The Immunity Gap

The FDA approved updated Covid-19 vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Novavax-Sanofi to target the dominant XFG variant, with age approvals varying by manufacturer (65+ and younger people with high-risk conditions; Moderna for children >6 months, Pfizer for 5+, Novavax-Sanofi for 12+). Vaccines can begin shipping for the 2026-27 season, but recommendations will depend on individual risk rather than universal rollout, and the lack of a functioning CDC vaccine advisory panel raises questions about future guidance and insurer coverage. Current Covid activity is low but rising in wastewater/testing data.

The FDA has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer‑BioNTech and Novavax for broad use: Pfizer‑BioNTech’s shot is approved for adults 65+ and ages 5–64 with risk factors; Moderna’s Spikevax is approved for ages 6 months–64 with underlying conditions and 65+, and its mNexspike for ages 12–64 with underlying conditions and 65+; Novavax’s Nuvaxovid is approved for 65+ and 12–64 with underlying conditions. The vaccines target LP.8.1 and XFG strains (Moderna) and JN.1 (Novavax). Rollout is expected in September, with a shift toward provider-guided vaccination and no official CDC variant recommendation yet, even as CDC data show rising positivity.

With 17 confirmed measles cases in 2026, Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services released a list of potential exposure locations across Bloomfield, Ottumwa, Clive, West Des Moines and Des Moines, detailing dates from July 28 to August 15; symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and rash, and residents who may have been exposed should monitor for symptoms and seek medical advice.

Trump’s administration issued an executive order overturning longstanding federal vaccine recommendations and urging states to update school vaccination requirements, a move tied to a Washington Post investigation showing at least 5.2 million kindergarten-age kids live in counties where measles vaccination rates fall below herd immunity.

In the DRC, Ebola's human cost dominates the response: as of Aug. 24, 5,656 cases and 2,715 deaths underscore that numbers mask personal tragedy. Prof. Pierre Akilimali, who leads the national response, says trust-building, dignified burials, and close community engagement are as vital as vaccines and clinics to stop the outbreak and protect the health system, amid mistrust and cross-border risks and funding challenges.

The FDA approved updated Covid-19 vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Novavax-Sanofi to target the dominant XFG variant, with age approvals varying by manufacturer (65+ and younger people with high-risk conditions; Moderna for children >6 months, Pfizer for 5+, Novavax-Sanofi for 12+). Vaccines can begin shipping for the 2026-27 season, but recommendations will depend on individual risk rather than universal rollout, and the lack of a functioning CDC vaccine advisory panel raises questions about future guidance and insurer coverage. Current Covid activity is low but rising in wastewater/testing data.

An unusual malaria outbreak at Frankfurt Airport has infected six workers, with two deaths, and officials say it may have been seeded by an infected mosquito that rode aboard a plane. Mosquito traps are being used and blood tests are underway to determine whether a single mosquito or multiple ones caused the infections. Malaria is not endemic to Germany, and the public risk remains very low, as transmission requires a mosquito bite; investigations continue to identify links between cases and possible local mosquito involvement.

A Richmond gastroenterologist woke to a bat in her mouth, had the animal tested (rabies negative) and began post-exposure treatment as a precaution, underscoring that bat bites can go unnoticed and that anyone exposed should seek medical advice per CDC guidance.

The FDA has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer‑BioNTech and Novavax for broad use: Pfizer‑BioNTech’s shot is approved for adults 65+ and ages 5–64 with risk factors; Moderna’s Spikevax is approved for ages 6 months–64 with underlying conditions and 65+, and its mNexspike for ages 12–64 with underlying conditions and 65+; Novavax’s Nuvaxovid is approved for 65+ and 12–64 with underlying conditions. The vaccines target LP.8.1 and XFG strains (Moderna) and JN.1 (Novavax). Rollout is expected in September, with a shift toward provider-guided vaccination and no official CDC variant recommendation yet, even as CDC data show rising positivity.

Lancaster County’s coroner says the newborn died from internal hemorrhage due to a ruptured spleen shortly after birth and cannot conclusively attribute the death to measles, even though measles virus was found in lung tissue; investigators are continuing, while health officials maintain the case is measles-associated amid a PA measles outbreak in which most victims are unvaccinated. The state has reported two measles deaths this year, the first in 35 years, as cases continue nationwide.

A US study of about 70,000 adults aged 60+ found that the recombinant shingles vaccine Shingrix is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease years after vaccination compared with the older live vaccine, with the strongest effect on ischemic heart disease and heart failure; the finding hints at immune-system changes beyond shingles, though the observational design aims to reduce bias by comparing groups who chose vaccination rather than vaccinated versus unvaccinated.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro declined to share more details about two measles-associated deaths, citing patient privacy, prompting RFK Jr. to allege a fabrication and fueling a partisan debate over death attribution and public health messaging as the CDC reviews the case.

An outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis linked to lettuce has expanded to 20 U.S. states, with CDC investigators tracing the supply chain and urging consumers to monitor guidance as officials work to identify the contaminated sources and prevent further illnesses.

Following two measles deaths in Pennsylvania—one in a newborn—the antivaccine stance of Health Secretary RFK Jr. resurfaced as he linked the fatalities to vaccine declines and attacked political opponents, while health experts urged caution about cause-of-death claims and noted the broader, ongoing measles outbreak in the U.S.

Pennsylvania health officials say an infant is one of two measles-related deaths in Lancaster County, the center of a major outbreak; while both agencies confirm the child tested positive for measles, the immediate cause of death is under review and may be linked to a ruptured spleen, with experts noting measles deaths typically result from complications such as pneumonia or encephalitis.

A Richmond gastroenterologist woke up to a bat burrowing between her lips, captured the animal for rabies testing, and began rabies treatment as a precaution since she hadn’t been vaccinated. The bat tested negative, but she urges people to check older homes for bat entry points and seek immediate medical advice if a bat touched someone, as bat bites can be tiny and rabies can be fatal if untreated. Share practical steps: avoid touching bats, capture them safely with gloves and a box, call the state health department for testing, and seal attic/chimney openings to keep bats out.