In 2024, nearly five million children under the age of five died globally, with approximately 2.3 million deaths occurring in the neonatal period. This data was released by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, revealing a sharp deceleration in child mortality reduction that has slowed by over 60% since 2015. While child deaths have halved since 2000, progress is now lagging, threatening efforts to improve child health worldwide. The report emphasizes that the majority of these deaths could be prevented with low-cost medical solutions and better access to quality healthcare. The new analysis integrates cause-of-death data, providing... [Continue Reading]
In a rapid response to a significant meningitis B outbreak, students residing in university halls in Kent will soon have access to the meningitis B vaccine. British Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced that a targeted vaccination programme will begin in the coming days, aimed specifically at students who are unvaccinated and at risk. The outbreak has been described as “unprecedented” by Wes Streeting, who addressed MPs regarding the seriousness of the situation. Most students in university accommodation likely do not have prior vaccinations against meningitis B due to the vaccine's introduction into the NHS childhood vaccination schedule only in recent... [Continue Reading]