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01 / 05
Day Zero Antivirals for Future Pandemics

Asimov Press | Vaccination

Day Zero Antivirals for Future Pandemics

“Ebola tore through Western Africa in 2014, killing an estimated 11,325 people in two years. After the outbreak ended, it took another three years for the first Ebola vaccine by Merck to be approved. When COVID-19 emerged in 2019, by contrast, mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna took just 326 days from the initial sequencing of the virus to gaining approval for emergency use.

Timelines for vaccine development are shrinking, but can it move even faster? The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)—a nonprofit organization that funds vaccine research and development—thinks so.”

From Asimov Press.

UNICEF | Vaccination

Zambia Launches Malaria Vaccine to Protect Half a Million Children

“The Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Health, today [10/27/25] officially launched the malaria vaccine – R21/Matrix-M,as part of its Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), marking a historic milestone in the country’s fight against malaria. Over 500,000 children aged 6-8 months will be vaccinated in the months following the launch.

Zambia will be the 24th country to introduce the malaria vaccine.”

From UNICEF.

Science | Vaccination

Bonus from COVID-19 Vaccines: Bolstering Cancer Treatment

“Grippin and colleagues analyzed the records of more than 1000 patients who were treated for advanced skin and lung cancer at MD Anderson between 2019 and ’23. People who received a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine within 100 days of starting immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors lived significantly longer than those who received the same drugs but didn’t get the vaccine. For patients with advanced lung cancer, the median survival rate nearly doubled, rising from 20.6 months to 37.3.”

From Science.

The Independent | Vaccination

“Landmark” for Elephants After Vaccine Breakthrough

“An international team of vets has made a breakthrough in a vaccine trial for a virus that killed seven elephants at Chester Zoo.

Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) is a leading cause of death for young Asian elephants, both captive and wild, with no cure. Trials with adult elephants at Chester Zoo found a new vaccine safely triggered a strong immune response. The team (University of Surrey, Chester Zoo, Animal and Plant Health Agency) observed no side effects.”

From The Independent.