Statement of the fortieth meeting of the Polio IHR Emergency Committee at HealthBulance.

The WHO Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC) continues to closely monitor the genetic and antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants, immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination, and the performance of COVID-19 vaccines against circulating variants. Based on these evaluations, WHO advises vaccine manufacturers and regulatory authorities on the implications for future updates to COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition. In April 2024, the TAG-CO-VAC recommended the use of a monovalent JN.1 lineage vaccine antigen as one approach to induce enhanced neutralizing antibody responses to JN.1 and its descendent lineages. 05/15/2025

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WHO published its World health statistics report 2025, revealing the deeper health impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on loss of lives, longevity and overall health and well-being. In just two years, between 2019 and 2021, global life expectancy fell by 1.8 years—the largest drop in recent history— reversing a decade of health gains. Increased levels of anxiety and depression linked to COVID-19 reduced global healthy life expectancy by 6 weeks—erasing most of the gains made from lower mortality due to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) during the same period. 05/15/2025

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WHO published its World health statistics report 2025, revealing the deeper health impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on loss of lives, longevity and overall health and well-being. In just two years, between 2019 and 2021, global life expectancy fell by 1.8 years—the largest drop in recent history— reversing a decade of health gains. Increased levels of anxiety and depression linked to COVID-19 reduced global healthy life expectancy by 6 weeks—erasing most of the gains made from lower mortality due to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) during the same period. 05/15/2025

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The U.S. citizens, who travelled to Mexico for a medical procedure, were abducted Friday after getting caught in the crossfire of rival cartel groups. 05/15/2025

---

A B.C. man says he's so frustrated about waiting for knee and hip surgeries in B.C. he's flying to Mexico to get them done. 05/15/2025

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Washington, D.C., 15 May 2025 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) released its 2024 annual report documenting its work to strengthen health security across the Americas amid infectious disease outbreaks, the Region’s heavy reliance on imported vaccines and pharmaceuticals, and persistent systemic inequities.Throughout the year,… 05/15/2025

---

As we make this transition to the new leadership team, I want to express my sincere appreciation for the remarkable contributions of those colleagues who will be leaving their executive management positions on 16 June 2025. 05/15/2025

---

The risk of famine in Gaza is increasing with the deliberate withholding of humanitarian aid, including food, in the ongoing blockade. 05/12/2025

---

Washington D.C. 12 May 2025 (PAHO) – Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, has warned countries of the Americas that more must be done to train and retain nurses. The call follows the release of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) State of the World’s Nursing Report 2025, which shows that the number of nursing… 05/12/2025

---

Since October, Ontario has recorded more than 1,400 measles cases linked to an outbreak that began at a large gathering with guests from Mennonite communities in New Brunswick. 05/09/2025

---

Washington D.C., 8 May 2025 (PAHO) – The Director of the Pan American Health Organization, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, today met with the Executive Secretary of the Council of Ministers from Central America and the Dominican Republic (SE-COMISCA), Dr. Alejandra Acuña, and the Executive Director of the Mesoamerica Integration and Development Project, … 05/09/2025

---

That brings the province’s tally of probable and confirmed cases to 1,440 since an outbreak began in October. 05/08/2025

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05/08/2025

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Washington D.C. 7 May 2025 (PAHO) – As Mosquito Awareness Week kicks off in the Americas, Pan American Health Organization Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, has called on Ministries of Health in the Region, to increase surveillance and lead the charge towards the elimination of mosquito breeding grounds in a bid to reduce mosquito-transmitted… 05/07/2025

---

Researchers have found that the risk of death due to Alzheimer's disease is markedly lower in taxi and ambulance drivers compared with hundreds of other occupations. And the reason could be that these drivers develop certain structural changes in their brains as they work. 05/06/2025

---

The Ford government was forced to pay back 353 claims after supply issues for palliative and home care patients which came after it awarded a new medical contract. 05/06/2025

---

She, and other organ recipients, are now pushing Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government to change a law in order to help others in similar situations. 05/05/2025

---

University Health Network in Toronto is aiming to attract 100 scientists, focusing on people whose research could fuel economic development. 05/02/2025

---

While health care hasn't taken centre stage in the 2025 federal election, candidates recently brought it back into focus, unveiling platforms that spotlight key health issues. 05/02/2025

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03/20/2025

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04/29/2025

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Monitoring daily step count can encourage people to be more active. When it comes to assessing fitness or risk for major illnesses, though, is a new measurement that combines both average steps and heart rate better? 04/17/2025

---

Our health is intertwined with the health of planet Earth, and the impacts of climate change threaten our well-being. Collectively taking small steps like eating more plant-forward meals, using bikes or public transit, and even sharing our pledges can help move the needle in a positive direction. 04/21/2025

---

Long-term research found that higher consumption of butter increases mortality risk, while higher consumption of plant-based oil lowers it. And substituting certain plant oils for butter might help people live longer. What's a butter lover to do? 04/23/2025

---

It's fairly common for a medical treatment to cause side effects — but far more rarely, a side effect provides an unexpected benefit. This might be the case for the shingles vaccine, as evidence is mounting that it might also reduce the risk of dementia. 04/29/2025

---

With the safety of hospital staff and patients a growing concern across Canada, LHSC is implementing a new weapons detection system in all of its emergency departments. 04/15/2025

---

The WHO Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC) continues to closely monitor the genetic and antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants, immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination, and the performance of COVID-19 vaccines against circulating variants. Based on these evaluations, WHO advises vaccine manufacturers and regulatory authorities on the implications for future updates to COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition. In April 2024, the TAG-CO-VAC recommended the use of a monovalent JN.1 lineage vaccine antigen as one approach to induce enhanced neutralizing antibody responses to JN.1 and its descendent lineages. 05/15/2025

---

WHO published its World health statistics report 2025, revealing the deeper health impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on loss of lives, longevity and overall health and well-being. In just two years, between 2019 and 2021, global life expectancy fell by 1.8 years—the largest drop in recent history— reversing a decade of health gains. Increased levels of anxiety and depression linked to COVID-19 reduced global healthy life expectancy by 6 weeks—erasing most of the gains made from lower mortality due to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) during the same period. 05/15/2025

---

WHO published its World health statistics report 2025, revealing the deeper health impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on loss of lives, longevity and overall health and well-being. In just two years, between 2019 and 2021, global life expectancy fell by 1.8 years—the largest drop in recent history— reversing a decade of health gains. Increased levels of anxiety and depression linked to COVID-19 reduced global healthy life expectancy by 6 weeks—erasing most of the gains made from lower mortality due to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) during the same period. 05/15/2025

---

The U.S. citizens, who travelled to Mexico for a medical procedure, were abducted Friday after getting caught in the crossfire of rival cartel groups. 05/15/2025

---

A B.C. man says he's so frustrated about waiting for knee and hip surgeries in B.C. he's flying to Mexico to get them done. 05/15/2025

---

Washington, D.C., 15 May 2025 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) released its 2024 annual report documenting its work to strengthen health security across the Americas amid infectious disease outbreaks, the Region’s heavy reliance on imported vaccines and pharmaceuticals, and persistent systemic inequities.Throughout the year,… 05/15/2025

---

As we make this transition to the new leadership team, I want to express my sincere appreciation for the remarkable contributions of those colleagues who will be leaving their executive management positions on 16 June 2025. 05/15/2025

---

The risk of famine in Gaza is increasing with the deliberate withholding of humanitarian aid, including food, in the ongoing blockade. 05/12/2025

---

Washington D.C. 12 May 2025 (PAHO) – Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, has warned countries of the Americas that more must be done to train and retain nurses. The call follows the release of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) State of the World’s Nursing Report 2025, which shows that the number of nursing… 05/12/2025

---

Since October, Ontario has recorded more than 1,400 measles cases linked to an outbreak that began at a large gathering with guests from Mennonite communities in New Brunswick. 05/09/2025

---

Washington D.C., 8 May 2025 (PAHO) – The Director of the Pan American Health Organization, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, today met with the Executive Secretary of the Council of Ministers from Central America and the Dominican Republic (SE-COMISCA), Dr. Alejandra Acuña, and the Executive Director of the Mesoamerica Integration and Development Project, … 05/09/2025

---

That brings the province’s tally of probable and confirmed cases to 1,440 since an outbreak began in October. 05/08/2025

---

05/08/2025

---

Washington D.C. 7 May 2025 (PAHO) – As Mosquito Awareness Week kicks off in the Americas, Pan American Health Organization Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, has called on Ministries of Health in the Region, to increase surveillance and lead the charge towards the elimination of mosquito breeding grounds in a bid to reduce mosquito-transmitted… 05/07/2025

---

Researchers have found that the risk of death due to Alzheimer's disease is markedly lower in taxi and ambulance drivers compared with hundreds of other occupations. And the reason could be that these drivers develop certain structural changes in their brains as they work. 05/06/2025

---

The Ford government was forced to pay back 353 claims after supply issues for palliative and home care patients which came after it awarded a new medical contract. 05/06/2025

---

She, and other organ recipients, are now pushing Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government to change a law in order to help others in similar situations. 05/05/2025

---

University Health Network in Toronto is aiming to attract 100 scientists, focusing on people whose research could fuel economic development. 05/02/2025

---

While health care hasn't taken centre stage in the 2025 federal election, candidates recently brought it back into focus, unveiling platforms that spotlight key health issues. 05/02/2025

---

03/20/2025

---

04/29/2025

---

Monitoring daily step count can encourage people to be more active. When it comes to assessing fitness or risk for major illnesses, though, is a new measurement that combines both average steps and heart rate better? 04/17/2025

---

Our health is intertwined with the health of planet Earth, and the impacts of climate change threaten our well-being. Collectively taking small steps like eating more plant-forward meals, using bikes or public transit, and even sharing our pledges can help move the needle in a positive direction. 04/21/2025

---

Long-term research found that higher consumption of butter increases mortality risk, while higher consumption of plant-based oil lowers it. And substituting certain plant oils for butter might help people live longer. What's a butter lover to do? 04/23/2025

---

It's fairly common for a medical treatment to cause side effects — but far more rarely, a side effect provides an unexpected benefit. This might be the case for the shingles vaccine, as evidence is mounting that it might also reduce the risk of dementia. 04/29/2025

---

With the safety of hospital staff and patients a growing concern across Canada, LHSC is implementing a new weapons detection system in all of its emergency departments. 04/15/2025

---