Category: COVID-19 Vaccine

MIL-OSI: Personalized Cancer Vaccines Clinical Trials Market Opportunity Technology Platform Insight
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Delhi, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global Personalized Cancer Vaccine Market Opportunity & Clinical Trials Outlook 2025 Report Highlights & Findings:
- Commercially Approved Personalized Cancer Vaccine: Provenge
- Provenge Patent , Price & Dosage Insight
- Global Clinical Research Trends By Region & Indication
- Insight On More Than 18 Personalized Cancer Vaccines In Clinical Trials
- Personalized Cancer Vaccines Clinical Insight By Developer, Indication & Phase
- Insight On Key Personalized Cancer Vaccines Proprietary Development Platforms
- Competitive Landscape
Download Report: https://www.kuickresearch.com/report-personalized-cancer-vaccine-clinical-trials

Personalized cancer vaccines represent a revolutionary approach to cancer treatment, leveraging the body’s immune system to fight cancer more precisely. Unlike traditional therapies that target general aspects of cancer cells, these vaccines are designed to recognize and destroy tumors that are unique to each patient. This groundbreaking shift in oncology focuses on exploiting the genetic makeup of a patient’s specific cancer to craft a tailored treatment.

At the heart of personalized cancer vaccines lies the concept of neoantigens mutated proteins found in cancer cells that are not present in normal tissues. The process begins with a tumor biopsy and genetic sequencing to identify mutations driving the cancer. Sophisticated algorithms then predict which neoantigens will trigger a strong immune response. A vaccine is created, often using mRNA or peptides, and administered to stimulate T-cells that recognize and attack cancer cells. This approach primes the immune system to fight cancer more effectively and creates long-term immunity, offering a proactive treatment strategy.

This personalized approach to cancer treatment is particularly promising for cancers with high mutation rates, such as melanoma and lung cancer. Results from the Phase 2b KEYNOTE-942 study demonstrated the potential of combining mRNA-4157 (V940), an mRNA-based cancer vaccine with the checkpoint inhibitors Keytruda in enhancing the immune response in melanoma patients. The 2.5 year recurrence free survival rate for the combination was 74.8%, compared to 55.6% for Keytruda alone, showing significant benefits across various subgroups. These findings demonstrate the power of personalized cancer vaccines to not only treat but potentially prevent recurrence by enabling the immune system to recognize and eliminate any remaining cancer cells.

Despite their potential, there are challenges that need to be addressed in the development of personalized cancer vaccines. The production of these vaccines is time-consuming, and the precision required to predict the right neoantigens is not yet perfect. Not all mutations are immunogenic meaning they may not always provoke the desired immune response—which can limit the effectiveness of the vaccine. Furthermore, the process of sequencing and producing a personalized vaccine for each patient can be resource-intensive, making it a less accessible option for some.

Ongoing research is addressing these challenges, with clinical trials and new technologies driving progress in the field. For example, intratumoral injections, where the vaccine is directly injected into the tumor, and nanoparticle carriers, which deliver the vaccine more efficiently, are showing promise in enhancing the vaccine’s effectiveness. As of early 2025, numerous candidates are in Phase I and II clinical trials, suggesting that personalized cancer vaccines are steadily advancing toward becoming a mainstream treatment.

The future of personalized cancer vaccines also lies in their combination with other therapies, such as existing immunotherapies. Combining these vaccines with checkpoint inhibitors and other treatments could amplify the immune response, offering even greater potential for tumor control and long-term remission. Early-stage cancers or cases with minimal residual disease may particularly benefit from this approach, as the immune system is most effective at preventing recurrence when the cancer burden is low.

In conclusion, personalized vaccines are poised to redefine cancer therapy landscape, offering a tailored, biology driven solution to cancer treatment. While challenges remain, the progress made so far both in terms of clinical trials and technology suggests that this innovative approach could soon become a standard part of cancer care, transforming the way we fight this complex and often devastating disease.

The MIL Network –
March 25, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UKHSA highlights pathogens of greatest risk to public health
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

UKHSA highlights pathogens of greatest risk to public health

A new Priority Pathogens reference tool aims to support national funders of research and development into diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has today published its view on the pathogen families that could pose the greatest risk to public health, in a bid to focus and guide preparedness efforts against these threats.

The list of 24 pathogen families, a reference tool to help guide research and development investment in England, is the first specifically designed to consider both global public health threats as well as those most relevant to a UK population.

It provides information on pathogen families where UKHSA believes further research would be most beneficial to boost preparedness against future biosecurity risks, particularly around diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics. Research and development across a range of other pathogen families not on this list also remains vital.

For each viral family included in the tool, an indicative rating of high, moderate, or low pandemic and epidemic potential is suggested. These ratings are the opinions of scientific experts within UKHSA, who have considered routes of transmission and severity of disease arising from pathogens in each family to inform the ratings.

This rating does not indicate which pathogen UKHSA considers most likely to cause the next pandemic, but rather those pathogens requiring increased scientific investment and study.

This includes those pathogens where we need increased vaccine or diagnostics development, or those which may be exacerbated by a changing climate or antimicrobial resistance.

Dr Isabel Oliver, Chief Scientific Officer for UKHSA, said:

This tool is a vital guide for industry and academia, highlighting where scientific research can be targeted to boost UK preparedness against health threats.

We are using the tool as part of our conversations with the scientific community, to help ensure that investment is focused to where it can have the biggest impact.

We hope this will help to speed up vaccine and diagnostics development where it is most needed, to ensure we are fully prepared in our fight against potentially deadly pathogens.

Among the pathogen families where UKHSA is keen to see greater scientific strides made are the coronaviridae family, which includes Covid-19; the paramyxoviridae family which includes Nipah virus; and the orthomyxoviridae family which includes avian influenza. However, the reference tool is not a detailed threat assessment and the list of families included in this tool is not exhaustive and the families are not ranked.

Priorities and risks will change with updates in epidemiology and progress will be made with the development of diagnostics and countermeasures. Therefore, the tool, which is intended to be updated annually, must be used with other information as appropriate, and represents a snapshot at one point in time.

The tool, which aims to support all aspects of the UK Biological Security Strategy, is just one of a number of UKHSA is using to secure and protect the public’s health. Both UKHSA’s Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre and Diagnostic Accelerator are working closely with academia and industry to identify and prepare for pathogenic threats to UK health and the Priority Pathogens tool will help guide this work.

UK Health Security Agency press office

10 South Colonnade
London
E14 4PU

Email ukhsa-pressoffice@ukhsa.gov.uk

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Published 25 March 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
March 25, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: 25 March 2025 Joint News Release Decades of progress in reducing child deaths and stillbirths under threat, warns the United Nations

Source: World Health Organisation

The number of children dying globally before their fifth birthday declined to 4.8 million in 2023, while stillbirths declined modestly, still remaining around 1.9 million, according to two new reports released today by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME).

Since 2000, child deaths have dropped by more than half and stillbirths by over a third, fuelled by sustained investments in child survival worldwide. In 2022, the world reached a historic milestone when child deaths dropped slightly below 5 million for the first time. However, progress has slowed and too many children are still being lost to preventable causes.

“Millions of children are alive today because of the global commitment to proven interventions, such as vaccines, nutrition, and access to safe water and basic sanitation,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Bringing preventable child deaths to a record low is a remarkable achievement. But without the right policy choices and adequate investment, we risk reversing these hard-earned gains, with millions more children dying from preventable causes. We cannot allow that to happen.”

Decades of progress in child survival are now at risk as major donors have announced or indicated significant funding cuts to aid ahead. Reduced global funding for life-saving child survival programmes is causing health-care worker shortages, clinic closures, vaccination programme disruptions, and a lack of essential supplies, such as malaria treatments. These cuts are severely impacting regions in humanitarian crises, debt-stricken countries, and areas with already high child mortality rates. Global funding cuts could also undermine monitoring and tracking efforts, making it harder to reach the most vulnerable children, the Inter-agency Group warned.

“From tackling malaria to preventing stillbirths and ensuring evidence-based care for the tiniest babies, we can make a difference for millions of families,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. “In the face of global funding cuts, there is a need more than ever to step up collaboration to protect and improve children’s health.”

Even before the current funding crisis, the pace of progress on child survival had already slowed. Since 2015, the annual rate of reduction of under-five mortality has slowed by 42%, and stillbirth reduction has slowed by 53%, compared to 2000–2015.

Almost half of under-five deaths happen within the first month of life, mostly due to premature birth and complications during labour. Beyond the newborn period, infectious diseases, including acute respiratory infections such as pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhoea, are the leading causes of preventable child death. Meanwhile, 45% of late stillbirths occur during labour, often due to maternal infections, prolonged or obstructed labour, and lack of timely medical intervention.

Better access to quality maternal, newborn, and child health care at all levels of the health system will save many more lives, according to the reports. This includes promotive and preventive care in communities, timely visits to health facilities and health professionals at birth, high-quality antenatal and postnatal care, well-child preventive care such as routine vaccinations and comprehensive nutrition programmes, diagnosis and treatment for common childhood illnesses, and specialized care for small and sick newborns.

“Most preventable child deaths occur in low-income countries, where essential services, vaccines, and treatments are often inaccessible”, said Juan Pablo Uribe, World Bank Global Director for Health and Director of the Global Financing Facility. “Investing in children’s health ensures their survival, education, and future contributions to the workforce. With strategic investments and strong political will, we can continue to reduce child mortality, unlocking economic growth and employment opportunities that benefit the entire world.”

The reports also show that where a child is born greatly influences their chances of survival. The risk of death before age five is 80 times higher in the highest-mortality country than the lowest-mortality country, for example, while a child born in sub-Saharan Africa is on average 18 times more likely to die before turning five than one born in Australia and New Zealand. Within countries, the poorest children, those living in rural areas, and those with less-educated mothers face the higher risks.

Stillbirth disparities are just as severe, with nearly 80% occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia, where women are six to eight times more likely to experience a stillbirth than women in Europe or North America. Meanwhile, women in low-income countries are eight times more likely to experience a stillbirth than those in high-income countries.

“Disparities in child mortality across and within nations remain one of the greatest challenges of our time,” said the UN DESA Under-Secretary-General, Li Junhua. “Reducing such differences is not just a moral imperative but also a fundamental step towards sustainable development and global equity. Every child deserves a fair chance at life, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that no child is left behind.”

UN IGME members call on governments, donors, and partners across the private and public sectors to protect the hard-won gains in saving children’s lives and accelerate efforts. Increased investments, service integration, and innovations are urgently needed to scale up access to proven life-saving health, nutrition, and social protection services for children and pregnant mothers.

Notes to editors

Download multimedia content here.

The UN IGME child mortality report The UN IGME stillbirth report

The two reports – Levels & Trends in Child Mortality and Counting Every Stillbirth – are the first of a series of important global data sets released in 2025. UN maternal mortality figures will be published in the coming weeks.

About UN IGME

The United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation or UN IGME was formed in 2004 to share data on child mortality, improve methods for child mortality estimation, report on progress towards child survival goals and enhance the capacity of countries to produce timely and properly evaluated estimates of child mortality. UN IGME is led by UNICEF and includes the World Health Organization, the World Bank Group and the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

For more information:

http://www.childmortality.org/

MIL OSI United Nations News –

March 25, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to UKHSA’s new Priority Pathogens reference tool

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

March 25, 2025

Scientists comment on the UK Health Security Agency’s new Priority Pathogens reference tool for R&D funders.

Prof Martin Hibberd, Professor of Emerging Infectious Disease, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said:

“I am pleased to see a guidance description for pathogens in a UK context being released, and that it will be up-dated yearly. As mentioned in the report, these lists cannot be comprehensive and different perspectives are likely to lead to different conclusions, but it’s release is likely to lead to more widespread consultations and honing of the findings for next year. While all the pathogen families are important, the three identified as priorities (Covid-19; Nipah virus; and avian influenza) are not surprising and I expect perhaps a more detailed, UK specific, priority list next year.”

Darius Hughes, UK General Manager at Moderna, said:

“This important work directly supports Moderna’s strategic partnership with the UK Government to strengthen national pandemic preparedness. By aligning our scientific innovation with the UKHSA’s priority pathogen list, we can help accelerate the development of vaccines where they are most urgently needed. This ensures our joint efforts are focused, forward-looking, and capable of responding rapidly to emerging biological threats—ultimately supporting the UK’s ambition to lead in global health security and protect public health through sustained innovation and collaboration.”

Prof Miles Carroll, Professor of Emerging Viruses, Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, said:

“This new Priority Pathogen Families R&D Tool from UK Health Security Agency is aligned with similar prioritisation from the UK Vaccines Network and the World Health Organization, but with a UK focus for obvious reasons.

“The new R&D Tool is consistent with existing evidence, which is helping guide funders, policymakers and scientists on the most urgent research gaps in epidemic and pandemic pathogen threats. Tools like this are important if we are to develop effective diagnostics, vaccines and treatments to support the UK Biological Security strategy.”

Prof Robert Read, Professor of Infectious Diseases, University of Southampton, and Editor in Chief, Journal of Infection, said:

“Lists like this have been made for many years, and they represent an effort to prioritise infections for advisory and funding purposes, ostensibly to align research funding as closely as possible to public health need. Unfortunately, pathogens emerge or change constantly, and it is difficult to predict big infectious disease problems coming down the line. For this reason, I think this list is at best pointless, and at worst potentially harmful to the public health.

“Pointless because the list of viruses is so long that its tricky to name a significant viral pathogen that has not been included. Potentially harmful because a prescriptive list like this could misdirect funding towards certain infections, and away from problems that need urgently to be solved. For example, the list of bacteria of concern includes Yersinia pestis (the cause of plague, a massive problem in 14th-18th Century Europe) for which there is now good available treatment and potential vaccine candidates, but does not include Bordetella pertussis (the cause of Whooping Cough) which caused serious problems for the public during 2024 because vaccines remain sub-optimal and antibiotic treatment only works during the early phase.”

Prof Mark Woolhouse, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, and Director of the Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa, University of Edinburgh, said:

“A key recommendation of the UK Covid Inquiry’s Interim Report for Module 1 (Preparedness) was that prior to 2020 the UK was overly focussed on the risk of an influenza pandemic. When Covid arrived, it took too long to adjust our response to a different threat, which was part of the reason we ended up in lockdown.

“Since the pandemic, there have been many initiatives to better understand the diversity of pandemic threats that the UK and the world may face in the coming years. The UKHSA’s pathogen prioritization exercise is a welcome contribution to this global effort.

“Of the highest priority pathogens identified by the UKHSA, no one could argue with the inclusion of coronaviruses and influenza viruses (the latter being members of the Orthomyxoviridae family).

“The UKHSA are also right to be concerned about another family of viruses, the Paramyxoviridae. This is a group that includes the measles virus, itself a continuing cause for concern with large outbreaks regularly reported from around the world.

“A novel measles-like virus would pose a threat far worse than Covid. Such a virus would have a much higher R number than the original variants of Covid – making it impossible to control by even the strictest lockdown. It would also be considerably more deadly, and (unlike Covid) it would be a threat to children. This is the kind of pandemic that public health agencies around the world are most concerned about.

“That said, there are many potential kinds of novel pandemic threats – so-called Disease X – and the UKHSA report is a timely reminder that we should not put all our eggs in one basket. The possibility of different kinds of threat – different transmission routes, different types of disease, different populations at risk – means that our response needs to be scalable, adaptable and quick. Knowledge, information and data collected in the first few weeks of the next pandemic will be crucial to tailoring our response appropriately. We need the systems to gather that data in place in advance and ready to be activated, possibly at very short notice.”

‘Priority pathogen families research and development (R&D) tool: A reference tool to help guide England-based funders of research and development’ was published by the UK Health Security Agency at 00:01 UK time on Tuesday 25 March 2025.

Declared interests

Prof Mark Woolhouse: “I am a consultant for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI) and a member of the Scottish Committee for Pandemic Preparedness (SCoPP).”

Prof Martin Hibberd: “I have no conflicts with this topic, but I do work on some of the pathogens listed and have been funded by Industry (most recently J&J) – amongst other government support, to work on them.”

Prof Miles Carroll: “I consult for PicturaBio diagnostics. I am a member of the WHO R&D BluePrint Pathogen Prioritisation Committee, UKVN, APHA SAB and MRC/UVRI SAB.”

Darius Hughes: In December 2023, Moderna entered a 10-year strategic partnership with the UK government to establish an mRNA research development and manufacturing facility in the UK. The strategic partnership is managed by the UK Health Security Agency on behalf of the UK government.

For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

March 25, 2025

MIL-OSI: Diversified Royalty Corp. Announces Fourth Quarter and Year End 2024 Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diversified Royalty Corp. (TSX: DIV and DIV.DB.A) (the “Corporation” or “DIV”) is pleased to announce its financial results for the three months (“Q4 2024”) and year ended December 31, 2024.

Highlights

The weighted average organic royalty growth¹ of DIV’s diversified royalty portfolio was 5.9% in Q4 2024 and 5.0% for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 6.8% for the three months ended December 31, 2023 (“Q4 2023”) and 8.4% for the year ended December 31, 2023. The weighted average organic royalty growth¹ on a constant currency basis was 5.4% in Q4 2024 and 4.8% for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Revenue was $17.0 million in Q4 2024 and $65.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, up 3.9% and 15.0%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2023.
Adjusted revenue¹ was $18.4 million in Q4 2024 and $70.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, up 3.8% and 14.0%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2023.
Distributable cash¹ was $12.6 million in Q4 2024 and $44.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, up 21.5% and 17.5%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2023.
Payout ratio¹ was 82.3% in Q4 2024 based on dividends of $0.0625 per share for the quarter, compared to 84.2% in Q4 2023 based on dividends of $0.0609 per share for the comparable quarter and 90.0% for the year ended December 31, 2024 based on dividends of $0.2487 per share for the year, compared to 90.2% based on dividends of $0.2415 per share for the comparable year.
In celebration of DIV’s 10-year anniversary, we are proud to recognize the following:
- On October 6, 2014, we announced our name change to “Diversified Royalty Corp.”
- DIV’s very first dividend was $0.0157 per share, paid on November 28, 2014
- The total dividends paid to shareholders since then is $269.1 million, or $2.25 per share

Fourth Quarter Commentary

Sean Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer of DIV stated, “Overall, DIV is pleased with how its royalty partners performed with weighted average organic royalty growth of 5.9% in Q4 2024 and 5.0% for the year ended December 31, 2024. As with all portfolios, there are varying degrees of performance within the portfolio. Mr. Lube, our largest royalty partner, continued to see strong double-digit growth, generating SSSG¹ (defined below) of 12.0% for the three-month period ended December 31, 2024, and 10.5% for the year ended December 31, 2024. This exceptional performance is the result of Mr. Lube’s management team working with their franchisees to share best practices and optimize the performance of each location. DIV’s other variable royalty partners generated mixed results with Oxford generating positive SSSG and Mr. Mikes generating negative SSSG in Q4. DIV’s fixed royalty partners, Nurse Next Door, Stratus and BarBurrito made their fixed royalty payments. DIV is deferring 20% of Sutton’s royalties to help them invest in the business and build on the positive momentum in Q4. DIV continues to see a decrease in royalty income from AIR MILES® because of the loss of Metro as a loyalty partner and continued softness across the AIR MILES® Rewards Program.”

1. Adjusted revenue and distributable cash are non-IFRS financial measures, payout ratio is a non-IFRS ratio and weighted average organic royalty growth and Same-store-sales growth or SSSG are supplementary financial measures – see “Non-IFRS Measures” below.

Fourth Quarter Results

	Three months ended December 31,				Year ended December 31,
(000’s)		2024		2023		2024		2023
Mr. Lube + Tires	$	8,602	$	7,810	$	31,190	$	28,429
Stratus^a		2,268		2,099		8,714		8,171
BarBurrito		2,101		2,032		8,403		2,032
Nurse Next Door^b		1,341		1,316		5,309		5,207
Oxford		1,206		1,162		4,530		4,521
Sutton		899		1,095		4,206		4,339
Mr. Mikes		1,040		1,130		4,226		4,570
AIR MILES®		896		1,044		3,640		4,352
Adjusted revenue^c	$	18,352	$	17,688	$	70,218	$	61,621

^{a) Stratus royalty income for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, was US$1.6 million and US$6.4 million, respectively, translated at an average foreign exchange rate of $1.4000 and $1.3703 to US$1, respectively (three months and year ended December 31, 2023 – royalty income of US$1.5 million and US$6.1 million, respectively, translated at an average foreign exchange rate of $1.3610 and $1.3493 to US$1, respectively).}
^{b) Represents the DIV Royalty Entitlement plus management fees received from Nurse Next Door.}
^{c) DIV Royalty Entitlement and adjusted revenue are non-IFRS financial measures and as such, do not have standardized meanings under IFRS. For additional information, refer to “Non-IFRS Measures” in this news release.}

In Q4 2024, DIV generated $17.0 million of revenue compared to $16.4 million in Q4 2023. After considering the DIV Royalty Entitlement² (defined below) related to DIV’s royalty arrangements with Nurse Next Door, DIV’s adjusted revenue² was $18.4 million in Q4 2024, compared to $17.7 million in Q4 2023. Adjusted revenue increased primarily due to incremental revenue received through the acquisition of the BarBurrito rights on October 4, 2023, positive SSSG² at Mr. Lube + Tires and Oxford, the annual contractual royalty increases at Stratus and Nurse Next Door, partially offset by negative SSSG from Mr. Mikes and lower royalty income from AIR MILES® and the 20% deferral of the Sutton royalties, all as discussed in further detail below.

2. Adjusted revenue and DIV Royalty Entitlement are non-IFRS financial measures and SSSG are supplementary financial measures – see “Non-IFRS Measures” below.

Royalty Partner Business Updates

Mr. Lube + Tires: Mr. Lube Canada Limited Partnership (“Mr. Lube + Tires”) generated SSSG³ of 12.0% for the Mr. Lube + Tires stores in the royalty pool for Q4 2024 and 10.5% for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to SSSG of 14.0% and 17.1%, for the same respective prior periods in 2023.

3. Same-store-sales growth or SSSG is a supplementary financial measure – see “Non-IFRS Measures” below.

Stratus: Royalty income from SBS Franchising LLC (“Stratus”) was $2.3 million (US$1.6 million translated at an average foreign exchange rate of $1.4000 to US$1.00) for Q4 2024 and $8.7 million (US$6.4 million translated at an average foreign exchange rate of $1.3703 to US$1.00) for the year ended December 31, 2024. The fixed royalty payable by Stratus increases each November at a rate of 5% until and including November 2026 and 4% each November thereafter during the term of the license, with the most recent increase effective November 15, 2024.

Nurse Next Door: The royalty entitlement to DIV (the “DIV Royalty Entitlement⁴”) from Nurse Next Door Professional Homecare Services Inc. (“Nurse Next Door”) was $1.3 million in Q4 2024 and $5.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The DIV Royalty Entitlement from Nurse Next Door grows at a fixed rate of 2.0% per annum during the term of the license, with the most recent increase effective October 1, 2024.

4. DIV Royalty Entitlement is a non-IFRS measure – see “Non-IFRS Measures” below.

Mr. Mikes: SSSG⁵ for the Mr. Mikes Restaurants Corporation (“Mr. Mikes”) restaurants in the Mr. Mikes royalty pool was -4.7% in Q4 2024 and -3.4% for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to SSSG of 7.3% and 10.1%, for the same respective prior periods in 2023. The lower SSSG percentage in the current period is primarily due to lower restaurant guest traffic. In addition, in the comparable period, SSSG was measured against quarters that included the impact from COVID-19 related government regulations, including vaccine mandates.

Royalty income and management fees of $1.0 million were generated by Mr. Mikes in Q4 2024, compared to $1.2 million in Q4 2023, which excludes approximately $0.05 million from the partial payment of deferred contractual royalty fees and accrued management fees. Royalty income and management fees of $4.2 million were generated for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $4.4 million generated for the year ended December 31, 2023, excluding approximately $0.18 million from the partial payment of deferred contractual royalty fees and accrued management fees.

5. Same-store-sales growth or SSSG is a supplementary financial measure – see “Non-IFRS Measures” below.

Oxford: The Oxford Learning Centres, Inc. (“Oxford”) locations in the Oxford royalty pool generated SSSG⁶ (on a constant currency basis) of 4.0% in Q4 2024 and 0.2% for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to SSSG of -0.2% and 5.9%, for the same respective prior periods in 2023. Oxford’s SSSG has returned to being positive after lapping the completion of the Ontario Government funding of student learning support, which included private tutoring, which funding completed in the first half of 2023.

6. Same-store-sales growth or SSSG is a supplementary financial measure – see “Non-IFRS Measures” below.

AIR MILES®: In Q4 2024, royalty income of $0.9 million was generated from the AIR MILES® Licenses compared to $1.0 million generated in Q4 2023, a decrease of 14.2% from the comparable quarter. For the year ended December 31, 2024, royalty income of $3.6 million was generated compared to $4.4 million generated in the comparable year, a decrease of 16.4%. The decrease is largely due to the loss of AIR MILES® sponsor Metro and continued softness in the AIR MILES® Rewards Program.

Sutton: In Q4 2024, royalty income of $0.9 million was generated by Sutton, which is net of a 20% royalty deferral, compared to $1.1 million generated in Q4 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2024, royalty income of $4.1 million was generated, which includes a 20% royalty deferral for Q4, 2024, compared to $4.3 million generated in the comparable year. DIV and Sutton entered into a royalty deferral agreement during Q4 2024, which provides Sutton with a 20% deferral of royalties from October 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025. The deferred royalties do not accrue interest and are due in full on December 31, 2027. Sutton finished 2024 on a strong note, opening two new franchise locations in Q4 and has a growing pipeline of franchise opportunities across Canada. Sutton intends to invest the deferred royalties to complete the rebuild of its management team, increase investment in marketing, roll out its rebranded logo across Canada, increase business development, and build on the positive momentum that began in the back half of 2024.

BarBurrito: Royalty income from BarBurrito Restaurants Inc. (“BarBurrito”) was $2.1 million for Q4 2024 and $8.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The royalty payable by BarBurrito initially grows at a fixed rate of 4% per annum each March from and including March 2025 to and including March 2030 and, commencing on January 1, 2031, will fluctuate based on the gross sales of the BarBurrito locations in the royalty pool.

Distributable Cash and Dividends Declared

In Q4 2024 and for the year ended December 31, 2024, distributable cash⁷ increased to $12.6 million ($0.0759 per share) and $44.8 million ($0.2762 per share), respectively, compared to $10.4 million ($0.0723 per share) and $38.1 million ($0.2671 per share), in the respective periods in 2023.

The increase in distributable cash⁷ for the quarter was primarily due to higher adjusted revenue⁷, lower general and administrative expenses, lower professional fees, lower interest expense, and lower salaries and benefits. The increase in distributable cash⁷ for the year was primarily due to higher adjusted revenue⁷, lower general and administrative expenses, and lower professional fees, partially offset by higher interest expense and higher and salaries and benefits.

The increase in distributable cash per share⁷ for the quarter and year end were primarily due to an increase in distributable cash, partially offset by a higher weighted average number of common shares outstanding.

In Q4 2024 and for the year ended December 31, 2024, the payout ratio⁷ was 82.3% on dividends of $0.0625 per share and 90.0% on dividends of $0.2487 per share, respectively, compared to the payout ratio of 84.2% on dividends of $0.0609 per share and 90.2% on dividends of $0.2410 per share for the same respective periods in 2023. The decrease in payout ratio for the quarter and year end were primarily due to higher distributable cash per share⁷, partially offset by higher dividends declared per share.

7. Adjusted revenue and distributable cash are non-IFRS financial measures and distributable cash per share and payout ratio are non-IFRS ratios – see “Non-IFRS Measures” below.

Net Income

Net income for Q4 2024 and for the year ended December 31, 2024, was $4.0 million and $26.6 million, respectively, compared to net income of $9.1 million and $31.7 million for the same respective periods in 2023. The decrease in net income in Q4 2024 was primarily due to impairment loss on intangible assets and higher share-based compensation expense, partially offset by higher adjusted revenue⁸ and lower general and administrative expenses, interest expense on credit facilities, and income tax expense. The decrease in net income for the year was primarily due to impairment loss on intangible assets, higher share-based compensation expense, salaries and benefits, and interest expense on credit facilities, partially offset by higher adjusted revenue⁸ and lower general and administrative expenses, and income tax expense.

8. Adjusted revenue is a non-IFRS financial measure – see “Non-IFRS Measures” below.

About Diversified Royalty Corp.

DIV is a multi-royalty corporation, engaged in the business of acquiring top-line royalties from well-managed multi-location businesses and franchisors in North America. DIV’s objective is to acquire predictable, growing royalty streams from a diverse group of multi-location businesses and franchisors.

DIV currently owns the Mr. Lube + Tires, AIR MILES®, Sutton, Mr. Mikes, Nurse Next Door, Oxford Learning Centres, Stratus Building Solutions and BarBurrito trademarks. Mr. Lube + Tires is the leading quick lube service business in Canada, with locations across Canada. AIR MILES® is Canada’s largest coalition loyalty program. Sutton is among the leading residential real estate brokerage franchisor businesses in Canada. Mr. Mikes operates casual steakhouse restaurants primarily in western Canadian communities. Nurse Next Door is a home care provider with locations across Canada and the United States as well as in Australia. Oxford Learning Centres is one of Canada’s leading franchisee supplemental education services. Stratus Building Solutions is a leading commercial cleaning service franchise company providing comprehensive building cleaning, and office cleaning services primarily in the United States. BarBurrito is the largest quick service Mexican restaurant food chain in Canada.

DIV’s objective is to increase cash flow per share by making accretive royalty purchases and through the growth of purchased royalties. DIV intends to continue to pay a predictable and stable monthly dividend to shareholders and increase the dividend over time, in each case as cash flow per share allows.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The use of any of the words “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “will”, ”project”, “should”, “believe”, “confident”, “plan” and “intend” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information, although not all forward-looking information contains these identifying words. Specifically, forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements made in relation to: Sutton having a growing pipeline of franchise opportunities across Canada; Sutton intends to invest the deferred royalties to complete the rebuild of its management team, increase investment in marketing, roll out its rebranded logo across Canada, increase business development and build on the positive momentum that began in the back half of 2024; DIV’s intention to pay monthly dividends to shareholders; and DIV’s corporate objectives. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events, performance, or achievements of DIV to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking information. DIV believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this news release are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In particular, risks and uncertainties include: DIV’s royalty partners may not make their respective royalty payments to DIV, in whole or in part; the decline in royalties received under the AIR MILES® licenses could cause AM Royalties Limited Partnership (“AM LP”) to be required to make partial or full repayment of the outstanding principal amount under its credit agreement, or cause AM LP to be in default under its credit agreement; current positive trends being experienced by certain of DIV’s royalty partners (and their respective franchisees) may not continue and may regress, and current negative trends experienced by certain of DIV’s royalty partners (including their respective franchisees) may continue and may regress; DIV and its royalty partners performance may not meet management’s expectations; DIV may not be able to make monthly dividend payments to the holders of its common shares; Sutton may not pay all deferred royalties in accordance with the timing required or at all; Sutton’s investment of the deferred royalties may not achieve their intended effects; Sutton may require further deferrals of royalties beyond those contemplated by the current deferral agreement; dividends are not guaranteed and may be reduced, suspended or terminated at any time; or DIV may not achieve any of its corporate objectives. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned that forward-looking information included in this news release is not a guarantee of future performance, and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. More information about the risks and uncertainties affecting DIV’s business and the businesses of its royalty partners can be found in the “Risk Factors” section of its Annual Information Form dated March 24, 2025 and in DIV’s management’s discussion and analysis for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, copies of which are available under DIV’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

In formulating the forward-looking information contained herein, management has assumed that DIV will generate sufficient cash flows from its royalties to service its debt and pay dividends to shareholders; lenders will provide any necessary waivers required in order to allow DIV to continue to pay dividends; lenders will provide any other necessary covenant waivers to DIV and its royalty partners; the performance of DIV’s royalty partners will be consistent with DIV’s and its royalty partners’ respective expectations; recent positive trends for certain of DIV’s royalty partners (including their respective franchisees) will continue and not regress; current negative trends experienced by certain of DIV’s royalty partners (including their respective franchisees) will not materially regress; Sutton will pay all deferred royalties in accordance with the required timing in full and will not require further deferrals; Sutton’s investment of the deferred royalties will achieve its intended effects; the businesses of DIV’s respective royalty partners will not suffer any material adverse effect; and the business and economic conditions affecting DIV and its royalty partners will continue substantially in the ordinary course, including without limitation with respect to general industry conditions, general levels of economic activity and regulations. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect.

All of the forward-looking information in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that it will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, DIV. The forward-looking information in this news release is made as of the date of this news release and DIV assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law.

Non-IFRS Measures

Management believes that disclosing certain non-IFRS financial measures, non-IFRS ratios and supplementary financial measures provides readers with important information regarding the Corporation’s financial performance and its ability to pay dividends and the performance of its royalty partners. By considering these measures in combination with the most closely comparable IFRS measure, management believes that investors are provided with additional and more useful information about the Corporation and its royalty partners than investors would have if they simply considered IFRS measures alone. The non-IFRS financial measures, non-IFRS ratios and supplementary financial measures do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS and therefore are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Investors are cautioned that non-IFRS measures should not be construed as a substitute or an alternative to net income or cash flows from operating activities as determined in accordance with IFRS.

“Adjusted revenue”, “adjusted royalty income”, “DIV Royalty Entitlement” and “distributable cash” are used as non-IFRS financial measures in this news release.

Adjusted revenue is calculated as royalty income plus DIV Royalty Entitlement and management fees. The following table reconciles adjusted revenue and adjusted royalty income to royalty income, the most directly comparable IFRS measure disclosed in the financial statements:

	Three months ended December 31,				Year ended December 31,
(000’s)		2024		2023		2024		2023
Mr. Lube + Tires	$	8,543	$	7,750	$	30,953	$	28,196
Stratus		2,269		2,099		8,714		8,171
BarBurrito		2,080		2,013		8,320		2,013
Oxford		1,194		1,152		4,487		4,481
Sutton		872		1,068		4,096		4,229
Mr. Mikes		1,025		1,115		4,181		4,520
AIR MILES®		896		1,044		3,640		4,352
Royalty income	$	16,879	$	16,241	$	64,391	$	55,962
DIV Royalty Entitlement		1,320		1,295		5,228		5,126
Adjusted royalty income	$	18,199	$	17,536	$	69,619	$	61,088
Management fees		153		152		599		533
Adjusted revenue	$	18,352	$	17,688	$	70,218	$	61,621

For further details with respect to adjusted revenue and adjusted royalty income, refer to the subsection “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” under “Description of Non-IFRS Financial Measures, Non-IFRS Ratios and Supplementary Financial Measures” in the Corporation’s management’s discussion and analysis for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

The most closely comparable IFRS measure to DIV Royalty Entitlement is “distributions received from NND LP”. DIV Royalty Entitlement is calculated as distributions received from NND LP, before any deduction for expenses incurred by NND Holdings Limited Partnership (“NND LP”), which expenses include legal, audit, tax and advisory services. Note that distributions received from NND LP is derived from the royalty paid by Nurse Next Door to NND LP. The following table reconciles DIV Royalty Entitlement to distributions received from NND LP in the financial statements:

	Three months ended December 31,						Year ended December 31,
(000’s)		2024			2023			2024			2023
Distributions received from NND LP	$	1,314		$	1,284		$	5,197		$	5,095
Add: NND Royalties LP expenses		2			2			27			22
DIV Royalty Entitlement		1,316			1,286			5,224			5,117

Less: NND Royalties LP expenses		(2	)		(2	)		(27	)		(22	)
DIV Royalty Entitlement, net of NND Royalties LP expenses	$	1,314		$	1,284		$	5,197		$	5,095

For further details with respect to DIV Royalty Entitlement, refer to the subsection “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” under “Description of Non-IFRS Financial Measures, Non-IFRS Ratios and Supplementary Financial Measures” in the Corporation’s management’s discussion and analysis for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

The following table reconciles distributable cash to cash flows generated from operating activities, the most directly comparable IFRS measure disclosed in the financial statements:

	Three months ended December 31,						Year ended December 31,
(000’s)		2024			2023			2024			2023

Cash flows generated from operating activities	$	11,724		$	7,400		$	46,491		$	30,816

Current tax expense		(1,300	)		(845	)		(6,516	)		(5,061	)
Accrued interest on convertible debentures		788			788			–			–
Accrued interest on bank loans		(13	)		–			(438	)		–
Distributions on MRM units earned in current periods		(34	)		(38	)		(138	)		(164	)
Mandatory principal payments on credit facilities		–			(577	)		(643	)		(1,008	)
Payment of lease obligations		(28	)		(28	)		(110	)		(107	)
NND LP expenses		(2	)		(2	)		(27	)		(22	)
Accrued DIV Royalty Entitlement, net of distributions		2			–			27			–
Foreign exchange and other		(13	)		394			146			229
Changes in working capital		(33	)		(527	)		303			3,579
Transactions costs		–			32			–			32
Taxes paid		1,512			1,648			6,012			7,691
Note receivable		–			2,130			(305	)		2,130
Distributable cash	$	12,603		$	10,376		$	44,802		$	38,115

For further details with respect to distributable cash, refer to the subsection “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” under “Description of Non-IFRS Financial Measures, Non-IFRS Ratios and Supplementary Financial Measures” in the Corporation’s management’s discussion and analysis for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

“Distributable cash per share” and “payout ratio” are non-IFRS ratios that do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to similar ratios presented by other issuers. Distributable cash per share is defined as distributable cash, a non-IFRS measure, divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The payout ratio is calculated by dividing the dividends per share during the period by the distributable cash per share, a non-IFRS measure, generated in that period. For further details, refer to the subsection entitled “Non-IFRS Ratios” under “Description of Non-IFRS Financial Measures, Non-IFRS Ratios and Supplementary Financial Measures” in the Corporation’s management’s discussion and analysis for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

“Weighted average organic royalty growth” is the average same store sales growth percentage related to Mr. Lube + Tires, Oxford and Mr. Mikes (excluding the collection of Mr. Mikes deferred royalty management fees) plus the average increase in adjusted royalty income from AIR MILES®, Sutton (less 20% deferral in Q4, 2024), Nurse Next Door and Stratus over the prior comparable period taking into account the percentage weighting of each royalty partner’s adjusted royalty income in proportion of the total adjusted royalty income for the period, excluding BarBurrito as there was no full-period adjusted royalty income generated from BarBurrito in the prior period. Weighted average organic royalty growth is a supplementary financial measure and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. However, the Corporation believes that weighted average organic royalty growth is a useful measure as it provides investors with an indication of the change in year-over-year growth of each royalty partner, taking into account the percentage weighting of royalty partner’s growth in proportion of total growth, as applicable. The Corporation’s method of calculating weighted average organic royalty growth may differ from those of other issuers or companies and, accordingly, weighted average organic royalty growth may not be comparable to similar measures used by other issuers or companies.

“Same store sales growth” or “SSSG” and “system sales” are supplementary financial measures and do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. SSSG and system sales figures are reported to DIV by its Royalty Partners – see “Third Party Information”. For further details, refer to the subsection entitled “Supplementary Financial Measures” under “Description of Non-IFRS Financial Measures, Non-IFRS Ratios and Supplementary Financial Measures” in the Corporation’s management’s discussion and analysis for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

Third Party Information

This news release includes information obtained from third party company filings and reports and other publicly available sources as well as financial statements and other reports provided to DIV by its royalty partners. Although DIV believes these sources to be generally reliable, such information cannot be verified with complete certainty. Accordingly, the accuracy and completeness of this information is not guaranteed. DIV has not independently verified any of the information from third party sources referred to in this news release nor ascertained the underlying assumptions relied upon by such sources.

THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR THE ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Additional Information

The information in this news release should be read in conjunction with DIV’s consolidated financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

Additional information relating to the Corporation and other public filings, is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

Contact:
Sean Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer
Diversified Royalty Corp.
(236) 521-8470

Greg Gutmanis, Chief Financial Officer and VP Acquisitions
Diversified Royalty Corp.
(236) 521-8471

The MIL Network –

March 25, 2025

MIL-OSI USA News: More Investment, More Jobs, and More Money in Americans’ Pockets
Source: The White House
More Investment, More Jobs, and More Money in Americans’ Pockets

Today, Hyundai announced a $20 billion investment in the United States — including $5.8 billion for a new steel plant in Louisiana, which will create nearly 1,500 jobs. The investment, which builds on Hyundai’s pledge earlier this year to “further localize production in the U.S.,” is the latest success in President Donald J. Trump’s pursuit of a Made in America renaissance.

It’s further proof that President Trump’s economic agenda is working.

Hyundai is far from the only automaker planning major investments as President Trump leverages tariffs to remake the U.S. into a global manufacturing powerhouse:
- Stellantis announced a $5 billion investment in its U.S. manufacturing network — including re-opening an Illinois manufacturing plant — as it pledges to increase domestic vehicle production.
- Volkswagen is considering shifting production of the high-end Audi and Porsche brands to the U.S.
- Honda is expected to produce its next-generation Civic hybrid model in Indiana.
- Nissan is considering moving production from Mexico to the U.S.
- Rolls-Royce is expected to “ramp up” production in the U.S. by hiring more American workers and expand its U.S.-based operations.
- Volvo is considering expanding its U.S.-based output.
It’s not just the auto sector; domestic and foreign companies have pledged trillions in new investments since President Trump took office:

Project Stargate, led by Japan-based Softbank and U.S.-based OpenAI and Oracle, announced a $500 billion private investment in U.S.-based artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Apple announced a $500 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing and training.

Nvidia announced it will invest hundreds of billions of dollars over the next four years in U.S.-based manufacturing.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced a $100 billion investment in U.S.-based chips manufacturing.

Eli Lilly and Company announced a $27 billion investment in domestic manufacturing.

United Arab Emirates-based DAMAC Properties announced a $20 billion investment in new U.S.-based data centers.

France-based CMA CGM, a global shipping giant, announced a $20 billion investment in U.S. shipping and logistics, creating 10,000 new jobs.

Merck announced it will invest $8 billion in the U.S. over the next several years after opening a new $1 billion North Carolina manufacturing facility.

Clarios announced a $6 billion plan to expand its domestic manufacturing operations.

GE Aerospace announced a $1 billion investment in manufacturing across 16 states — creating 5,000 new jobs.

GE Vernova announced it will invest nearly $600 million in U.S. manufacturing over the next two years, which will create more than 1,500 new jobs.

London-based Diageo announced a $415 million investment in a new Alabama manufacturing facility.

Dublin-based Eaton Corporation announced a $340 million investment in a new South Carolina-based manufacturing facility for its three-phase transformers.

Germany-based Siemens announced a $285 million investment in U.S. manufacturing and AI data centers, which will create more than 900 new skilled manufacturing jobs.

Paris Baguette announced a $160 million investment to construct a manufacturing plant in Texas.

Switzerland-based ABB announced a $120 million investment to expand production of its low-voltage electrification products in Tennessee and Mississippi.

Saica Group, a Spain-based corrugated packaging maker, announced plans to build a $110 million new manufacturing facility in Anderson, Indiana.

Paris-based Saint-Gobain announced a new $40 million NorPro manufacturing facility in Wheatfield, New York.

India-based Sygene International announced a $36.5 million acquisition of a Baltimore biologics manufacturing facility.

Asahi Group Holdings, one of the largest Japanese beverage makers, announced a $35 million investment to boost production at its Wisconsin plant.

Samsung is considering moving its dryer production from Mexico to South Carolina.

LG is considering moving its refrigerator manufacturing from Mexico to Tennessee.

Italian spirits group Campari is “assessing the opportunities to expand its production in the U.S.”

Essity, a Swedish hygiene product manufacturer, is considering shifting production to the U.S.

Taiwan-based Compal Electronics is considering a U.S.-based expansion.

Taiwan-based Inventec is expected to expand its manufacturing operations into Texas.

LVMH, a French luxury giant, is “seriously considering” an expansion to its U.S.-based production capabilities.

Cra-Z-Art, the biggest toymaker in the U.S., said it will move a “large percentage” of its China-based manufacturing back home.

Prepac, a Canadian furniture manufacturer, announced it will move production from Canada to the U.S.
MIL OSI USA News –
March 25, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Five years on since New Zealand’s first COVID-19 lockdown

Source: New Zealand Government

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the first COVID-19 lockdown for New Zealand. The country remained at alert level 4 until 27 April 2020.
New Zealand experienced further lockdowns in 2021, with Auckland and Northland remaining in lockdown for longer than other parts of New Zealand.
“I know that many New Zealanders are still experiencing the impact of the pandemic years after it first started, whether that’s on their business, their children’s education, or their health”, says Ms van Velden.
“As we take the time to reflect on the anniversary of the first COVID-19 lockdown in New Zealand, I would encourage the public to submit their thoughts to the Inquiry on matters within the terms of reference; including the use of vaccines, lockdowns, testing, and public health materials.”
Last year the Government announced there would be a second phase of the Inquiry into COVID-19 covering outstanding matters of public concern. Both the ACT-National and New Zealand First-National coalition agreements include commitments to expand the Inquiry into COVID-19. Phase 2 of the Inquiry began on 29 November and will deliver the final report in February 2026.
Any member of the public can submit to the Inquiry using the portal at www.covid19inquiry.nz. Submissions close at midnight on 27 April 2025.
“It’s important that New Zealanders tell the Inquiry about their experiences so we can be better prepared as a country for any future events. I look forward to seeing the final report and recommendations delivered to me in February 2026.”
The full terms of reference for Phase 2 of the Inquiry is available here: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2022/0323/latest/LMS792965.html

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

March 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Court of Justice of the European Union decision and the need to disclose vaccine purchase conditions – E-002641/2024(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
As the Commission pointed out in its reply to Written Question E-000814/2023[1], in line with the EU Vaccines Strategy[2], the Commission and the Member States have taken a common EU approach to securing COVID-19 vaccine supplies and facilitating their distribution.

An Agreement[3] was concluded between the Commission and the Member States allowing the Commission to procure COVID-19 vaccines on behalf of the Member States and related procedures.

This Agreement established a Steering Board, where all Member States are represented, to provide guidance throughout the evaluation process, as well as a Joint Negotiation Team composed of Commission officials and Member States representatives to carry out the negotiations.

In accordance with the Agreement, individual Commissioners, including the President of the Commission, did not have any role in negotiations.

Agreements concluded by the Commission on behalf of the Member States have been signed by the Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, following a decision of the Commission as a college.

[1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2023-000814-ASW_EN.html

[2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0245

[3] COM(2020)4192 final: https://commission.europa.eu/publications/commissions-centralised-eu-approach_en
Last updated: 24 March 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
March 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Derogation in Directive 2009/120/EC – E-000075/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament

Directive 2009/120/EC[1], amending Directive 2001/83/EC[2], excludes vaccines against infectious diseases from the definition of gene therapy medicinal products.

mRNA vaccines authorised in the EU against COVID-19 are not genetically modified organisms and do not contain genes as their active substance. They are not used with the aim to restore, correct, or modify human genes.

mRNA vaccines are biological medicines regulated under the EU pharmaceutical legislation to ensure their quality, safety, and efficacy.

Under the legislation, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) may also recommend additional measures, such as long-term monitoring, based on specific risks following a case-by-case assessment[3].

The safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines authorised in the EU against COVID-19 have been rigorously assessed through clinical trials and post-authorisation monitoring.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Member States continuously monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines to ensure any possible risks are detected and managed as early as possible[4]. All data confirm that COVID-19 vaccines have a favourable safety profile.

Regarding safety concerns in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine trials in infants, these are not linked to the mRNA technology[5] but rather to challenges previously observed with other RSV vaccines in this age group.

Currently, RSV vaccines are only authorised for use in adults[6], with trials ongoing to assess their safety and efficacy in infants and toddlers.

The Commission remains committed to ensuring that all medicines, including vaccines, authorised in the EU meet the highest standards of safety, efficacy, and quality, in full compliance with the EU pharmaceutical legislation.
- [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2009/120/oj/eng
- [2] Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use (OJ L 311, 28.11.2001, p. 67, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2001/83/oj
- [3] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/committees/committee-medicinal-products-human-use-chmp
- [4] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/public-health-threats/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/covid-19-medicines/safety-covid-19-vaccines
- [5] https://www.fda.gov/media/184301/download
- [6] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/abrysvo; https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/arexvy; https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/mresvia
MIL OSI Europe News –
March 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: International Workshop on Land Governance Kick Starts with Global Participation from 22 Countries in Gurugram, Haryana

Source: Government of India (2)

International Workshop on Land Governance Kick Starts with Global Participation from 22 Countries in Gurugram, Haryana

Fostering Cross-Country Knowledge Sharing; SVAMITVA Scheme Showcased as a Model for Rural Empowerment

Participants Gain Practical Insights into Drone Surveying and Geospatial Technologies for Sustainable Land Governance

Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 6:11PM by PIB Delhi

In a significant milestone, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) inaugurated the first-of-its-kind International Workshop on Land Governance today at the Haryana Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) in Gurugram. This six-day workshop, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, brings together more than 40 senior officials from 22 countries across Africa, Latin America, and South-East Asia to explore innovative approaches for addressing global land governance challenges. The inaugural session witnessed distinguished participation from senior officials, including Shri Sushil Kumar Lohani, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj; Shri Viraj Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs; Shri Alok Prem Nagar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj; and Shri Ramesh Chander Bidhan, Director General, Haryana Institute of Public Administration. This landmark initiative strongly aligns with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to transform rural India through technological innovation and securing land rights.

In his address, Shri Sushil Kumar Lohani, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, articulated the vision behind SVAMITVA and its potential for global replication, offering valuable insights into policy advancements and India’s strategic vision for land governance. “SVAMITVA represents more than just a land mapping exercise; it is a comprehensive approach towards rural empowerment through secure property rights”, Shri Lohani stated. He said “With over 3.17 lakh villages mapped across 67,000 sq. km, representing an estimated asset base of Rs.132 lakh crore, we have demonstrated the scalability and impact of this model. We are eager to share our experiences and learn from our international partners to collectively advance land governance worldwide”. Shri Lohani emphasized upon the transformative role of geospatial technologies in land governance, underlining the technical expertise that has made SVAMITVA one of the world’s largest rural mapping initiatives. He said, “The integration of drone technology with traditional surveying methods has revolutionized our approach to mapping rural inhabited areas, delivering unprecedented accuracy and efficiency”.

Addressing the International Workshop, Shri Viraj Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, emphasized upon the diplomatic significance of the workshop. Shri Singh said “This initiative exemplifies India’s commitment to South-South Cooperation and knowledge sharing. By bringing together nations facing similar challenges, we are fostering a collaborative approach towards addressing land governance issues globally.” He also highlighted the role of the ITEC programme in facilitating international cooperation and the role of collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in advancing ITEC’s objectives.

Shri Alok Prem Nagar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, said that the SVAMITVA Scheme exemplifies how innovative approaches can transform rural communities by securing property rights and unlocking economic potential. “SVAMITVA demonstrates how innovative approaches to land governance can directly contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals related to poverty reduction, secure land tenure, and sustainable land use” he said. Shri Smit Shah, President of the Drone Federation of India, provided insights into India’s rapidly evolving drone ecosystem, highlighting how policy reforms and technological advancements have positioned India as a leader in drone-based solutions for land governance.

Innovations in Geospatial Technologies and Drone Solutions

A major highlight of the inaugural day was the cutting-edge exhibition that highlighted the latest advancements in land governance, digital cadastral systems, and geospatial technologies. The event showcased a wide range of technological solutions, from precision drone mapping and 3D geospatial data analytics to integrated land administration systems. The exhibition also spotlighted high-precision surveying equipment and comprehensive GIS applications designed to enhance land governance. Local innovations in drone technology and UAV-based land administration solutions were prominently featured, alongside contributions from government bodies that demonstrated survey-grade drones, CORS & Rover systems, and other transformative tools. Attendees had the opportunity to engage in hands-on demonstrations of drone flight planning, data processing techniques, and real-time, high-accuracy surveying capabilities, offering a comprehensive look at the future of land management.

Technical Sessions Highlight SVAMITVA’s Impact and Methodology

On the inaugural day, participants also engaged in in-depth technical discussions on the modernization of land governance and its impact, as well as resource mobilization and administrative tasks. A comprehensive overview of the SVAMITVA Scheme was presented, emphasizing its objectives, implementation strategy, and its positive impact on rural communities, particularly in fostering financial inclusion and economic empowerment. Presentations from various countries, sharing their experiences and best practices in land administration systems were also made. Participants also benefited from practical drone demonstrations, interactive sessions with vendors, and knowledge assessments to reinforce learning outcomes.

Global Participation Highlights International Interest

The ongoing workshop has garnered significant international participation, with delegates from 22 countries, including Turkmenistan, Colombia, Zimbabwe, Fiji, and several others, underscoring the global significance of land governance issues.The workshop, which combines interactive technical sessions, field visits, and hands-on demonstrations, highlights India’s leadership role in South-South Cooperation. By offering technical expertise, policy guidance, and skill development opportunities through SVAMITVA, India is contributing to building institutional capacity for partner nations in land governance, property rights management, and rural development. The event explores challenges such as property disputes, outdated land databases, and the need for high-resolution digital maps. This six-day international workshop will continue with detailed technical sessions, field demonstrations, and visits to the Survey of India lab, providing participants with practical insights into drone-based surveying, data processing, and the integration of geospatial technologies in land administration.

About SVAMITVA Scheme: The SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme is a flagship initiative of the Government of India implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. It aims to provide rural property owners with “Record of Rights” by using drone surveying technology to map inhabited areas of villages. The scheme has successfully mapped over 3.17 lakh villages across India, representing an estimated asset base of Rs.132 lakh crore.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj presented a short film on the #SVAMITVA_Scheme at the International Workshop on Land Governance at HIPA, Gurugram, highlighting its impact on rural land governance.

The film showcased how #SVAMITVA revolutionized property rights through drone-based… pic.twitter.com/4EczUeIdYY

— Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India (@mopr_goi) March 24, 2025

***

Aditi Agrawal

(Release ID: 2114498) Visitor Counter : 69

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Heeding the lessons of COVID-19 in the face of avian influenza

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Matthew S Miller, Executive Director, Global Nexus and M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University

If the H5N1 avian flu virus learns to spread efficiently from person to person, it could pose an imminent threat to humanity. (CDC and NIAID), CC BY

Infectious disease outbreaks have a bad habit of piling on at the worst possible times.

The 1918 flu pandemic, also known as the Spanish flu, caught the world by surprise just as the First World War was coming to an end. It was responsible for killing three to five per cent of the world’s population (50-100 million people, equivalent to about 400 million today).

Now, as we reflect on five years since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic and face economic uncertainty imposed by the United States administration — as well as lingering conflicts in places such as the Middle East and Ukraine — it’s the steady march of avian influenza, or “bird flu,” that poses an imminent threat to humanity.

Walter Reed hospital flu ward in Washington, D.C. during the flu epidemic of 1918-19, which killed three to five per cent of the world’s population.
(Shutterstock)

Bird flu has been causing a flurry of human infections, especially in U.S. cattle workers. If the virus learns to spread effectively from human to human, it could change the course of history. Even though our weary world already feels maxed out, we have to make room to avert yet another crisis.

Read more:
Bird flu in cattle: What are the concerns surrounding the newly emerging bovine H5N1 influenza virus?

The good news is that we know how to minimize risk and mobilize resources quickly, before the virus starts moving from human-to-human.

Heading off a bird flu pandemic

Knowing what to do and actually doing it, though, are very different, as we saw all too well five years ago when COVID-19 shut down much of the world, killing more than seven million people worldwide. And it’s not through with us yet.

The question is whether we will act in time to head off a bird flu pandemic. The Spanish Flu was the first of five influenza pandemics since the end of the First World War.

A sixth is inevitable without co-ordinated global action. Otherwise, the only questions are when it will it come and how bad it will be.

Read more:
Combatting the measles threat means examining the reasons for declining vaccination rates

Infectious diseases constitute a permanent threat to society, especially as vaccine hesitancy and misinformation grow. Fighting pandemics needs to be a full-time, ongoing priority for governments everywhere.

After the arrival of COVID-19, there were some impressive investments in infrastructure and science to support pandemic preparedness, but many were essentially one-time projects.

Canada needs to establish permanent capacity to prevent and respond to health emergencies. Government agencies specifically dedicated to supporting the development of medical countermeasures for pathogens that pose a pandemic risk, like the recently established Health Emergencies Readiness Canada (HERC), are a step in the right direction.

However, we must also re-prioritize investments in the fundamental research that is the birthplace of new medical and non-medical solutions to pandemic preparedness — where we currently lag far behind essentially all of our G7 counterparts. This has never been more important than in the current global political context.

The cost of acting to prevent or limit a pandemic is infinitesimal compared to the price of letting one happen, whether one measures the toll in human lives, or in dollars.

The world needs to adopt a collective mentality that we are “all in” on prevention if we want to maximize our chances of avoiding the next pandemic. We cannot sit on our hands and hope we get lucky. That strategy has failed us in the past and will doom us in the future.

H5N1 avian flu

Today, as we stand on the brink of an avian influenza pandemic that could be significantly worse than COVID-19, too much of the world seems unaware, unprepared or largely disengaged.

Globally, more than 900 humans are known to have been infected by H5N1 avian influenza so far. The death rate associated with these human infections is a staggering one in two, placing it on par with threats such as Ebola.

Death rates resulting from human infections of the most prevalent currently circulating H5N1 virus in the U.S. (clade 2.3.4.4b) have been much lower — though the very narrow demographic characteristics of the individuals that have been infected leaves many questions regarding the true danger that this virus poses to the population at-large.
Avian influenza has become more prevalent than ever in our environment. Having adapted to spread efficiently among cattle and other mammals, the virus will follow its biological imperative to adapt and survive.

No responsible country can ignore the possibility that person-to-person spread could start anywhere and quickly wash over the planet.

Read more:
An ounce of prevention: Now is the time to take action on H5N1 avian flu, because the stakes are enormous

Certainly, Canada is treating the issue seriously, as I know from my work with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, the Ontario Immunization Advisory Committee and other bodies.

But the effort to stop or at least slow avian influenza needs to include all countries and to engage everyday people, especially those who work directly with birds, cattle and other wild and domestic animals.

Targeted interventions

The best tactics to stave off a pandemic, at least at this point, are relatively unintrusive, targeted interventions. It’s critical that farm workers, veterinarians and others who work with animals follow careful protocols such as wearing masks and goggles, sanitizing equipment and continuing to cull poultry flocks where exposure is identified.

We also need to educate hunters about protective measures to lower their risk of exposure.

Most mitigation measures are entirely non-medical — though offering vaccines to those at high risk of exposure, as Finland has done, would be prudent. It’s much easier to target vaccination programs to high-risk groups than to organize a global vaccine campaign after a pandemic has begun.

We need to encourage these groups to take every possible action to protect themselves — and therefore the world — and to provide financial supports that enable them to comply without cost.

If avian flu becomes established among humans, which could happen rapidly and with very little warning, COVID-19 has shown that only a swift, decisive and truly global approach can fend off disaster.

A significant lesson from COVID-19 is that we have to support pandemic prevention and response efforts for people in every corner of the world, however remote they may be, and that we must reach vulnerable populations within wealthy countries, such as elderly, frail and marginalized people, and those affected by poverty. These are the people always impacted most by infectious diseases.

A selective distribution of resources among the planet’s wealthiest populations will not provide the protection the world needs and will only enlarge and extend the reach of a new pandemic.

We must remember what it was like to close down schools, workplaces and public gatherings and to have hospitals overflowing with patients as clinicians risked their lives to care for them.

We could have saved so many people and so much money by taking the threat more seriously from the outset, including providing better public education about evidence-based measures such as masking and vaccines.

It’s past time we made pandemic prevention and response a permanent priority, no matter what else is happening in the world.

Matthew S Miller is co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of AeroImmune Inc. He has received compensation from Seqirus, Sanofi, GSK, Roche, Grifols, and Aramis Biotechnologies for participating on advisory boards and for supporting educational activities. He has received research funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canada Research Chairs Program, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, Ontario Centre of Innovation, Bay Area Health Trust, Providence Therapeutics, JN Nova Pharma, Lactiga, and Zentek. He is a member of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization COVID-19 Working Group and H5N1 Influenza Working Group. He is also a member of the Ontario Immunization Advisory Committee and the Public Health Agency of Canada Expert Panel on Avian Influenza A(H5Nx).

– ref. Heeding the lessons of COVID-19 in the face of avian influenza – https://theconversation.com/heeding-the-lessons-of-covid-19-in-the-face-of-avian-influenza-252161

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: COVID-19 Spring Vaccine Dose
Source: Government of Canada regional news

People at highest risk for severe illness from COVID-19 can book a second vaccine dose – if it’s been at least three months since their last dose or known infection – starting today, March 24.

The spring dose will be available from March 31 to June 30. The children’s COVID-19 vaccine for those aged six months to 11 years is available until June 17.

Nova Scotia is following recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) to provide people at highest risk a spring dose. This includes:
- people 65 years of age or older
- people aged 18 and older living in long-term care, nursing homes, senior congregate living settings or residential care facilities
- people six months and older who meet the criteria for being moderately to severely immunocompromised due to an underlying condition or treatment
- people aged 50 years and older who identify as Black, African Nova Scotian or First Nations.
“It is recommended that those with the highest risk of infection get a second dose to prevent severe illness,” said Dr. Jesse Kancir, Nova Scotia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health. “People who aren’t in that high-risk category and are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines are still well protected.”

People who did not receive a dose in the fall or winter can continue to get the vaccine, even if they are not in the high-risk category. Anyone who has never had a COVID-19 vaccine can also do so.

COVID-19 and influenza symptoms can include a sudden high fever, headache, general aches and pains, fatigue and weakness, a runny, stuffy nose, sneezing and sore throat.

Appointments can be booked online at https://novascotia.ca/vaccination . Those who are unable to book online can schedule an appointment by calling 1-833-797-7772, seven days a week.

Quick Facts:
- the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are updated annually to protect against the latest strains of influenza and COVID-19
- children younger than nine years old who have never had an influenza vaccine should receive two doses four weeks apart
- Nova Scotians can access their vaccine records via the YourHealthNS app and online at https://vaxrecordns.nshealth.ca
Additional Resources:

More information on vaccines and bookings for both influenza and COVID-19 is available at: https://www.nshealth.ca/seasonal-vaccines

More information on influenza: https://novascotia.ca/flu

More information on COVID-19 and testing: https://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirusvaccine

Other than cropping, Province of Nova Scotia photos are not to be altered in any way

MIL OSI Canada News –
March 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: How to have conversations with people who fall for misinformation this election campaign

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jaigris Hodson, Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, Royal Roads University

Canadians head to the polls on April 28. Like other recent general elections, both in Canada and around the world, this federal election campaign is sure to be characterized by polarized misinformation.

We all have someone in our families or social circles who has political opinions grounded in false or misleading information. Whether the source of that information is Russian bots on social media, high-profile podcasters or Fox News, it’s easy to dread election-time conversations as misinformation strains our most important relationships.

But perhaps we can approach these conversations as an opportunity to push back against growing polarization in our communities.

My research shows that polarization and misinformation often go hand in hand, and when they do, the information being spread is strongly resistant to being corrected by way of evidence.

But when we truly begin to listen to the people who believe misinformation, we can often help counter false claims. So in this upcoming election, how can we push back against election misinformation when we hear it? Let’s examine some strategies.

Read more:
5 expert tips to protect yourself from online misinformation

The role of anxiety

Most people think that others who believe misinformation will change their minds if provided with the right evidence, but that’s simply not true.

People have good reasons for not wanting to change their minds, even when confronted with contradictory facts. One of the key personality traits linked to the belief in misinformation turns out to be anxiety. This can manifest in ways that resist correction.

For example, most of us feel anxious when we have to hold two conflicting beliefs at the same time. So if we already believe misinformation and are confronted with evidence to the contrary, we may reject the evidence to avoid the dissonance of managing both beliefs.

Additionally, people might believe something because others in their social group believe it, meaning there is social anxiety associated with rejecting the group’s belief, even if it’s wrong.

Finally, anxiety about the future can drive people to accept misinformation that helps to relieve those fears.

Taken together, this means that correcting political misinformation, which involves all three of the above triggers — self, social and future anxiety — cannot be accomplished solely by providing evidence. We need to mitigate these anxieties while engaging in gentle correction since outright correcting can make the anxieties worse.

The ‘AIMS’ method

Motivational interviewing is a proven method of pushing back against another type of polarizing misinformation: health misinformation.

One particular approach to motivational interviewing, known as the AIMS method, has been successfully tested in Canada for countering vaccine misinformation.

AIMS stands for Announce, Inquire, Mirror and Secure. It provides a way to address misinformation while building the sort of connection and trust that people need to reduce the anxiety that is the trigger for believing misinformation in the first place.

The first step, Announce, is where the topic is approached. In the medical world, this usually occurs when a doctor announces that it’s time for a vaccine, but in the world of political misinformation, the announcement doesn’t have to come from a professional.

Instead, Announce can occur when the person you are talking to announces a piece of political misinformation, like the claim that the government is vaccinating people for the purposes of controlling the population. Announce is basically where the process of addressing misinformation begins.

Inquire is the step where motivational interviewing really begins to differ from a conventional approach of simply providing evidence to back up a false claim. In this second step, it’s important to ask questions, and approach the misinformation with a sense of curiosity.

Basically, as you probe more and more deeply, you’re trying to understand the anxieties that are driving the misinformation belief.

As you ask questions, you begin to also engage in the third step, Mirror. Mirroring means checking in, and repeating what you’re hearing so that the person you are talking to recognizes they’re being heard. At this stage, you can begin to introduce pieces of evidence that disprove the claims being made, but only after you truly understand the person’s concerns and can reflect them back.

It’s also important to manage how you introduce contradictory evidence. It must be done with compassion and a gentle but reassuring manner.

Finally, when all the concerns have been addressed, you can begin the final step, which is to Secure trust. Here you can follow up on the announcement that sparked the discussion — the original piece of misinformation — and see if the person you’re talking to now feels differently than they did before.

Importantly, you may not be successful at securing this step in just one conversation, but if you have conducted the other steps properly, you will have built important trust that, over time, is more likely to help you counter future misinformation with the person you’re talking to.

Preserving relationships

Combating any misinformation, and especially political misinformation, is not a quick or easy process. It may have to take place in repeated discussions over a long period of time.

Political misinformation is particularly difficult to counter because political views are often tied deeply to people’s self-identity, and also because political misinformation is often shared within social groups.

But if you engage in motivated interviewing this election season, you may make a small difference. At the very least, you will help to preserve relationships with friends and loved ones that are often frayed when political misinformation enters the picture.

Jaigris Hodson is funded through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada’s Canada Research Chairs Program.

– ref. How to have conversations with people who fall for misinformation this election campaign – https://theconversation.com/how-to-have-conversations-with-people-who-fall-for-misinformation-this-election-campaign-252667

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Egg prices soar as outdated supply chains crack under pressure

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jack Buffington, Associate Professor of Practice in Supply Chain Management, University of Denver

Experts predict that egg prices will keep climbing in 2025. Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

There may be no kitchen table issue in America more critical than the price of food.

So when the price of eggs rose over 40% from 2024 to 2025, it became a headline news story in Colorado and across the nation.

Public officials and the media blamed high egg prices on bird flu outbreaks and said containing the outbreak in supply chains would lower prices. In early March 2025, egg prices fell in the U.S., but these trends are likely to reverse due to higher seasonal demand during Easter and Passover.

Rising prices and market volatility have led to food costs climbing to 11.4% of American’s disposable income, the largest percentage since 1991.

Arresting these rising costs, as I argue in my 2023 book, means reinventing supply chains to address the growing supply, demand and price volatility that has created uncertainty for consumers since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.

I have described global supply chains, and supply chains in the U.S. in particular, as “efficiently broken.” By this I mean that they aspire to offer low prices from economies of scale but lack sufficient resiliency to create stability.

Without addressing the systemic weaknesses in supply chains, I believe major health and economic disruptions will continue to happen in Colorado, nationally and around the world.

Cage-free eggs

Colorado faces a double whammy where egg prices are concerned.

It’s one of nine states with a cage-free egg mandate, which requires all eggs sold in the state to come from cage-free facilities. The regulation has been shown to increase the price of eggs by as much as 50%.

Over the past two decades, cage-free egg laws have been passed in states as consumers have grown more concerned with the welfare of farm animals. What that means varies from state to state because the term cage-free isn’t regulated by a federal agency. In Colorado, egg-laying hens must be housed in a cage-free system and must have a minimum of 1 square foot of usable floor space per hen.

Colorado is the 28th largest egg producer in the U.S., far behind Midwestern states such as Iowa, Indiana and Ohio, but it has a few large producers such as Morning Fresh Farms, as well as smaller ones such as the Colorado Egg Producers Association, a collection of seven family-owned farms.

Colorado’s cage-free egg law went into effect in January 2025 – around the same time that consumers noticed bare egg shelves at their supermarkets. Many consumers and some elected Republicans in Colorado blamed the cage-free law.

Nevada is pulling back on its cage-free egg mandate to deal with the challenge of unaffordable egg prices.

But cage-free laws are not the main driver of increasing egg prices, as I’ve noted in my research. Like many others, the egg supply chain needs to be reinvented to balance price, scale, resiliency and stability.

Supply chain issues

What is driving up the prices of eggs and other consumer goods is the concentration of producers. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed just how vulnerable prices and supply chains are.

Five years ago this month, when the pandemic started, many products became unavailable and more expensive.

In 2022, a major product recall of Similac led to a baby formula shortage in the U.S. The baby formula market is highly concentrated, with four companies responsible for approximately 90% of the domestic market. A large-scale facility that produced the baby formula was found to have unsanitary conditions and contaminated products. Pulling this one facility offline at the same time the nation was coping with pandemic-related supply chain issues led to the shortage.

Supply chain issues led to a U.S. shortage of baby formula in 2022.
Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Then at the beginning of 2024, supplies of insulin ran short due to production issues at Eli Lilly, one of the three companies responsible for over 90% of the U.S. insulin market.

And in the second half of 2024, hospitals couldn’t get enough IV fluid due to damage caused by Hurricane Helene to a Baxter factory in North Carolina that manufactures approximately 60% of IV fluids in the U.S. This factory had been relocated to North Carolina from Puerto Rico due to the supply impact from Hurricane Maria that damaged the island in 2017.

In all of these cases, the supply chain was easily interrupted due to a reliance on a few large producers. In 2025, bird flu and eggs are just another example of America’s “efficiently broken” supply chain.

Bird flu and cost of eggs

In the U.S., the top five egg producers are responsible for 40% of hens, with Mississippi-based Cal-Maine Foods alone responsible for 13% of total U.S. production.

An average-sized production facility in the U.S. can house 75,000 to 500,000 hens. Large facilities can house over 4 million. The mass production of eggs from these facilities means eggs are, in stable times, cost effective for the American consumer. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, eggs in the U.S. never surpassed $3 a dozen, and it was an affordable food solution compared with processed foods.

But this scale and efficiency comes at the price of resiliency during something like a bird flu outbreak. Larger farms create a higher risk of viral outbreak, which leads to the need for culling millions of birds and a heightened risk of viral replication and mutation.

The solution may increase prices

Policymakers want to reduce the spread of disease at American egg factories to mitigate the spread of bird flu. But these measures are expensive.

Factory farms increase the potential for viruses to spread rapidly and even mutate. Therefore, bird flu is a more serious precursor of supply chain disruption than a hurricane or product recall because it has the potential to create a public health crisis.

One solution to limit the spread of bird flu is to regulate the number of hens allowed in a single facility. This would lead to smaller and more farms across the U.S., but also higher consumer prices.

This solution would mirror other countries such as Canada, where the average facility size is much smaller than in the U.S. and eggs and poultry cost significantly more. That’s why – under the terms of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement – Canada has quota and tariff protection from American companies flooding its market with eggs and poultry that would cost consumers two to three times less.

Yet in March 2025, the price of eggs in Canada is 50% cheaper than eggs in the U.S. because the country has not suffered the same damages from bird flu.

Following Canada’s lead wouldn’t result in egg prices as low as giant factory farms, but it would protect American consumers from the periodic price shocks caused by disease or localized weather events that disrupt supplies.

Despite the threat of a public health crisis, American consumers don’t want to pay more for eggs – and their leaders have promised they won’t have to.

Read more of our stories about Colorado.

Jack Buffington does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Egg prices soar as outdated supply chains crack under pressure – https://theconversation.com/egg-prices-soar-as-outdated-supply-chains-crack-under-pressure-251425

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 25, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: World TB Day:A Look Back at the Fight AgainstTuberculosis | United Nations

Source: United Nations (Video News)

Tuberculosis (TB) has long been one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, and the fight against it has been relentless. This video brings
together historic archival footage from the UN Audiovisual Library, featuring
Hollywood actors in UN radio broadcasts and 16mm films from global TB
testing and vaccination campaigns of the 1950s and 1960s.
See the tireless efforts of organizations like the World Health Organization
(WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Since 2000, global initiatives have saved an estimated 79 million lives, yet
TB remains a major health threat, with 1.25 million fatalities in 2023. UNICEF
has played a crucial role in tackling TB among children and adolescents, working alongside WHO and other global partners.
This year’s World Tuberculosis Day theme, “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” highlights the urgent need for global collaboration, increased investment, and high-quality care to eliminate TB. As we mark World TB Day 2025, this video serves as a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come — and the work that still lies ahead.
Learn more about tuberculosis symptoms, prevention, treatment, and global efforts to end TB. Join the movement to eliminate TB worldwide! (who.int).
#WorldTBDay #EndTB #Tuberculosis #TBHistory #GlobalHealth #WHO
#UNICEF #UnitedNations
#PublicHealth #TBPrevention
#InfectiousDiseases #TBEradication
#HealthForAll

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APteekrB8Lw

MIL OSI Video –

March 25, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China launches clinical trial of domestic tuberculosis vaccine

Source: China State Council Information Office 2

China’s self-developed novel tuberculosis mRNA vaccine started a clinical trial at Beijing Chest Hospital on Monday, according to the local newspaper Beijing Evening News.
Previous animal experiments have shown that the protective efficacy of the new vaccine is more than 20 times higher than that of both Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and foreign tuberculosis vaccines.
This tuberculosis vaccine with independent intellectual property rights can offer a new vaccination option for people of all age groups and effectively reduce the incidence and infection rates of tuberculosis.
Next, the research and development team will study the vaccine’s immunization strategies, immune methods, administration routes, and symptoms of vaccine adaptation, head of the hospital’s bacteriological immunology Pang Yu was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
Meanwhile, the hospital launched an AI diagnosis model and a rapid detection method of tubercle bacillus bacteria based on tongue swabs.
The diagnosis model can achieve remote, non-invasive early detection of pulmonary diseases including tuberculosis. It is currently in the preclinical stage, while the rapid detection method is expected to be gradually promoted across the country starting from July, according to the report.

MIL OSI China News –

March 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Asian Development Blog: Building Healthy Supply Chains While Cutting Carbon

Source: Asia Development Bank

Decarbonizing healthcare supply chains is essential to reducing emissions, minimizing waste, and strengthening the resilience of health systems, particularly in vulnerable regions.

More than 70% of healthcare emissions are generated in the supply chain. This includes the production, procurement, transport, and disposal of health goods and services, such as pharmaceuticals, vaccines, medical devices, hospital equipment, food, and other items.

Advancing low-carbon, resilient supply chains will be essential for achieving universal health coverage and equitable healthcare access in vulnerable hotspots in Asia, the Pacific, and globally.

With momentum growing to decarbonize health care, lowering supply chain emissions will reduce the sector’s overall environmental impact. As demography and urbanization shifts evolve and environmental challenges intensify, the burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases will further strain the region’s health systems.

Without supply chain decarbonization efforts in place, the risks of disruptions due to inflated prices, commodity shortages, or external shocks like disasters could wreak havoc on health systems. The consequences would be particularly dire for the poorest and most vulnerable populations, putting millions of lives at risk.

The following four actions are recommended to help countries integrate decarbonization across the supply chain:

Develop eco-designed medical supplies and products. Single-use plastic supplies, such as syringes, IV bags, surgical gloves, and face masks, significantly reduce infection risks in healthcare settings but their production and disposal contribute substantially to carbon emissions and generate large amounts of waste.

Applying an environmentally-conscious approach to product design and incorporating circular economy principles, such as reducing material use, reusing components where feasible, and enhancing recyclability, can help mitigate environmental impacts.

Sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics include plant-based polymers, natural rubber, and other biodegradable or compostable materials, which can lower emissions, reduce waste, and improve resilience across the product lifecycle.

Innovative materials—such as plant starches with plasticizers for flexible or rigid pharmaceutical packaging, plant-based cellulose derivatives like cellulose acetate for lab and pharmaceutical use, and sustainable insulating options like recyclable plastics or cardboard-based alternatives—are transforming the sector by enabling controlled lifespans, improving insulation efficiency, and reducing reliance on energy-intensive refrigeration.

Decarbonize and build sustainability into manufacturing processes. As the healthcare market grows, medical supply and equipment manufacturers will continue to generate more emissions and waste during production.

Building green practices into these processes is imperative for sustainable development and can lower operational costs over the long term. Key strategies include responsibly sourcing local and sustainable raw materials. Reduced waste is also needed in production processes such as reusing materials, repurposing products, and recycling.

Replacing product packaging with biodegradable, reusable, or multi-use materials is also needed.

Decarbonizing healthcare supply chains is not just an environmental imperative—it’s essential to building resilient, equitable health systems, especially in vulnerable regions.

Invest in low-carbon transportation and logistics. Medical supply chains are highly complex, requiring a reliable and efficient flow of medicines, medical supplies, and medical devices from manufacturers to in-country distributors and healthcare providers.

Ensuring the integrity of these essential products while promoting inclusive and sustainable growth necessitates a transition to resilient, low-carbon transportation and logistics systems.

Key strategies for decarbonizing medical supply chains include optimizing transportation routes, adopting electric vehicles, and reducing supply-demand distances through localized sourcing and production.

For instance, shifting away from air freight, approximately 40 times more emissions-intensive than sea, road, or rail transport, offers significant carbon savings. Leading pharmaceutical companies have made substantial progress in this regard—AstraZeneca increased its use of sea freight from 5% in 2012 to 65% in 2022, while Merck reduced its reliance on air transport from 65% in 2018 to just 10% in 2021.

The electrification of short-distance transportation is another crucial step. Battery-powered electric vehicles are well-suited for most journeys under 400 kilometers, reducing emissions associated with fossil fuel-based trucking. Investing in bio-based or synthetic fuels for long-distance travel can help decarbonize air, sea, and heavy-road transport.

Successful initiatives highlight the potential for transformation. Adopting compressed natural gas for transportation fleets in India has significantly reduced emissions. Similarly, drone technology has played a vital role in enhancing healthcare supply chains, particularly in remote areas. In the Pacific Islands, drones carrying up to three kilograms (6.6 pounds) have improved last-mile medical delivery while reducing the carbon footprint, traveling up to 130 kilometers (81 miles) per flight.

Implement sustainable healthcare waste management. Millions of tonnes of waste are generated by healthcare activities each year, due largely to the use of single-use plastics and poor waste management practices.

The pandemic led to a dramatic increase in the volume of healthcare waste globally, while many health facilities across Asia and the Pacific have limited waste management services. The use of chemical disinfectants and incineration to treat waste can result in the release of pollutants into the environment, causing respiratory and other diseases.

Replacing carbon-intensive incineration with alternative waste treatment technologies like steam-based disinfection and adopting the principles of circularity to increase the reuse and recycling of healthcare products and materials can ease the burden of waste on health systems, reduce unnecessary emissions and human health, and save costs.

Ensuring a robust regulatory framework to define, monitor, and enforce health safety standards is also a critical step toward resilient health systems.

Decarbonizing healthcare supply chains is not just an environmental imperative—it’s essential to building resilient, equitable health systems, especially in vulnerable regions.

Nansu Isadahl and Avdesh Gupta contributed to this blog post.

MIL OSI Economics –

March 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Tatyana Golikova took part in an extended meeting of the board of Rospotrebnadzor

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Tatyana Golikova took part in an extended meeting of the board of Rospotrebnadzor

March 21, 2025

Tatyana Golikova took part in an extended meeting of the board of Rospotrebnadzor

March 21, 2025

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Tatyana Golikova took part in an extended meeting of the board of Rospotrebnadzor

An extended board meeting was held at Rospotrebnadzor, dedicated to the results of the agency’s activities in 2024 and tasks for 2025. Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, head of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova, and Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko took part in the work of the board.

The meeting was opened by Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova. She emphasized that Rospotrebnadzor regularly faces new challenges and threats, but coordinated work and accumulated experience allow preventing the import and spread of dangerous infections. Based on the century-long history of its existence, the service is constantly developing. Participation in the state programs “Development of Healthcare”, “Ensuring Chemical and Biological Safety of the Russian Federation” and “Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation”, the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Genetic Technologies, the implementation of the “Sanitary Shield of the Country” initiative gave the service the opportunity to reach a new technological level.

According to Tatyana Golikova, the key area of the service’s work is the country’s biological safety. “Over three years, a network of 54 sequencing centers, 153 PCR centers has been formed, 20 mobile rapid response laboratories and 14 mobile sanitary and quarantine points operate in the regions. Of the 80 biological safety reference centers existing in the country, 46 operate in Rospotrebnadzor institutions,” she noted.

What was introduced as pilot approaches and innovations during the COVID-19 pandemic has become routine today. “First of all, this is genomic surveillance and population immunological monitoring. Sequencing capacity in the country has increased fivefold since 2021 – up to 10 thousand sequences per week, which makes Russia one of the world leaders in genomic surveillance,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

The second block of tasks of the service is hygiene. The issues of healthy nutrition, clean water, safe environment are becoming increasingly relevant, as they directly affect the health of each person.

“As part of the national project “Demography” completed in 2024, a large-scale information and communication campaign on healthy eating was conducted with an audience reach of more than 2 billion views. It was possible to achieve a reduction of almost three times the rate of growth of primary obesity incidence in 2019-2024,” said Tatyana Golikova.

Rospotrebnadzor will continue activities to implement individual healthy nutrition programs within the framework of the federal project “Health for Everyone”, which is part of the national project “Long and Active Life”, which was launched on January 1 of this year.

An important area of activity is quality control and food safety. The Service has conducted more than 1 million studies of food products for vitamin and macro- and micronutrient content and surveyed more than 675 thousand students in more than 15 thousand schools. A large-scale in-depth assessment of the actual nutrition of schoolchildren made it possible to identify problems in each region and develop recommendations for each of them on the consumption of food products that meet the requirements of healthy nutrition.

The product traceability system is gradually expanding the list of products for assessing their compliance with mandatory requirements through the Honest Sign application. In September 2024, the procedure for licensing disinfection activities came into force. A lot of work has been done to change the methodological framework, and amendments to the sanitary rules have been prepared.

The third important block of the service’s work is consumer rights protection.

At the end of last year, amendments to the legislation aimed at protecting citizens from the imposition of goods or services on them were adopted in the first reading. “We expect that the proposed amendments will strengthen control in this area and, as a result, will increase the effectiveness of protecting the rights of consumers, as well as bona fide entrepreneurs who avoid such tricks in their activities,” noted Tatyana Golikova.

In addition, in December of last year, amendments were made to the Code of Administrative Offences, which increased the amount of administrative fines for failure by entrepreneurs to submit notification of the commencement of activities and increased the statute of limitations for bringing to administrative responsibility from three to six months.

An equally important block is science. The service has a unique scientific base, its infrastructure is constantly being modernized.

Breakthrough research for biological safety is carried out by Rospotrebnadzor scientific institutions, including within the framework of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Genetic Technologies. The latest candidate vaccines against especially dangerous infections have been developed. Plague and tularemia vaccines are already undergoing preclinical trials.

“49 new rapid tests for diagnosing infections have been created, and the range should be expanded to effectively identify biological threats. The indisputable merit of the service’s scientific organizations is technological independence in the development and production of diagnostic test systems. Today, 100% import substitution of test system production has been ensured, with the release of up to 1 million kits per year,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

The work of the World-Class Genomic Research Center based at the service’s scientific institutions will continue in 2025–2030.

An equally important block of tasks is international cooperation. The Service monitors and controls infections at near and far approaches. Today, the Service interacts with 30 countries, constantly works in joint centers in Southeast Asia and Latin America. 41 mobile laboratories have been transferred to 16 countries to ensure biological safety. In 2024, the warning and response system in the single epidemiological space of the CIS was strengthened. Fulfilling the initiative of the President of Russia, announced at the Russia-Africa summit in 2023, the geography of the presence of Rospotrebnadzor specialists in Africa has been expanded to 15 countries.

Tatyana Golikova thanked her colleagues for their success in defending Russia’s position at the WHO and preventing changes to international health regulations.

All achievements are impossible without the main thing – professional staff. Today, the service employs about 15 thousand young specialists under 35 years of age – this is almost a quarter of all employees. Tatyana Golikova thanked the employees of Rospotrebnadzor for their work and wished them new successes.

In his speech, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko spoke about the joint work of Rospotrebnadzor and the Ministry of Health, aimed at reducing the total duration of temporary disability among unemployed citizens. By 2030, it is planned to reduce this figure by 15%.

In turn, the head of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova announced the results of the department’s activities in 2024 and tasks for 2025. Thus, the unified information system of Rospotrebnadzor allows informing the population and authorities about the quality of drinking water and air within the framework of the Clean Water and Clean Air projects. The interactive water quality control map, which has been in operation since 2022, contains more than 19 million research results.

An alternative method for determining the contamination of drinking water and reservoirs has been introduced – the “toxicity index”. Methods have been developed for determining eight antibiotics in drinking water.

Anna Popova emphasized that Rospotrebnadzor actively protects consumer rights in court, which ensures a high level of legal protection in the consumer market. In 2024, 94–98% of claims were made in favor of consumers, the amount of awarded payments amounted to 4.2 billion rubles.

As part of the federal project “Sanitary Shield of the Country”, a unique fleet of mobile laboratories has been created, which allows for a prompt response to risks: anywhere in the country within 24 hours and in the world – within 48 hours. Since 2023, the AIS “Perimeter” has been operating at 241 checkpoints to assess epidemiological risks in real time. Remote thermometry and testing at the border have also been introduced, and mobile sanitary and quarantine complexes with laboratory support have been installed in 14 constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Territorial bodies of Rospotrebnadzor and hygiene and epidemiology centers operate in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Luhansk People’s Republic, Zaporizhia Oblast and Kherson Oblast. Since the summer of 2022, mobile complexes of anti-epidemic teams have been operating in the regions. Mobile laboratories for rapid response have been delivered to four entities, the work of which is integrated into the Rospotrebnadzor network, ensuring readiness to detect infectious diseases.

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

March 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, H.E. E.P. Chet Greene Calls On Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya

Source: Government of India (2)

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, H.E. E.P. Chet Greene Calls On Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya

Discussions took place on Enhancing People to People Relations through Cooperation and Collaboration in Sports

Posted On: 22 MAR 2025 5:15PM by PIB Delhi

H.E. E.P. Chet Greene Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, while on visit to India called upon Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Government of India at his office at Shram Shakti Bhawan on 21.03.2025.

Met with H.E. E.P. Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Barbuda Affairs of Antigua & Barbuda.

Had an engaging and productive discussion on strengthening sports cooperation and fostering deeper collaboration for mutual growth. pic.twitter.com/YXA0Cek71x

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) March 21, 2025

Both sides highlighted the historical ties between India and Antigua & Barbuda. Discussions explored avenues for cooperation in various sports, including Cricket, Football, Rugby, Basketball, and Volleyball. The Antiguan delegation expressed keen interest in expanding mutual support and collaboration at multilateral forums.

The dialogue also covered key areas such as exchange programs for athletes and coaches, sports science, medicine, management, and infrastructure development. Recognizing Sir Viv Richards’ immense popularity in India, the Antiguan side sought bilateral assistance to upgrade cricketing facilities in their country, aiming to strengthen their national team. Additionally, discussions were held on engaging Antigua & Barbuda cricketing legends in coaching academies in India to mentor young talent.

H.E. E.P. Chet Greene conveyed gratitude to the Hon’ble Minister of Sports for his past contributions and acknowledged India’s support during the COVID-19 pandemic through vaccine assistance. He appreciated the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi in championing global south, economic growth, healthcare, and digital innovation.

Both sides stressed on enhancing people to people relations through cooperation and collaboration in sports.

****

Himanshu Pathak

(Release ID: 2114019) Visitor Counter : 29

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Pharmacare is now law in Canada, but negotiations with provinces could slow progress

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jane Fletcher, PhD Candidate in Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary

Ensuring people have coverage for essential medications is crucial. (Shutterstock)

Despite Canada’s commitment to universal health care, one in 20 Canadians cannot afford their prescribed medications, with people from Alberta, New Brunswick and British Columbia being the most likely to say they’re missing doses due to costs.

When people skip medications, it leads to more emergency room visits, costly hospital stays and worse health.

Ensuring people have coverage for essential medications is crucial. In October 2024, Canada took a step forward when Bill C-64, or the Pharmacare Act, received royal assent and became law.

The act will cover contraceptives for nine million Canadians, helping with family planning and managing conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome.

Read more:
Pharmacare’s design could further fragment and politicize Canada’s health system

It will also cover diabetes medications for the 3.7 million Canadians living with the disease — critical for managing blood sugars and preventing complications like blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks and strokes.

Despite this historic passage of pharmacare legislation, its rollout remains uncertain. The government’s next steps are complicated by the Constitution Act of 1867, which gave provinces jurisdiction over health care.

The federal government must now negotiate agreements with each province to implement the plan — a task made more difficult because medication coverage varies widely across Canada. Without full co-operation, pharmacare’s impact could be limited, with coverage gaps persisting for millions of Canadians.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has also said he’ll scrap pharmacare.

Coverage differs among provinces

In many provinces — including B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Newfoundland and Labrador — pharmacare coverage is provided universally with income-based deductibles. This means provincial coverage only kicks in after an individual reaches a spending threshold on medications. This threshold varies by age and income level.

Alberta and New Brunswick use premium-based systems, requiring monthly membership fees.

Most provinces also use co-payments, meaning people must cover part of the cost of each prescription — for example, 20 to 30 per cent of the full cost, or a flat fee of $5 to $10. Only Québec mandates prescription insurance coverage, either privately or through its public plan.

Currently, a major driver of how much Canadians pay for their medications is arbitrary — it’s about where one lives. For example, a young Albertan living with diabetes and heart disease who earns $14,000 would need to pay $1,000 annually for medications. In Ontario, that same person would pay just $100.

Such differences can influence where people choose to live and can hinder interprovincial labour mobility. It’s a driving force behind the push for pharmacare — to ensure free access to the most important medications, regardless of where someone lives.

An opportunity for national pharmacare

Pharmacare could have been implemented nationally, like it was for the Canadian Dental Care Plan, offering federal coverage for essential medications like contraceptives and diabetes medications, while insurers and provincial plans cover the rest.

This would have been a simple approach that would have allowed for future changes, and could have been implemented by provinces much like vaccines are — paid for using people’s provincial health numbers, sidestepping the difficulty of enrolling people in a new plan.

But in the waning days of the current Liberal federal government, it appears the chosen direction has been to negotiate separate agreements with each province and territory to establish a minimum standard.

Movement in this direction has already been seen in B.C., Manitoba and P.E.I. where deals have already been made with the federal government, while other provinces remain in talks.

The pace of these agreements remains uncertain, and it’s unclear when — or if — all the provinces and territories will sign on.

The fight for pharmacare isn’t over

As Canada takes its first steps toward pharmacare, many questions remain. For provinces with income-based deductibles, would the deductible simply shift to other drugs, meaning people with other health conditions won’t really save on their overall medication costs each year?

For those with premium-based coverage, how would those who don’t enrol in the public plan access coverage? How would this be rolled out in Québec where some form of medication coverage is already mandatory?

The push for universal drug coverage in Canada dates back decades. When medicare was first recommended in 1964 by the Hall Commission, it included a proposal for universal drug coverage that was ultimately never implemented.

Over the decades, multiple reports, including the 1999 Kirby Report and the 2019 Pharmacare For All Report, have called for its implementation.

Organizations like the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Nursing Association have similarly stressed its importance. Yet, despite decades of advocacy, Canada has remained the only country with a universal health-care system that doesn’t provide comprehensive drug coverage.

With negotiations on pharmacare officially underway, its success will depend on federal-provincial co-operation, which has been increasingly strained in recent years. Advancing pharmacare is in Canadians’ best interest — especially for the 7.5 million people who cannot afford the medications their doctor prescribes.

The question now is whether governments will act swiftly to implement pharmacare, or if political roadblocks will delay access to life-saving medications even further.

Jane Fletcher receives funding from CANTRAIN (Canadian Institutes of Health Research) and Alberta Innovates.

David Campbell receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Diabetes Canada, and Alberta Innovates.

Braden Manns and Reed F Beall do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Pharmacare is now law in Canada, but negotiations with provinces could slow progress – https://theconversation.com/pharmacare-is-now-law-in-canada-but-negotiations-with-provinces-could-slow-progress-250888

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 24, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Federal government announces support for cutting-edge, AI- and robotics-enabled cell and gene therapy manufacturing

Source: Government of Canada News (2)

OmniaBio’s expanded facility in Hamilton seeks to drive a 5X increase in manufacturing efficiency while reducing production and supply costs by up to 50%, facilitating patient access to life-saving treatments for chronic diseases, including cancer

March 22, 2025 – Hamilton, Ontario

The Government of Canada is working tirelessly to build up Canada’s life sciences and biomanufacturing sector to develop safe and effective next-generation treatments. Since March 2020, over $2.3 billion has been invested to rebuild Canada’s vaccines, therapeutics and biomanufacturing capacity across our country.

Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced that Canada will work with OmniaBio to expand its facility to manufacture cell and gene therapies and provide production services to companies around the world, strengthening Canada’s participation in global value chains. Cell and gene therapies have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of a broad range of life-threatening diseases.

OmniaBio’s project will be focusing primarily on advanced treatments for chronic diseases, including cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, and cardiovascular and neurological diseases. OmniaBio is seeking to expand its current space at the McMaster Innovation Park facility in Hamilton, Ontario, and invest in artificial intelligence- and robotics-enabled clinical and commercial scale manufacturing.

This groundbreaking project aligns with Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy and will enhance Canada’s leadership position and expertise in this emerging technology area, for the benefit of all Canadians.

MIL OSI Canada News –

March 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: World Tuberculosis Day 2025: Funding cuts threaten global TB control efforts, says GlobalData

Source: GlobalData

World Tuberculosis Day 2025: Funding cuts threaten global TB control efforts, says GlobalData

Posted in Pharma

World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is marked annually on 24 March, the anniversary of the discovery of the causative mycobacterium by Dr Robert Koch. This year’s theme – “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver” – serves as an important reminder of the need for continued investment and funding in order to end the TB epidemic.* This follows the recent funding cuts to TB programs, particularly from the US, that raise serious concerns about the future of TB control and treatment efforts, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

TB is responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other infectious disease, claiming approximately 1.25 million lives in 2023 alone according to the World Health Organization. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has historically been the largest bilateral donor to TB programs, contributing approximately $250 million annually. This funding has been instrumental in supporting the essential TB services, particularly in high-burden countries. However, sharp reductions in aid have disrupted TB programs worldwide, with Africa and South-East Asia among the hardest-hit regions.

Abigail Harris, Infectious Disease Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Funding cuts of this magnitude will directly impact access to TB diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, leaving millions vulnerable to disease progression and death. Without urgent intervention, we risk undoing decades of progress in TB elimination.”

A major concern arising from these funding cuts is the potential for increased drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) cases. Inconsistent treatment due to financial constraints can lead to incomplete therapy, allowing the TB bacterium to develop resistance to standard drugs. DR-TB is significantly more challenging and expensive to treat.

Harris continues: “If we allow funding gaps to persist, we risk facing an even deadlier TB crisis, where highly resistant strains, which require more prolonged and costly treatment, become more prevalent. The global health community must act swiftly to ensure continued access to treatment and accelerate research into new, effective therapies.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged immediate action to close the TB funding gap and meet global TB targets, including expanding diagnostic access, improving treatment regimens, and advancing vaccine development.

GlobalData’s pipeline products database reveals a promising TB pipeline with 15 prophylactic vaccines in clinical development. However, continued R&D investment is essential for the most promising candidates to reach the market.

Harris concludes: “Governments, international donors, and private-sector partners must recognize TB as the global health emergency that it is. Without sustained investment, the disease will claim more lives and pose an increasing threat to global health security.”

*The United Nations High-level Meeting (UNHLM) on the Fight Against Tuberculosis was held in September 2023, where member states adopted a historic political declaration on TB. This contained the most ambitious targets to date in the fight against this disease and would put the world on track to ending TB by 2030 if countries follow through on their commitments.

MIL OSI Economics –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Top spots to eat in Canberra’s CBD

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

We asked Canberrans on the We Are CBR Instagram page to tell us their favourite place to grab a bite to eat in the city centre. Here are the top restaurants and cafes in Canberra’s CBD, as voted by you!

Dishing the deets on #1

It’s no secret that Canberrans love chicken and chips. The restaurant with the most votes is Fricken Chicken on Lonsdale Street.

An Italian love affair

From bottomless pasta to hand-stretched pizza, it’s clear that Canberrans love Italian food. Some local favourites include:

Mezzalira on London Circuit
Amici on Northbourne Avenue
Mama’s Trattoria on West Row
Briscola on Alinga Street

Enjoy the vibrant flavours of Asia

The café capital

Whether you’re on the hunt for the perfect flat white, a cheesy toastie or some smashed avo on toast – these cafés are the perfect place to grab a quick pick-me-up:

Good vibes, great food

Looking for somewhere to grab dinner and a drink after work? These top spots are your venues of choice:

MIL OSI News –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI: MINILUXE ANNOUNCES THE CONVERSION OF ALL ITS OUTSTANDING CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

With conversion of all outstanding convertible debentures at a 25% premium to market, MiniLuxe reduces debt on balance sheet by 30% percent netting a positive $2.7M (~$3.86M) capital-enhancing transaction

Boston, MA, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MiniLuxe Holding Corp. (TSXV: MNLX) (“MiniLuxe” or the “Company”) today announces the successful completion of the previously announced and anticipated conversion of its convertible debentures (the “Debentures”) following its recent oversubscribed private placement. Notably, the Company has finalized agreements to convert all outstanding Debentures at a deemed price of US$0.50, representing a ~25 percent premium to yesterday’s closing price of MNLX at CDN$0.56.

With this conversion, MiniLuxe has eliminated all convertible debt, further strengthening its financial foundation and momentum. Overall, inclusive of a recent expansion of new investment of $1.675M from Flow Capital, overall debt on the Company’s balance sheet has been reduced by 30 percent.

The Debentures will be converted into Subordinate Voting Shares of the Company at a deemed price of US$0.50 (~CDN$0.70) per share pursuant to debt settlement agreements with Debentureholders, with an effective conversion date of March 15, 2025. In this final round of conversions, the Company settled an aggregate of approximately USD$2.7 million (~CDN$3.86 million) of outstanding debt related to the principal and accrued but unpaid interest on the outstanding Debentures. This is in addition to USD$2,141,521 (~CDN$3 million) of principal and interest on Debentures converted in the first and second tranches of conversions, as previously announced on January 2, 2025, and February 25, 2025. Following this conversion, no Debentures of the Company will remain issued or outstanding.

Alongside the Debenture conversions, an aggregate of 60,000 Subordinate Voting Shares will be issued to certain arm’s length non-management employees at a price of per share of US$0.50, in satisfaction of an aggregate of USD$30,000 previously owing by the Company to the employees pursuant to earnout bonuses. The share for debt issuance as part of employee compensation signals the team’s belief in the long-term prospects of the Company’s growth and equity value. The issuances of these shares to employees is also consistent with MiniLuxe’s compensation philosophy of substituting a portion of base or bonus cash for equity to be more aligned with shareholder value-creation.

Collectively across the Debenture conversions and employee earnotus a total of 5,473,785 Subordinate Voting Shares will be issued. The completion of both debt settlements remains subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this news release. Such securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and, accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of persons in the United States or “U.S. Persons”, as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements.

About MiniLuxe

MiniLuxe, a Delaware corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts. MiniLuxe is a lifestyle brand and talent empowerment platform servicing the beauty and self-care industry. Through its company-owned and partner-operated studios, Company delivers high-quality nail care and esthetic services that incorporate the brand’s proprietary products. For over a decade, MiniLuxe has been elevating industry standards through healthier, ultra-hygienic services, modern design, ethical labor practices, and better-for-you, cleaner products. MiniLuxe’s vision is to radically transform the highly fragmented and under-regulated self-care and nail care industry through its brand, standards, and technology platform that together enable better talent and client experiences.

Towards building long-term durable value for its stakeholders, MiniLuxe is expanding its reach through franchising and operating JV partners seeking ownership and impact with a brand recognized as the best nail salon franchise. Through self-care and self-expression, MiniLuxe is empowering one of the largest hourly work forces through professional development, economic mobility, and equity ownership. Since its founding, MiniLuxe has performed over 4.5 million services.

For further information

Christine Mastrangelo
Investor Relations, MiniLuxe Holding Corp.
cmastrangelo@MiniLuxe.com
MiniLuxe.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The MIL Network –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Garran Surge Centre deconstruction underway

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Following deconstruction of the Garran Surge centre, an improved oval will be returned to the community.

Work has started to deconstruct the Garran Surge Centre.

The purpose-built centre played a critical role in during the COVID-19 pandemic as a testing site, vaccination centre and COVID-19 treatment clinic for minor injuries and illnesses.

Once the centre has been deconstructed, an improved Garran oval will be returned to the community. The oval will include a new cricket pitch, modern LED lighting and a drought-tolerant playing surface.

The upgraded oval is expected to open for Garran Primary School students and public use by mid-2024.

In addition to the removal of the surge centre, the final Critical Services Building crane at the Canberra Hospital Expansion project has also been removed.

The two cranes that worked on the building were named Cranosaurus and Lightening McCrane by students from Garran Primary School. The flags from the cranes have been returned to the students.

Construction of the critical services building is moving at pace with more of the façade now visible as scaffolding is removed. Inside the building, installation of internal facilities is also progressing well.

For more information about the Garran oval restoration please visit: builtforcbr.act.gov.au

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MIL OSI News –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New posts to strengthen links between University and industry Bridging the gap between academia and key industry sectors at the heart of the North East of Scotland’s economy is the key aim for three new business development executives at the University of Aberdeen.

Source: University of Aberdeen

Bridging the gap between academia and key industry sectors at the heart of the North East of Scotland’s economy is the key aim for three new business development executives at the University of Aberdeen.
The three new posts have been created by the 430-year-old institution in order to build and strengthen links and partnerships with the business community across energy, health and life sciences, and digital and creative industries.
It’s hoped that the initiative will foster greater collaboration as part of a wider drive by the University to support regional economic development.
Responsible for the health and life sciences portfolio is Dr Marina Kovaleva who boasts 25 years in the sector working within academia and biotech and pharma companies.
Marina pioneered the discovery of new drug therapies developed from the shark immune system, leading to the first preclinical study on shark-based drugs for rheumatoid arthritis and designing targeted tumour therapies. This research was spun out into the biotech company Elasmogen Ltd in 2016, of which Marina is a founding team member.
Marina has degrees in Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Veterinary Medicine obtained from universities in Russia and Germany.
Taking on the digital and creative industries brief is Dr Allison Noble who has held various roles in both government and the charity sector.
Following roles involving helping NHS health boards address vaccine hesitancy and develop clear travel guidance during the pandemic and sustainability research with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Allison comes to the University after two and a half years with Research Data Scotland (RDS). With RDS, Allison helped restructure the organisation’s information architecture and implemented AI safely at an institutional level whilst working with bodies such as National Records of Scotland, Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland.

These appointments demonstrate the University’s ongoing support for the region’s ambition to be an innovation-driven economy, leveraging our world-class research expertise to support business.” Professor Pete Edwards, Vice-Principal for Regional Engagement

Her doctorate from the University of Southampton investigated how music streaming platforms and their algorithms impact the creation, distribution, and consumption of music.
Aberdeen Geology and Petroleum Geology graduate, Dr Ian Brightmore, will be the lead for energy. He returns to the University, where he also obtained his PhD, with 15 years of international operator experience in the UK continental shelf, Norwegian continental shelf, Kurdistan and Barents.
Ian worked as geologist with ExxonMobil in Norway and Houston before returning to Aberdeen to take a position with Canadian Natural Resources (CNR) and has worked for numerous international operators since in the capacity of exploration geologist.
Dr Liz Rattray, University of Aberdeen Interim Chief Operating Officer and Director of Research and Innovation, said: “There is an abundance of cutting-edge research being carried out at the University of Aberdeen which could have real and immediate benefits for industry.
“The challenge is having key individuals in place with an overview of vital areas – such as energy, health and life science and digital and creative industries – who can act as a single point of contact between industry requirements and our researchers they could be collaborating with.
“The appointment of our three new business development executives to cover these key industry sectors is crucial to maximising collaboration, fostering long-term industry links and promoting the expertise that the University of Aberdeen boasts – to the benefit of all parties.”
Professor Peter Edwards, Vice-Principal for Regional Engagement, said: “These appointments demonstrate the University’s ongoing support for the region’s ambition to be an innovation-driven economy, leveraging our world-class research expertise to support business.
The University of Aberdeen hosts the largest concentration of academic researchers in the North of Scotland and the new business development executives will work with industry to understand their problems, before connecting them to the relevant academic experts, and providing advice on the most appropriate mechanism to facilitate joint work.”
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MIL OSI United Kingdom –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Barbara Steveni: I Find Myself – a pioneering artist who influenced the civil service

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Martin Lang, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader in Fine Art , University of Lincoln

Barbara Steveni (1928-2020) was a pioneering artist who broke boundaries with new concepts such as “the artist as a living archive” and “art as social strategy”. The legacy of her 70-year career is explored in a new exhibition, Barbara Steveni: I Find Myself, at Modern Art Oxford.

Steveni was an activist whose art had real-world impacts. One of her pioneering works was the foundation of the Artists Placement Group (APG), which placed artists in various industries and public institutions, ranging from zoos to corporations. The group arose from the idea that artists could provide unique insights and assist with the decision-making processes of these institutions.

In 1972, she successfully negotiated with the civil service to place artists in government departments – which led, for example, to the placement of artist John Latham at the Scottish Office in Edinburgh (1975-76). This resulted in radical proposals for the future of the huge industrial spoil tips, known as “bings”, found in the region. Latham proposed retaining them as works of art and marking them with beacons.

Today, the Policy Lab, a new civil service department, continues the spirit of APG by placing artists in government departments.

The exhibition includes work associated with the APG such as The Sculpture (1971) – the board table around which APG artists. This table is not only a functional object but has twice previously been exhibited as a conceptual sculpture, inviting live discussions.

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Modern Art Oxford activates The Sculpture every Friday, inviting people including Policy Lab to engage with artists in discussions. Various APG archive materials – such as contracts and video footage of Steveni advocating for the inclusion of artist-advisors in business and policy decision-making – surround this table.

But the exhibition is much more than a history of APG. It’s a reassessment of Steveni’s importance and influence as an artist. After spending much of her earlier career denying she was an artist at all (in one APG video, she declares: “I am not and have never called myself an artist”), in the late 2000s she had the revelation that she was the vessel which contained her archive and practice. That Steveni was herself an archive, and that her art was her life, is the central theme of this exhibition.

Steveni’s assemblages – three-dimensional works composed of found objects – reflect a modernist heritage that dates back to Picasso and was developed by the Dadaists and Surrealists. However, the exhibition primarily focuses on her “dematerialised” practice, which includes non-traditional art objects and processes such as meetings, conversations and collections. These are considered precursors to today’s contemporary art where human interaction is central, and in some cases the art itself.

In the spirit of Steveni’s collaborative and discursive ethos, Modern Art Oxford commissioned artists to realise some of her unfinished works and reinterpret existing ones. For example, Laure Prouvost, a long-time collaborator, created Dancing Thought Leftovers with Steveni.

This immersive installation fills an entire room with music reminiscent of a child’s toy, alongside Steveni’s found objects hanging from the ceiling in front of projected films. The objects cast shadows on the walls, creating a nursery-like atmosphere.

Both these objects and those in the films look like the kind of things you might dredge from a river: a knackered car tyre, a crumpled sheet of metal, a horseshoe, and part of an old speaker. Two car wing mirrors protrude from a wall.

Mundane fillers around good art

Steveni was at the forefront of developing the notion of the artist as a living archive, as well as “dematerialised art practice”, where ideas replace physical art, and artists’ involvement in decision-making. All this comes across strongly in the exhibition, but its curatorial approach gives the impression that filler material was also needed.

At times, it feels as if you are looking at an exhibition of the artist’s admin rather than her art. Meeting notes, contacts and the contents of a paper shredder are displayed, blurring the line between art and life.

In 1971, Linda Nochlin, a contemporary of Steveni, published the influential article Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?. This essay is often seen as the beginning of feminist art history.

Nochlin acknowledged that while many interesting and good women artists remained insufficiently investigated or appreciated, there had been no great women artists due to systemic barriers. She warned: “No amount of manipulating the historical or critical evidence will alter the situation; nor will accusations of male-chauvinist distortion of history.”

Nochlin’s point was that presenting mediocre art as great ignores these systemic barriers and hinders work to lift them. I am not suggesting Steveni’s work is mediocre, but it feels like the exhibition’s curators overreached regarding the classification of her personal effects as art, which distracts from the important work she did.

The curators, no doubt, intended to highlight the balance women artists must strike between domestic chores and their practice. However, Nochlin’s treatise explicitly warns against having different standards for women’s art compared with men’s.

While presenting Steveni’s personal effects as part of her living archive is appropriate, the inclusion of mundane items like clothes and biscuit recipes raises questions about their relevance. Do we really need to see Steveni’s old newspapers? Would we expect this in a retrospective of a male artist?

In my view, these examples distract from her important artistic work. Nonetheless, the exhibition successfully highlights Steveni’s pioneering contributions, and her lasting impact on the art world.

Barbara Steveni: I Find Myself is on at Modern Art Oxford till June 8 2025

Martin Lang does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Barbara Steveni: I Find Myself – a pioneering artist who influenced the civil service – https://theconversation.com/barbara-steveni-i-find-myself-a-pioneering-artist-who-influenced-the-civil-service-252761

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Bovine tuberculosis: is a vaccine in sight? – E-000857/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000857/2025/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 144
Eric Sargiacomo (S&D)

Bovine tuberculosis continues to affect livestock across Europe, particularly in France.

British authorities have been providing regular updates on the possibility of a vaccine. The vaccine has reportedly entered the large-scale testing phase and it will likely receive marketing authorisation in the near future.

1.Given the potential authorisation of a vaccine in the UK, under what conditions could this vaccine be rolled out in the European Union?

2.Is the Commission communicating with the British authorities in order to prepare for this possibility?

3.To what extent has the European Food Safety Authority been consulted on the issue of bovine tuberculosis?

Submitted: 26.2.2025
Last updated: 21 March 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Recognition – From speculums to self-testing—champion of HPV self-testing wins Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year

Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

When was your last smear? Cervical screening has recently changed for the better! Speculum use in smear tests was nobody’s favourite experience—but thanks to Professor Bev Lawton (Ngāti Porou) and her team’s work, this screening has changed, and speculums no longer play an essential part.

The health researcher from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington has contributed to saving lives by spearheading the move towards HPV (human papilloma virus) self-testing—doing away with the experience of the cold speculum as part of their regular health screen. HPV is the virus responsible for causing cervical and other cancers.

Earlier this evening, Bev was announced 2025 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year, no small feat for a researcher who is simply intent on doing the mahi and making a difference.

“This win is such a privilege—not only for me personally, but it reflects the work of my team, the women, and many many others who have contributed to research, action, advocacy, and policy and programme changes through the work. It’s very important—it gives us a platform to move forward because there’s lots of essential work to be done, and to seek support for.”

Congratulating Bev, Vice-Chancellor Nic Smith says, “It is wonderful to see Bev win this prestigious award, and it is a credit to her outstanding work and leadership over her career. Bev and her team’s talent for translating research into real-world impact is a fantastic example of the difference Te Herenga Waka and universities more generally make to our society.”

In both her careers as a GP and as a researcher, Bev has been working on behalf of the women of Aotearoa for decades. Since founding Te Tātai Hauora o Hine—National Centre for Women’s Health Research Aotearoa 20 years ago, the goal of Bev and those on her waka has been simple: the transformation of women’s health, and the reduction of health disparities for Māori. “We want to see healthy women, healthy babies, and healthy communities,” says Bev.

This goal has seen her drive research and campaigns that highlight the taonga of HPV vaccination, and more recently the adoption by Aotearoa of HPV self-testing as the gold standard of cervical screening. This simple, but better test, replaced cervical smears in primary care centres in September 2023.

“My team work hard to see research translated into real-world policy. This work is not always easy. But the university has supported myself and the team and the way we work towards our kaupapa, as they understand it gets results, and most importantly, is informed by our community,” says Bev.

Te Tātai Hauora o Hine are guided and inspired by a rōpū Kaumātua, a group of Māori elders and knowledge holders who support the group to achieve their goals within iwi Māori. “Supported by the kaumātua, each research project and programme has come from years of relationship building across iwi, hapū, health care providers, and champions.

“I was inspired by the vision and leadership of the late Dr Paratene Ngata to undertake and keep driving this mahi—and whanaungatanga has been central to this work that responds to, challenges, and informs necessary changes to existing systems,” says Bev.

As 2025 New Zealander of the Year, Bev will use her profile to increase the visibility of other aspects of healthcare that must be addressed, to prevent harm to women and children. This includes addressing uterine cancer, congenital syphilis, rheumatic heart disease, and preventable harm and death in childbirth.

“We need to eliminate cervical cancer,” adds Bev. “This is within reach—but it needs dedicated time and funding for it to happen. We hope to work more closely with government than ever before, to bring about an exciting, good news story in women’s health.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

March 21, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Issues Statement on Measles Cases in Kansas

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
Garden City — Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) today released the following statement in response to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reporting six confirmed cases of measles, all located in Southwest Kansas.
Senator Marshall is closely tracking the measles outbreaks across the country as updates come in. As of March 14, 2025, there have been 301 confirmed cases in 15 states, and other presumed cases being tested.
“Given the increase in cases of measles in Kansas, everyone should talk to their own doctor about their health needs and the need for a booster shot or vaccination,” said Senator Marshall.
Senator Marshall’s office has been in contact with KDHE, and the department has confirmed they have sufficient supply of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine on hand. The office will stay in contact with KDHE about infection tracking and will continue to assist from the federal level as infections increase.
Background:
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection spread through respiratory droplets. A red skin rash is a recognizable symptom of measles, but symptoms can also include white spots within the mouth, fever, dry cough, runny nose, sore throat, or inflamed eyes.
Measles is largely preventable through vaccination.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that all children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, which vaccinates against measles, mumps, and rubella. The first shot is typically administered between 12 and 15 months of age, and a second between the ages of 4 and 6 years.
Some adults may already be protected through infection as a child, before the vaccine became routinely administered in 1962. There are instances in which some adults, such as those who are pregnant or immunocompromised, who should not get a live attenuated vaccine.
Adults who are unsure if they were infected or vaccinated as a child should visit with their doctor or visit their local health department to determine whether a booster shot is recommended.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 21, 2025

Category: COVID-19 Vaccine

UKHSA highlights pathogens of greatest risk to public health

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March 25, 2025

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Tatyana Golikova took part in an extended meeting of the board of Rospotrebnadzor

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Coverage differs among provinces

An opportunity for national pharmacare

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Mundane fillers around good art

International Workshop on Land Governance Kick Starts with Global Participation from 22 Countries in Gurugram, Haryana

Fostering Cross-Country Knowledge Sharing; SVAMITVA Scheme Showcased as a Model for Rural Empowerment

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, H.E. E.P. Chet Greene Calls On Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya

Discussions took place on Enhancing People to People Relations through Cooperation and Collaboration in Sports