What We’re Reading: Mpox Vaccine Recommendations; Overdose Deaths Peak in 2022; Fertility App Shared Data

2 Doses of Mpox Vaccine Recommended

The Jynneos vaccine gives real-world protection against mpox, and 2 doses appear to be more effective than 1, according to 3 new observational studies published on Thursday, reported The New York Times. The effectiveness of 2 doses of the vaccine ranged from 66% to 88%, depending on the study, whereas single-dose effectiveness ranged from 36% to 75%. Questions still persist about the vaccine, which had not been widely used before summer 2022’s outbreak, largely among men who have sex with men. The recommendation of 2 doses follows a health warning to US physicians on Monday about the risk of a case resurgence this spring and summer as people convene for gay pride festivals and other events, according to Reuters.

US Drug Overdose Deaths Hit New Record in 2022

Almost 110,000 individuals died from drug overdoses in the United States in 2022, according to initial estimates from the CDC Wednesday, reported CNN Health. Overdose deaths exploded during the initial 2 years of the pandemic, exacerbating a years-long continual increase. Last year had the highest-ever amount of recorded overdose deaths in a calendar year at 109,680 compared with 109,179 in 2021. This could change, as new data are reviewed and records are assessed, and final data won’t be available for months. Fentanyl has been cited as a significant factor in the rise of lethal overdoses.

Fertility App to Pay $200,000 After Sharing Data

The developer backing the fertility and ovulation-tracking app Premom shared sensitive user health data with third parties, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said on Wednesday, announcing a $200,000 settlement, according to The Hill. The FTC accused Premom’s developer, Easy Healthcare, of misleading users by sharing their personal information with 2 China-based firms and other third parties and sharing sensitive data with AppsFlyer and Google. Premom didn’t sufficiently encrypt user data and didn’t limit how third parties used the data, the complaint said.