Notices by Hilda Bastian (hildabast@mastodon.online)

My monthly update on next generation Covid vaccines is online now @PLOS — with a new streamlined structure I hope makes it easier & quicker to read.

News on:

- a major UK grant supporting a UK/US collaboration on a vax from Stanford Uni

- another 4 trials began recruiting in China, Europe, & USA

- another 2 trials are fully recruited in Germany & USA

Plus preclinical reports:

https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/06/29/more-trials-recruiting-and-other-nextgen-covid-vaccine-news/

#Covid #Covid19 #Vaccines

News-packed update on nextgen Covid vaccines this month at my @PLOS blog:

- Phase 2 results for a self-amplifying mRNA vaccine from Japan with a phase 3 trial recently closed off

- Preclinical results for an intranasal "universal" vaccine that provided some protection from coronaviruses, H1N1 flu, some bacterial infections, and an asthma allergen

- Opportunities to participate in intranasal vaccine trials in Finland and the US

And much more:
https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/03/01/progress-for-universal-vaccine-more-nextgen-covid-vax-news-update-no-38/

#Vaccines #Covid #Covid19

Another vaccine approval and more in my latest next generation Covid vax update:

- Self-amplifying mRNA vax Kostaive approved in the UK

- New trial for a mucosal vax on the starting blocks in Finland

- Some results from AstraZeneca phase 1 trial for mRNA vax

- 11 preclinical reports, including 2 for mucosal pancoronavirus vaccines

https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2026/01/31/another-approval-and-more-nextgen-covid-vax-news-update-no-37/

#Vaccines #Covid #Covid19

This photo is from camping a few years back—one of the major out-of-control fires in our area is burning there. 😢

We're into day 2 of >40 C (100 F), in catastrophic fire risk for another day at least.

Ready to evacuate if the wind turns in our direction. 😬

A Bumper Month for Covid Vaccines and More

It's been an eventful few weeks for Covid vaccines – mostly good, some very bad. Let's start with the good news. Novavax has transferred marketing of its protein subunit Covid vaccine in the EU and US to a major pharmaceutical company, Sanofi. Here's hoping that leads to wider availability and economies of scale. Sanofi will also be able to use Novavax's patented adjuvant in new vaccines.

https://hildabastian.wordpress.com/2025/11/12/a-bumper-month-for-covid-vaccines-and-more/

This Was a Strong Way to Respond to Science Criticism

A vaccine that can prevent cervical cancer is frankly awesome. Cervical cancer is dreadful, and the lengths we go to in treating lesions that could develop into the disease cause misery to millions. Yet, HPV vaccines have always been a magnet for controversy – and not just because they are at the volatile intersection of children, sexually transmitted disease, and vaccines.

https://hildabastian.wordpress.com/2025/12/07/this-was-a-strong-way-to-respond-to-science-criticism/

A major milestone for next generation Covid vax: The first clinical trial for a pancoronavirus formulation of an existing vaccine was registered.

There are more clinical trial results for a vax for people with immunocompromise, & news on mucosal vax trials. Plus 12 preclinical reports.

In my monthly update @PLOS

https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/12/31/major-milestone-for-pancoronavirus-vaccines-and-more-next-generation-covid-vax-update-no-36/

#Vaccines #Covid #Covid19

That felt good! I just removed @Gargron from the list of Benevolent Dictators for Life at Wikipedia, and added his stepping down to the history of BDLF ✊
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benevolent_dictator_for_life

More progress internationally on next generation Covid vaccines – with a setback in the US:

- More good news on the vaccine for people with immunosuppression

- Progress in intranasal vaccine trials in France & the US

- Approval application for first nextgen vaccine in the US shelved because of new regulations

Plus clinical & preclinical results in my update this month @PLOS now online https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/11/30/more-progress-on-next-generation-covid-vaccines-and-a-setback-in-the-us-update-no-35/
#Vaccines #Covid #Covid19

My latest update on nextgen Covid vaccines is a whopper, in part thanks to catching up with a new vax tracker:

- Clinical trial results for 2 vaxes

- 3 new clinical trials, incl a phase 2 intranasal vax trial in the US – and a pancoronavirus version of a vaccine that's already been rolled out

- 26 preclinical reports, with more showing prevention of transmission &/or durability

- a shelf-stable mucosal vax

Now @PLOS https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/11/06/a-bumper-update-on-next-generation-covid-vaccines-no-34/

#Covid #Covid19 #Vaccines

Have you been noticing the flurries of new or returning people leaving Bluesky due to recent controversies?

It got me thinking about how a real Bluesky exodus would play out, and digging into the studies of the 2022 Mastodon migration from Twitter. I found 14 studies. TLDR; a Bluesky flight would be different.

Here's my new post @PLOS :

https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/10/30/a-mastodon-migration-from-bluesky-would-be-different/

The Onion: "Fearful Americans Stockpiling Facts Before Federal Government Comes To Take Them Away".

https://theonion.com/fearful-americans-stockpiling-facts-before-federal-gove-1819579589/

I've been diving into the evidence on Covid vaccination in pregnancy, & sorting through misinformation – including the claim that Pfizer never reported on its pregnancy trial. And I ended up relieved!

Check out results of studies in more than 1.5 million vaccinated pregnant participants in my latest @PLOS https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/06/27/digging-into-the-evidence-on-covid-vaccines-in-pregnancy/

#Vaccines #Covid #Covid19

Motivated Reasoning’s Golden Age

It has been doing my head in the last few weeks: Cherry-picked theories and approaches to evidence were gushing at me on so many topics in science communities. It slowly dawned on me that it wasn't a coincidence. Motivated reasoning may be both cause and effect of polarization and partisanship, so maybe it's having a bit of a Golden Age.

https://hildabastian.wordpress.com/2025/06/06/motivated-reasonings-golden-age/

Canada aced it 🇨🇦. Now it's our turn 🦘

If the polls are right, Australia understands the assignment. 🙏 🇦🇺

#AustraliaVotes

Major funding cuts to the vaccine pipeline announced in the US, but important advances for mucosal Covid vaccines globally:

- 10th mucosal vax reaches phase 2 (in Canada)
- Another human challenge trial as prep for mucosal trials started in Singapore
- Trial results, including one for intranasal vax in kids in China

And lots more in my latest next generation Covid vaccine update now online @PLOS

https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/03/31/mucosal-covid-vaccine-trials-progress-us-rd-funding-cuts-nextgen-update-27/

#Vaccines #Covid #Covid19

A big news month for next generation Covid vaccines! Exciting news from Europe - - and roadblocks in the US.

- Kostaive self-amplifying mRNA authorized in Europe & a burning question answered! It generates more mRNA from a lower dose, but it is transient, too.

- France taking the lead for intranasal Covid vaccine?

- With all the roadblocks now in the US, what do prospects for nextgen vax look like there?

All this & more in my new @PLOS post:
https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/02/28/exciting-news-from-europe-and-roadblocks-in-the-us-nextgen-covid-vax-update-26/

#Vaccines #Covid #Covid19

Oh good. @sciencefeedback has a fact check on that measles has longterm benefits nonsense:

https://science.feedback.org/review/no-evidence-measles-prevents-cancer-heart-disease-can-lead-long-term-health-problems-instead/

In fact, it can cause longterm health problems eg hearing loss and neurological damage.

Hate that it has come to this, but it's time to consider PubMed vulnerable to enshittification. My latest post @PLOS discusses the lines we need to fight to hold – and alternatives we can rely on internationally:

https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/02/14/what-if-we-cant-rely-on-pubmed/

#medlibs

Want some good news? Sure you do!

Check out my update on next generation Covid vaccines this month @PLOS

* Another intranasal Covid vax went into clinical trial in Europe - it's the 32nd mucosal vax in trials

* An oral Covid vax trial got the green light to start recruiting thousands across the US

* More preclinical research showing reduced transmission

* International funding for a pancoronavirus vax in Canada

https://absolutelymaybe.plos.org/2025/01/31/another-intranasal-covid-vaccine-trial-more-good-news-update-25/

#Vaccines #Covid #Covid19