of pet humanization has gained traction in several key markets. Pet guardians are becoming increasingly aware of their pet’s health, treatment, and well-being. This has increased the adoption of pet insurance to reduce the financial risks for them. Petplan- the largest pet insurance provider in the U.K. offers insurance policies for various species including dogs, cats, horses, small mammals, birds, reptiles, rabbits, and multi-pet owners. These policies provide coverage for physical and online consultations, prescription medicine, diagnostic tests, surgery, dental injury, cancer treatment, and more.

The rising prevalence of diseases in pets is another key driver expected to contribute to market growth. Parasitic infections from internal and external parasites for example, commonly affect pets. Antibiotics and topical therapies are often prescribed in the case of pyoderma. However, further testing and routine bathing with medicated shampoos may be prescribed in case of chronic or recurring pyoderma. For example, Viv Silky Shampoo by Vivaldis is indicated for various fungal and bacterial infections including superficial and deep pyoderma.

Companion Animal Medicine Market Report Highlights

The companion animal medicine industry was valued at USD 19.51 billion in 2022. It is further projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.9% during the forecast period

Growing R&D initiatives by major companies are estimated to be a key driver for the market. Pet humanization is further contributing to increased expenditure on pets including pet medicines

According to APPA, U.S. citizens spent about USD 34.3 billion on vet care and products in 2021. The category included expenditure on routine veterinary care, surgical procedures, and pharmaceuticals

Based on animal type, the dog segment dominated the market with nearly 45% revenue share in 2022 owing to the large preference for dogs as pets and the rising prevalence of canine diseases

The hospital pharmacy segment dominated the market by distribution channel in 2022. The factors contributing to the large share include higher patient footfalls at hospitals and the convenience of buying the necessary medications as soon as the pet is diagnosed

North America region dominated the market in 2022 and registered the largest revenue share of over 36%. This is due to the region’s high per capita animal healthcare spending and a large number of pet owners

In Asia Pacific, the market is expected to grow at the fastest rate of over 10.4% CAGR due to the rising pet population and pet health awareness

Companion Animal Medicine Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global companion animal medicine market based on animal type and region:

Companion Animal Medicine Animal Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Dogs

By Product

Biologics

Vaccines

By Type

Attenuated Live Vaccines

Inactivated Vaccines

Recombinant Vaccines

Toxoid

Others

By Indication

Distemper

Kennel cough (Parainfluenza)

Parvovirus

Canine herpes

Lyme Disease

Rabies

Others

Pharmaceuticals

Parasiticides

Anti-infectives

Anti-inflammatory

Analgesics

Others

Medicated Feed Additives

By Indication

Infectious Diseases

Dermatologic Diseases

Pain

Orthopedic Diseases

Behavioral Diseases

Other Indications

By Distribution Channel

Retail

E-commerce

Hospital Pharmacy

Cats

By Product

Biologics

Vaccines

By Type

Attenuated Live Vaccines

Inactivated Vaccines

Recombinant Vaccines

Toxoid

Others

By Indication

Rhinotracheitis

Calicivirus

Coronavirus

Panleukopenia

Rabies

Others

Pharmaceuticals

Parasiticides

Anti-infectives

Anti-inflammatory

Analgesics

Others

Medicated Feed Additives

By Indication

Infectious Diseases

Dermatologic Diseases

Pain

Orthopedic Diseases

Behavioral Diseases

Other Indications

By Distribution Channel

Retail

E-commerce

Hospital Pharmacy

Horses

By Product

Biologics

Vaccines

Attenuated Live Vaccines

Inactivated Vaccines

Recombinant Vaccines

Toxoid

Others

Others

Pharmaceuticals

Parasiticides

Anti-infectives

Anti-inflammatory

Analgesics

Others

Medicated Feed Additives

By Indication

Infectious Diseases

Dermatologic Diseases

Pain

Orthopedic Diseases

Behavioral Diseases

Other Indications

By Distribution Channel

Retail

E-commerce

Hospital Pharmacy

Other Companion Animals

By Product

Biologics

Vaccines

Attenuated Live Vaccines

Inactivated Vaccines

Recombinant Vaccines

Toxoid

Others

Others

Pharmaceuticals

Parasiticides

Anti-infectives

Anti-inflammatory

Analgesics

Others

Medicated Feed Additives

By Indication

Infectious Diseases

Dermatologic Diseases

Pain

Orthopedic Diseases

Behavioral Diseases

Other Indications

By Distribution Channel

Retail

E-commerce

Hospital Pharmacy

Companion Animal Medicine Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

North America

US

Canada

Europe

UK

Germany

France

Italy

Spain

Russia

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

Japan

China

India

Rest of APAC

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Argentina

Rest of LATAM

Middle East & Africa

South Africa

Saudi Arabia

Rest of MEA

List of Key Players

Merck & Co., Inc.

Ceva

Vetoquinol S.A.

Zoetis

Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH

Elanco

Virbac

Bimeda, Inc.

Norbrook

Calier

Order a free sample PDF of the Companion Animal Medicine Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

[ericalbuja]

Eric Albuja’s Ideas for Safer Travel in 2025

As travel continues to evolve, safety remains a top priority for adventurers worldwide. Eric Albuja shares innovative ideas for safer travel in 2025, combining technology, planning, and mindfulness to ensure worry-free journeys.

1. Smart Luggage with Enhanced Security Features

Travelers in 2025 can rely on smart luggage to protect their belongings. Advanced features like fingerprint locks, GPS tracking, and anti-theft zippers are becoming standard, offering peace of mind. These tools not only keep your items secure but also make tracking lost luggage a breeze. Investing in quality smart luggage is a must for the tech-savvy traveler.

2. Comprehensive Travel Insurance with Pandemic Coverage

The lessons from recent years highlight the importance of robust travel insurance. Policies in 2025 are now tailored to include pandemic-related coverage, ensuring travelers are protected against unexpected medical costs or cancellations. Eric Albuja emphasizes the value of understanding your policy’s terms and ensuring it covers emergencies, trip interruptions, and lost belongings.

3. Digital Health Passports and Smart Check-Ins

Health security is a significant aspect of safe travel. Digital health passports, which store vaccination records and test results, streamline international travel while ensuring compliance with health regulations. Paired with contactless smart check-ins, these innovations reduce physical interactions, making travel safer and more efficient.

4. AI-Powered Travel Assistance

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing travel safety. AI-powered apps provide real-time alerts on local safety conditions, weather updates, and potential travel disruptions. These tools empower travelers with timely information, allowing them to make informed decisions and avoid risky situations.

5. Focus on Mental Well-Being

Safety isn’t just physical—it’s mental too. Eric Albuja suggests incorporating mindfulness practices, like meditation apps, to manage stress during travel. Staying calm and focused ensures better decision-making in unpredictable situations.

Traveling Safer in 2025

With advancements in technology, personalized planning, and a focus on well-being, travel in 2025 promises to be safer than ever. Eric Albuja’s insights help travelers prepare for a secure and enjoyable journey, no matter the destination.