The Homeland Security Digital Library (HSDL) maintains a collection of the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), which collects and analyzes data from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on epidemiology and public health. Each issue of the MMWR is packed with raw and analyzed public health data and scientific studies from some of the top minds in the United States. Below we highlight some of the most current and informative studies included in their weekly reports. 

Here are some important articles you may have missed from Volume 72, Issues 24-27 of the Centers for Disease Control’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series. 

July 7, 2023 / No. 27 

Featured Article:

“Status of New Vaccine Introduction — Worldwide, 2016–2021“

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine immunization services. The global Immunization Agenda 2021–2030 (IA2030) of the World Health Organization (WHO) “aims to increase equitable access to and use of new and existing vaccines.” This report provides the latest updates on the status of introductions of 10 WHO-recommended antigens, and notes a need for increased efforts.

June 30, 2023 / No. 26

Featured Article:

“Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences Among U.S. Adults — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2011–2020“

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are common in the United States. The above article notes that two thirds of adults surveyed had experienced at least one ACE. Patterns discovered among sociodemographic groups can be used to “inform targeted prevention and intervention strategies.”

June 23, 2023 / No. 25

Featured Article:

“Notes from the Field: Emergence of an Mpox Cluster Primarily Affecting Persons Previously Vaccinated Against Mpox — Chicago, Illinois, March 18–June 12, 2023“

This study was conducted to observe an unusual cluster of mpox cases involving mostly previously vaccinated individuals. Mpox vaccines were not determined to be related to the outbreak, and those who were vaccinated experienced milder symptoms than unvaccinated individuals.

June 16, 2023 / No. 24

Featured Article:

“Notes from the Field: Comparison of COVID-19 Mortality Rates Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years Who Were Unvaccinated and Those Who Received a Bivalent Booster Dose Within the Preceding 6 Months — 20 U.S. Jurisdictions, September 18, 2022–April 1, 2023“

This report highlights the continued need for COVID-19 vaccines. Out of 8,161 COVID-19-associated deaths of adults ≥65 years in 20 jurisdictions during the study time period, 6,402 of the deaths were of unvaccinated persons.

For more information on COVID, visit HSDL’s COVID-19 Resource Archive. You can also find pandemic-related resources in HSDL’s In Focus on Pandemics and Epidemics, and search our statistical resources related to public health.