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Vaccine inequity, inconsistent public health measures and new variants such as Omicron are prolonging the COVID-19 pandemic, but controlling the virus remains possible.
As data emerge that boosters may help to protect against Omicron, the supply of vaccines to Africa is further squeezed. But fears of the COVID-19 variant may increase uptake, which is worryingly low in some countries.
Lessons from the rapid development, manufacture and distribution of vaccines against COVID-19 must be broadly applied to expedite vaccine development for other infectious diseases.
In a phase 1/2 trial, an investigational gene therapy brought about sustained expression of clotting factor VIII and a dramatic reduction in the bleeding rate.
Collection of data on sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status will help to reduce health disparities that affect people from sexual and gender minority communities.
Funders’ goals for diversity, equity and inclusion are laudable, but they will only be successful if the funders prioritize health disparities research and address biases in the funding application process.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is committed to increasing the participation of underrepresented groups in science and medicine, through changes in our funding and recruitment processes. These actions provide a blueprint for the global research community.