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Articles

Surveillance Summaries: Malaria Surveillance — United States, 2018

CDC Media Relations
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Malaria is a deadly disease that can be prevented by taking medications before, during, and after traveling. During 2018, almost all cases of malaria in the United States were in travelers that did not take preventive measures. The number of cases diagnosed in the United States and its territories has been increasing since the mid-1970s; the number of cases reported in 2017 was the highest since 1972. CDC received reports of 1,823 confirmed malaria cases with onset of symptoms in 2018. The number of cases reported in 2018 is 16% fewer than in 2017. Of the cases in 2018, more than 98% were imported from countries where malaria was endemic; 85% were imported cases that originated from Africa, with 70% of these from West Africa, a similar proportion to what was observed in 2017. The best way for U.S. residents to prevent malaria is to take chemoprophylaxis medication before, during, and after travel to a country where malaria is a risk. Health care providers can educate travelers about the risks posed by malaria and how to take preventive treatment appropriately. Malaria infections can be deadly if not diagnosed and treated promptly with appropriate antimalarial medications. Artesunate is now commercially available from major U.S. drug distributors for the treatment of severe malaria. CDC will discontinue the distribution of IV artesunate on September 30, 2022. Detailed recommendations are available online at https://www.cdc.gov/malaria.

National Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13-17 Years, National Immunization Survey-Teen — United States, 2021

CDC Media Relations
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New data from CDC shows in 2021, the percentage of teens aged 13–17 years receiving human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine increased and coverage remained high and stable for meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccination and tetanus-diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. Vaccination coverage with MenACWY and Tdap was lower among adolescents who became eligible during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that disruptions may have occurred in some routine vaccine delivery.Data from the 2015–2021 National Immunization Survey-Teen found a concerning drop in vaccination coverage with the first doses of MenACWY and Tdap among younger adolescents. The potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was assessed by comparing vaccination coverage by age and birth year before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among adolescents born in 2008, the percentage receiving one or more MenACWY doses by age 13 years dropped 5 percentage points and the percentage receiving Tdap by age 12 years dropped 4 percentage points. However, coverage with one or more doses of HPV vaccine among those who turned 12 or 13 years old during the pandemic was similar to coverage before the pandemic. Ensuring adolescents are up to date on routine vaccinations is critical to protect against serious and sometimes life-threatening vaccine-preventable diseases.

Parental Intentions and Perceptions toward COVID-19 Vaccination among Children Aged 4 Months to 4 Years — PROTECT Cohort, Four States, July 2021–May 2022

CDC Media Relations
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A new study shows that before COVID-19 vaccination was authorized for children younger than age 5, parents reported reduced confidence in vaccine safety and effectiveness and a decline in their intent to vaccinate their children younger than age 5 over a 3-month period the study covered. Additional efforts, including parent education about the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccination, are needed to increase confidence in COVID-19 vaccines in children younger than age 5.During July 2021 through May 2022, perceptions toward COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination were studied in parents of children younger than age 5 enrolled in the Pediatric Research Observing Trends and Exposures in COVID-19 Timelines (PROTECT) cohort. Among parents who participated in a baseline survey, approximately 64%, 19%, and 10% reported they were likely, were unsure, or were unlikely, respectively, to have their child younger than age 5 receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The odds of parents intending to vaccinate their child was lower 3 months after the baseline survey. During the same period, parents also were less likely to perceive that COVID-19 vaccines were effective compared with baseline. Intent to vaccinate and perception of safety increased 6 months after the baseline survey in unadjusted models.

COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Safety Among Children Aged 6 Months-5 Years — United States, June 18, 2022–August 21, 2022

CDC Media Relations
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A new CDC study shows that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are safe for children aged 6 months to 5 years. Among more than 1 million young children vaccinated to protect against COVID-19, reports of serious adverse events were very rare. Most reported reactions were mild or moderate, such as pain in the arm where the shot was given, irritability, crying, and sleepiness. Everyone aged 6 months and older should receive a COVID-19 vaccine to protect against severe illness and death. COVID-19 can make children of any age very sick and can sometimes require treatment in a hospital. CDC recommends that all children aged 6 months and older receive a COVID-19 vaccine to help protect them from COVID-19 and its complications. To characterize the safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccination among children in this age group, CDC reviewed reports of adverse events and health impact assessments received by CDC’s v-safe After Vaccination Health Checker and the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) during June 18–August 21, 2022. Data identified no unusual or unexpected patterns of adverse events following vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The initial safety findings for these vaccines are generally similar to those from clinical trials before they were authorized. Reactions, such as irritability, crying, sleepiness, and loss of appetite, are expected following vaccination and serious adverse events are rare. These early safety monitoring data support the conclusion that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the risks.

Booster COVID-19 Vaccinations Among Persons Aged ≥ 5 Years and Second Booster COVID-19 Vaccinations Among Persons Aged ≥ 50 Years — United States, August 13, 2021–August 5, 2022

CDC Media Relations
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A new CDC study found half of all eligible people aged 5 years and older received a first COVID-19 booster dose and one-third of all eligible people aged 50 years and older received a second COVID-19 booster. First and second booster vaccination coverage was lowest among men, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic/Latino people, residents of rural counties, and people receiving the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen primary series vaccine. Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines, including booster doses, offers the best protection against severe illness and death from COVID-19. COVID-19 booster doses provide enhanced protection against COVID-19 infection, emergency room visits, hospitalization, and death. CDC recommends that all people ages 5 years and older who have completed their primary series vaccinations receive a booster dose when eligible. Adults older than age 50 and people with weakened immune systems are also eligible for a second booster. To understand COVID-19 booster vaccination disparities across the United States, CDC analyzed U.S. vaccine data among people ages 5 years and older between August 13, 2021 — when the first recommendation for an additional dose was released — and August 5, 2022. Among eligible people aged 5 years and older, 106.3 million (50%) received a booster dose. Among eligible people aged 50 years and older, 20.0 million (34%) received a second booster dose. Further, the report found disparities in first and second booster coverage by age group, sex, race/ethnicity, urban-rural classification, and primary series vaccine product. Black people had the lowest booster coverage among people aged 5–39 years, while Hispanic/Latino and people of multiple races had the lowest booster coverage among adults aged 40 years and older. Focused interventions to improve vaccine equity and effectiveness of outreach to populations with low booster and second booster dose coverage should be developed and implemented.

Previously Released: Strategies Adopted by Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men to Prevent Monkeypox virus Transmission — United States, August 2022

CDC Media Relations
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Previously Released: Modeling the Impact of Sexual Networks in the Transmission of Monkeypox virus Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men — United States, 2022

CDC Media Relations
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• Percentage of Children and Adolescents Aged 6–17 Years Who Have Roads, Sidewalks, Paths, or Trails Where They Can Walk or Ride a Bicycle, by Urban-Rural Status and Family Income — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2020

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.