1932: 2 Female Bacteriologists Race Against Whooping Cough + More

Global Health Notes                     12 August 2025

TOP THREE

1.    WHOOPING COUGH: A HISTORY

Read our whistlestop tour through the history of whooping cough, taking us from 19th Century Glasgow to a scantily-funded lab in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where in 1932 two female bacteriologists developed the very first pertussis vaccine. In the years since this humble vaccine has saved countless young lives.

2.    THREE YEARS ON FROM A DEADLY MEASLES OUTBREAK, LIBERIAN PARENTS ARE CHOOSING VACCINATION  

Three years after a deadly measles outbreak, Liberian parents are embracing vaccination, with coverage soaring from 58% in 2021 to 82% in 2024. Health workers are braving floods, poor roads and long days to protect nearly 800,000 children. Confidence is growing, but the push to reach herd immunity continues.

3.    PREVENTING CERVICAL CANCER IN MOZAMBIQUE, SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE, AND GUINEA-BISSAU 

In this guest post from JSI, health leaders in Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, and Guinea-Bissau share strategies to expand HPV vaccination and prevent cervical cancer. Switching to a single-dose regimen is boosting coverage, especially in remote areas. With shared lessons and community trust growing, these nations are accelerating protection for girls and inspiring regional action.

IN BRIEF

·      Lesotho is stepping up measles vaccination, protecting children, cutting healthcare costs and boosting productivity.

·      Kenya is cutting child deaths from diarrhoea by up to 70% through rotavirus vaccination, boosting health and trust in immunisation.

·      Social and technological forces are fuelling global vaccine hesitancy, with unflagged misinformation threatening decades of progress.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

SAVING 19 MILLION LIVES AND COUNTING: GAVI’S GLOBAL IMPACT

“Vaccines are one of the most powerful tools we have to change the course of history.” Dr Sania Nishtar, Gavi’s CEO, underlines the impact investment in vaccines can have on our collective future.

FROM THE ARCHIVE

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NOROVIRUS AND OTHER VOMITING BUGS

From winter vomiting bugs to rotavirus and food poisoning, learn how to spot the culprit, prevent spread and avoid dehydration – with one key tip: soap trumps hand gel for norovirus.

NOUVELLES DE LA SEMAINE

LES CAMPAGNES DE VACCINATION D’URGENCE RÉDUISENT LA MORTALITÉ DE PRÈS DE 60 %, SELON UNE ÉTUDE

Une étude de modélisation inédite montre que les vaccinations réactives ont permis d’éviter des millions d’infections et de milliards de pertes économiques.