CDC approves Flumist vaccine for self administration CDC approves Flumist vaccine for self administration Content Editor: Dr. Tanya October 2, 2024 Social Trends CDC, Influenza, Vaccines Flumist, a live attenuated vaccine , has been approved for self administration for adults aged 18 years and above or for administration by a caregiver for those aged 2-17 years This shall increase both convenience and accessibility, thereby favoring vaccine acceptance.. The vaccine can be procured online through the Flumist Online program. Adults aged 18 years and above have to complete an online questionnaire which is then reviewed by the pharmacist before shipment of the vaccine. Click here to read more

Prevention is better than cure for Lyme's Disease Prevention is better than cure for Lyme's Disease Content Editor: Dr. Siddharth Singh May 10, 2023 CDC Vector Borne Diseases Tick bites causes multiple diseases especially Lyme's Disease. Around 30,000 infections are annually reported in USA and 3000-5000 in India. The most common exposure route is through trekking, gardening, camping or even playing outside , where the chances of being bitten by a Black-Legged Tick is high. There are a few ways to protect ourselves from Tick bites:- Tick resides in humid and moist environment, so always try to walk in the middle of the trail and avoid trespassing through any thick vegetation. Use skin repellents using appropriate chemical insecticide for topical use or infused in clothing; Chemicals includes permethrin, DEET, picardin etc. Daily Tick checks via visible inspection at certain body parts like under the arms, in and around ears, inside the belly button, back of the knees, in and around all head and body hair, between the legs and around the waist; Check for clothing and pets as well. If a Tick is found attached to any surface, remove carefully with a fine-tipped tweezers. Unexpected summer fever or odd rash with a travel history in Tick habitat may be an early sign of Lyme's Disease. Consult a healthcare provider at the earliest. Use chemical control agents on pets to control ticks.

Nine years of Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan: Advancing accessibility for all Content Editor: Dr Anamika December 10, 2024 at 2:30:00 PM Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, Accessible India Campaign, Inclusivity, Disability The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, launched on December 3, 2015, aims to create an inclusive society for people with disabilities. As it continues under the Scheme for Implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (SIPDA ), India reaffirms its commitment to ensuring equal opportunities and independence for all citizens. It focuses on accessible infrastructure, transport, and ICT, with efforts like retrofitting 1,748 government buildings and making 709 railway stations fully accessible. Since its launch, it has enhanced accessibility as follows: It has improved digital accessibility, with 95 central and 676 state websites made accessible. The Indian Sign Language Research Centre has trained over 1,000 individuals. Media accessibility has expanded with accessible TV content. It transitioned into SIPDA for ongoing accessibility improvements. Key initiatives include accessible pilgrimage sites, web accessibility training, and enhanced funding for empowerment. Click here to read more. Previous Next

Expansion of Ayushman Bharat programme Content Editor: Dr. Nikhil Kumar Khatri July 28, 2023 at 12:30:00 PM Public Health laws and regulations, Ayushman Bharath, Health and Wellness Centres The AB-HWCs programme, with over 1.6 lakh centers and 178.87 crore beneficiaries , is undergoing its largest service expansion yet. The expansion will include Screening, prevention, and management of non-communicable diseases. Management of common ophthalmic and ENT problems. Basic oral health care. Palliative and elderly care A new cadre of Community Health Officers will be introduced at the secondary centers. Expansion of the list of essential drugs and diagnostics. The CPHC and wellness package will include yoga, zumba, meditation, diet counseling, marathons, cyclothons The centers are being encouraged to undergo the National Quality Assurance Standards assessment and certification with a target of 50% by 2026. Previous Next

Examining women's empowerment: Insights from the WE-CHANT study Examining women's empowerment: Insights from the WE-CHANT study Content Editor: Dr Sumana Mukhopadhyay April 16, 2024 Indian Journal of Community Medicine Women empowerment, Decision making Women’s empowerment is complex, with agency, resources, and achievement as key pillars. WE-CHANT study conducted in rural West Bengal focused on women’s empowerment, child health, and nutrition. Data was collected through two-stage sampling, employing exploratory factor analysis to construct the Women’s Empowerment Index (WEI). A 12-item Women's Empowerment Index (WEI) was constructed, focusing on 3 major domains. Decision-making power, Attitude toward gender-based violence (GBY) Social independence. Decision-making power emerged as the most influential predictor in rural West Bengal, consistent with previous research. The study excluded variables related to resources and achievements, focusing on empowerment. Social desirability and misclassification biases were addressed through female data collectors and confidentiality assurance. The social independence domain focused on freedom of social interactions, excluding measures like access to media and mobile phones for simplicity. The findings emphasized the importance of decision-making in women's empowerment in rural West Bengal. Click here to read more.

Ixchiq - The first vaccine approved for Chikungunya virus Ixchiq - The first vaccine approved for Chikungunya virus Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti November 22, 2023 US Food & Drug Administration Vaccination, Chikungunya, Clinical Trial, Vector-borne diseases The US FDA approved Ixchiq as the first vaccine against the Chikungunya virus for the 18-year-old and above age group. Chikungunya is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Southeast Asia, and America. Its threat is not only restricted to the acute symptoms but also to the chronic debilitating complications and fatal infection in newborns following mother-to-child transmission. The FDA approved the vaccine using the Accelerated Approval pathway based on Phase III clinical trial data. Six months after vaccination, the live-attenuated, single-dose vaccine demonstrated 96.3% seropositivity. The trial reported severe adverse reactions in some participants. It awaits a postmarketing trial to determine the seriousness of the reactions.

Superbug Fungus isolated in stray dogs in Delhi Content Editor: Dr. Subhana Siyad July 25, 2023 at 8:29:12 AM Multi drug resistance, Zoonosis, Outbreak, One health Candida auris, an emerging multi-drug resistant yeast (fungus) responsible for life-threatening global outbreaks, has been isolated from the ear canals and skin surface of hospitalized stray dogs in Delhi. Researchers from the Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, Ramjas College, and Delhi University studied skin and ear swab samples of 52 stray and 35 domesticated dogs hospitalized at Delhi's Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre, 4 of which showed evidence of the fungus. It is yet unknown how transmission occurs between dogs and humans and the clinical implications of this. According to the study, pets may serve as superbug reservoirs, potentially spreading diseases to people. The study observed that C. auris had been found outside hospitals in tidal marshes, hypersaline environments, and wastewater, indicating that this yeast can endure harsh conditions. The CDC and WHO have classified C. auris, which was originally discovered in Japan in 2009, as an urgent threat and a critical priority group, respectively, since some strains are difficult to identify and resistant to all three classes of antifungals, which can result in improper management and outbreaks. Previous Next

Spot open for a lead consultant at MOHFW Content Editor: Dr. Sangya Chaudhary May 29, 2023 at 4:04:04 PM MoHFW, Job Opportunities • The National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) is recruiting a Lead Consultant for its Community Processes/Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CP/CPHC) Division on a contractual basis . • The position involves working with a team to strengthen primary health systems and improve health service delivery in India with responsibility for policy formulation, program support, research, and implementation in the CP/CPHC Division . • Qualifications required include an MBBS/BDS with a postgraduate degree or Diploma/Masters in Public Health/Epidemiology , along with at least 10 years of experience in health program implementation. • The consultant will be based in New Delhi with travel to states and districts. • The contract duration is 2 years, with the possibility of extension based on performance. Remuneration ranges from Rs 1,30,000/- to Rs 1,70,000/- per month , along with additional benefits. • The application should be submitted online through the NHSRC website by May 30, 2023. Previous Next

Hybrid Covid immunity offers more cover than infection Hybrid Covid immunity offers more cover than infection January 20, 2023 Indian Express COVID The WHO defines hybrid immunity as protection in people who’ve received at least two doses of a Covid vaccine and have been infected with the virus either before or after vaccination. According to Lancet, the hybrid immunity, coupled with primary vaccine doses, was effective in preventing severe disease and hospital admission in 97.4% of participants upto 12 months. The effectiveness of only hybrid immunity against re-infection stood at 41.8 per cent at 12 months. And, the effectiveness of only previous infection against severe disease and hospital admission was 74.6 per cent at 12 months. After 12 months, protection against re-infection for all forms of immunity dipped to 24.7 per cent. It states that hybrid immunity with more vaccine doses provides more protection.

Public Health Daily News Snippets WHO Bulletin Releases Special Edition on Traditional Medicine Ahead of Global Summit The WHO Bulletin published its first special issue on traditional medicine since 1977, featuring research and policy analyses. This release precedes the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine scheduled for December 2025 in New Delhi. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Global Health, Traditional Medicine Integration Read More Global Summit in Geneva Intensified Efforts to Curb Toxic Mercury Pollution A major international conference was held in Geneva from 3rd to 7th November 2025 to strengthen the global fight against mercury pollution . Delegates collaborated to accelerate the phase-out of this toxic metal from products and industrial processes, aiming to protect human health and the environment. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : United Nations Environmental Health, International Policy Read More Fitness & Nation-Building: Insights from the National Fitness & Wellness Conclave 2025 The first-ever National Fitness & Wellness Conclave 2025 in Mumbai brought together policymakers, athletes, and industry leaders to reaffirm one message: India’s progress towards becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047 depends on how seriously we take fitness today. With icons from sports and cinema joining the conversation, the conclave highlighted fitness as both a cultural shift and a public health necessity. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fit India Movement, Physical Activity, Non-Communicable Diseases, Viksit Bharat Read More Global Evidence Review of the Inequality- Pandemic Cycle: UNAIDS report The UNAIDS established the “Global Council on Inequality, AIDS and Pandemic ” in 2023. Its report “Breaking the inequality-pandemic cycle ” released in November 2025 is based on evidence from more than 1500 peer-reviewed literature and reports from government agencies and research institutions across multiple pandemics and its own empirical studies over the past 2 years. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), 2025 Pandemic preparedness, Social inequality, Global Health Read More Decomposition Analysis of Factors Driving Global Maternal Mortality Reduction A new Lancet Global Health paper highlights evidence that combining family planning with quality maternity services has driven a 41% global decline in maternal deaths since 2000. The study shows how contraception alone prevented more than 77,000 maternal deaths in 2023. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : The Lancet Global Health Maternal Health, Reproductive & Sexual Health, Gender Equality, Family Planning, Declining Global Maternal Mortality Read More Delhi’s Air Quality Sees Noticeable Improvement: CAQM 2025 Report The 2025 update from the C ommission for A ir Q uality M anagement (CAQM ) highlights significant enhancements in Delhi's air quality and a marked reduction in stubble-burning incidents in nearby states. The report offers data-backed evidence of collaborative efforts to reduce pollution through the use of cleaner fuels, improved waste management, and more stringent regulatory measures. Published on : Tuesday, November 18, 2025 Source : Press Information Bureau, New Delhi Air Pollution, Environmental Health, Public Health Policy Read More Genomic Collaboration for a Safer Future: India and Italy Unite for Pandemic Preparedness The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) round table in New Delhi emphasized the power of genomic research and collaboration in strengthening pandemic preparedness. Experts called for sustained global surveillance and rapid translation of genomic data to safeguard public health. Published on : Friday, November 14, 2025 Source : Press Information Bureau, New Delhi Genomic Surveillance, Pandemic Readiness Read More WHO Unveils Global Agenda to Strengthen Paediatric Clinical Trials The World Health Organization has unveiled a new global research agenda to close gaps in evidence on child health. It prioritizes equitable, high-impact paediatric trials to ensure that treatments for children are safe, effective, and grounded in sound science. Published on : Friday, November 14, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Health Research, Pediatric Health, Clinical Trials Read More WHO refutes Tylenol-Autism Link: Urges Evidence-Based Care A statement by the current US President, which linked Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism, prompted an immediate response from the World Health Organization. The WHO clarified that no scientific evidence supports this claim and urged reliance on medical guidance. Published on : Friday, November 14, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Maternal and Child Health, Health Communication, Global Health Governance Read More 2025 Lancet Countdown Report on Climate Change and Health Impacts of climate inaction have led to a 23% increase in heat-related deaths since the 1990s. Food insecurity affected 124 million more people due to extreme weather in 2023, with losses reaching $1.35 trillion. Addressing climate change has prevented 160,000 premature deaths from coal pollution and supported 16 million jobs in renewable energy. With COP30 ahead, WHO, along with member states, plans to emphasize climate action and a swift transition away from fossil fuels. Published on : Friday, November 7, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Climate change, food insecurity, Sustainability Read More WHO Introduces New Global Framework to Enhance National Health Emergency Response The World Health Organization has unveiled a new global guide, the National Health Emergency Alert and Response Framework, to bolster countries' readiness for health crises. Developed from lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, it provides a standardized approach for managing emergencies. Published on : Friday, November 7, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Global Health Security, Emergency Preparedness Read More Training Modules to Strengthen Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Response in India The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has introduced three specialized training modules to enhance India’s capacity for managing chemical emergencies. This initiative aims to build a skilled, coordinated response system across healthcare and disaster management sectors. 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