MMWR News Synopsis

Articles

Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication — Pakistan, January 2020–July 2021

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Poliovirus circulation has declined considerably in Pakistan over the past year, but current efforts must be maintained and intensified in areas with persistent poliovirus transmission and along the border with Afghanistan to avoid a resurgence. Wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) transmission has never been interrupted in Pakistan, and a vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreak has circulated since 2019. In 2020, Pakistan reported 84 cases of wild poliovirus, a 43% reduction from 2019. In contrast, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) cases increased in 2020 and a large-scale vaccination campaign was implemented. As of the end of August 2021, Pakistan has reported only one case of wild poliovirus and eight cases of cVDPV, which can emerge when the weakened virus contained in oral poliovirus vaccine regains the ability to infect the nervous system and cause paralysis after prolonged circulation in an underimmunized population. To maintain this progress and to achieve the goal of eliminating wild polio and halting transmission of cVDPV, emphasis must be on reducing the number of children who are repeatedly missed for vaccination. Efforts must also be made to vaccinate Afghan children crossing the border with their families into Pakistan.

Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Status, Intent, and Perceived Access for Noninstitutionalized Adults, by Disability Status — National Immunization Survey Adult COVID Module, United States, May 30–June 26, 2021

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An analysis of CDC survey data show adults with a disability were more likely to report difficulty getting a COVID-19 vaccine compared to adults without a disability. Despite disparities related to COVID-19 vaccine access, adults with a disability are less likely to report vaccine hesitancy compared to adults without a disability. To assess COVID-19 vaccination status among people with disabilities, researchers from the National Immunization Survey Adult COVID Module asked participants about perceived COVID-19 risk, vaccination status, and barriers to getting vaccinated. Among all respondents, nearly 1 in 10 reported having a disability. Adults with a disability were more likely to report difficulty getting a COVID-19 vaccine due to challenges with getting an appointment online, not knowing where to get vaccinated, and getting to a vaccination site compared to adults without a disability. Efforts that make COVID-19 vaccination more accessible for adults with disabilities could help address inequities and increase vaccination demand and coverage.

Association Between K–12 School Mask Policies and School-Associated COVID-19 Outbreaks — Maricopa and Pima Counties, Arizona, July–August 2021

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COVID-19–Related School Closures and Learning Modality Changes — United States, August 1–September 17, 2021

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Pediatric COVID-19 Cases in Counties With and Without School Mask Requirements — United States, July 1–September 4, 2021

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Safety Monitoring of an Additional Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine — United States, August 12–September 19, 2021

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• E-Cigarette Use Among Middle and High School Students — National Youth Tobacco Survey, United States, 2021
  Youth e-cigarette use remains a serious public health concern amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 2 Million U.S. Middle and High School Students currently using e-cigarettes in 2021, and almost 85% of those youth using flavored e-cigarettes. Disposable e-cigarettes were the most commonly used e-cigarette device type among youth in 2021. This study used data from the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) to assess e-cigarette use behaviors among U.S. middle and high school students. The 2021 NYTS was conducted using an online survey to allow for participation by eligible students in remote learning settings; thus results cannot be compared to previous NYTS findings primarily collected on school campuses. The study found that more than 2 million youth currently used (in the past 30 days) e-cigarettes in 2021, including more than 8 in 10 of those youth using flavored e-cigarettes. These data indicate that youth e-cigarette use remains a public health concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the tobacco product landscape continues to evolve, sustained implementation of comprehensive tobacco control and prevention strategies at the national, state, and local levels, coupled with FDA regulation, can prevent and reduce tobacco product initiation and use among youth.

• Age-Adjusted Death Rates for Female Breast Cancer, by State — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2019

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