#Vaccine

England has taken a pioneering step in global public health by launching the world’s first vaccination program targeting gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that has reached record highs and shows worrying resistance to antibiotics. Starting from August 2025, sexual health clinics across England are now offering the vaccine—adapted from the 4CMenB meningococcal B vaccine—to people at highest risk, marking a significant move in the fight against a disease that has challenged medical professionals for decades. Health officials, experts, and advocacy groups alike are hailing the effort as a critical intervention with relevance for countries confronting rising STI rates, including Thailand.

A new era in sexual health begins as England rolls out the world’s first gonorrhoea-targeted vaccination program, a development with clear implications for Thailand’s rising STI crisis. From this August, high-risk populations in English sexual health clinics will be offered the vaccine, marking a historic shift in how public health systems address one of the most challenging infections.

England faced a sharp rise in gonorrhoea cases, recording about 85,000 diagnoses in 2023—the highest since 1918 and three times higher than a decade ago. Health experts warn that Neisseria gonorrhoeae has grown increasingly resistant to available antibiotics, underscoring the urgency of prevention alongside treatment.

A U.S. federal advisory panel advising the CDC recommended that flu vaccines in the United States be available in single-dose, thimerosal-free formats. If adopted, this would standardize vaccines and address public concerns about ingredients. The issue holds global relevance for Thailand’s immunization programs and public confidence in vaccination.

Thimerosal has long sparked debate over mercury exposure and vaccine safety. The advisory panel, refreshed under new leadership, placed the question of thimerosal at the forefront of its agenda. The move reflects public demand for clearer policies rather than evidence of harm and aligns with the FDA’s position that thimerosal has a long history of safe use as a preservative.

A groundbreaking U.S. government study has found that a single dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may be just as effective at preventing HPV infection as the traditional two-dose regimen, according to new data presented this week. The findings could dramatically reshape vaccination strategies worldwide, including policies and practices in Thailand, where increasing HPV vaccine uptake remains a crucial public health goal.

The new results, unveiled by U.S. government researchers, have been described by experts as “phenomenal,” underscoring the potential for a single-dose schedule to maintain protection against the most common and cancer-causing strains of HPV. The research, detailed in a highly anticipated STAT News report, adds to growing evidence that simplifying the HPV vaccine protocol could enhance global vaccination rates, lower health care costs, and ultimately save more lives.

A United States government study suggests that a single dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may be as effective as the traditional two-dose schedule in preventing HPV infection. The findings, presented recently, could reshape vaccination strategies worldwide, including in Thailand where growing vaccine coverage is a public health priority.

Experts describe the results as phenomenal, indicating that a single-dose approach could maintain protection against the HPV types most strongly linked to cervical and other cancers. The study adds to mounting evidence that a simplified vaccination protocol could boost global uptake, reduce costs, and save more lives. According to researchers involved, the data point to a feasible path for expanding protection without requiring a return visit for a second shot.

Three more U.S. states—Louisiana, Virginia, and Missouri—reported their first measles cases of 2025, signaling a broader resurgence. Public health officials say the outbreak now involves at least 27 states, with about 800 confirmed cases. Most cases occur in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. Hospitals have seen rising admissions and a small number of fatalities. The surge highlights how quickly measles can spread when vaccination coverage dips and how international travel can seed local outbreaks. In Thailand, a similar pattern has prompted renewed focus on vaccination and outbreak readiness, as reported by national health authorities and international partners.

Three more US states—Louisiana, Virginia, and Missouri—confirmed their first measles cases of 2025 over the weekend, pushing the current outbreak to over half of all US states and marking one of the most significant resurgences in recent years. According to a report by UPI, the total number of confirmed cases across at least 27 states has climbed to 800, with the vast majority being either unvaccinated or of unknown vaccination status. This growing crisis reflects deeper global trends in vaccine coverage and highlights crucial public health lessons for Thailand, where measles cases have also risen sharply over the last two years (UPI, CDC).

A recent case in the United States is raising alarm among health experts worldwide—including here in Thailand—after a controversial physician contracted measles yet continued to practice medicine, treating children who were never vaccinated against the highly infectious disease. The case, originally reported by Ars Technica, underscored the troubling intersection of vaccine hesitancy and public health, as well as the ongoing risks posed by declining immunization rates among children.

The incident involved an American doctor known for her opposition to vaccine mandates, who was diagnosed with measles after caring for unvaccinated pediatric patients during a local outbreak. Despite clear recommendations from health authorities that infected individuals remain isolated to avoid further transmission, the doctor allegedly kept treating her young patients—many of whom were especially vulnerable to the virus due to their unvaccinated status (source).

A measles case in the United States has drawn international attention, including in Thailand, highlighting how vaccine hesitancy and public health risk intersect. A physician diagnosed with measles continued to treat children who had not been vaccinated, despite clear guidance that infected individuals should isolate to prevent further spread. The incident, originally reported by Ars Technica, underscores ongoing concerns about declining immunization rates and their impact on vulnerable populations.

According to health authorities, the doctor involved has a public stance against vaccine mandates and treated unvaccinated pediatric patients during an outbreak. Local clinics and hospitals faced heightened risk as exposure occurred in settings where unvaccinated children gathered. Public health experts stress that isolation after infection is a critical step to stop transmission, and continuing to care for patients in this state is widely viewed as dangerous and unethical.

Colombia has declared a nationwide health emergency after a sudden yellow fever outbreak. Officials report at least 34 deaths and 74 confirmed cases in 2025, signaling a sharp resurgence of a mosquito-borne illness in a region that had seen few cases in recent years. The response from the Colombian government underscores growing alarm and offers a cautionary lesson for Thailand, where Aedes-borne diseases are a constant concern.

Yellow fever is caused by a virus transmitted mainly by Aedes and Haemagogus mosquitoes. Early symptoms often resemble those of dengue or Zika, including fever, muscle pain, and headaches. In severe cases, the disease can cause jaundice, bleeding, and organ failure. Mortality can be high in the most serious phase, a reminder of why vaccination and vector control are critical. Health authorities have noted that vaccination is required for travelers to high-risk areas during Easter, as uptake becomes a focal point of the national campaign.

Colombia has declared a nationwide health emergency following a sudden and deadly outbreak of yellow fever, with at least 34 deaths and 74 confirmed cases reported so far in 2025, according to official Colombian health authorities (BBC; Reuters). The government’s urgent response underscores growing alarm about the re-emergence of this mosquito-borne virus in a region that had seen virtually no cases in recent years—a trend that should serve as a wake-up call for countries like Thailand, also home to mosquito-borne diseases.

A small American town’s resistance to childhood vaccinations has turned into an international public health warning, as a measles outbreak sweeps through the community, resulting in the deaths of at least two children and serious illness for many more Mirror, Apr 15, 2025. The outbreak inundated local hospitals, rekindled global debates about vaccine misinformation, and now stands as a sobering lesson for countries like Thailand, where vaccine confidence is increasingly challenged by online conspiracy theories and social media rumors.

A small town in the United States is facing a severe measles outbreak after rising vaccine skepticism. The crisis has put hospitals under pressure, claimed the lives of young children, and rekindled global debates about misinformation and public health. This incident serves as a timely reminder for Thailand, where vaccine confidence faces renewed challenges from online rumors and social media.

Measles remains one of the world’s most contagious diseases. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that a single case can spread to many others in communities without immunity, making herd protection essential. In places where vaccination rates dip below about 95 percent, outbreaks can surge quickly, threatening both individuals and the broader community. In the current case, vaccination skepticism and uneven funding for programs have contributed to lower uptake in the affected area, amplifying the outbreak’s impact.

A new study suggests that a vaccine commonly used to prevent shingles may also lower dementia risk in older adults. Published in Nature, the research found that people vaccinated against shingles had about a 20% lower chance of developing dementia over seven years. The findings add another reason for adults aged 50 and above to consider shingles vaccination, alongside preventing a painful rash and nerve complications.

For Thai readers, the implications are meaningful. Thailand’s population is aging, with more seniors at risk of dementia. If confirmed, the potential brain-health benefits of the shingles vaccine could support public health goals in the country. The Welsh-based study tracked roughly 280,000 medical records, comparing individuals who received the first-generation shingles vaccine with those who did not because of age-based eligibility.