The UK government has announced an initiative to ban disposable vaping devices in response to the growing concern about the increasing number of young people who are vaping. This decision is part of a broader strategy to address issues related to vaping among the youth.

One of the key elements of this plan is to curb the marketing of vaping products to children and to intensify efforts to prevent underage sales of such products. Although the sale of any vaping device to individuals under 18 is already illegal, the government points out that disposable vapes, often more attractively packaged than their refillable counterparts, play a significant role in the surge of vaping among young people.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has indicated that the proposed measures are intended to balance the need to restrict youth access to vaping products while ensuring that adult smokers who are trying to quit have access to vaping as an alternative. He emphasised the importance of taking decisive action to protect children from vaping, citing the lack of comprehensive data on the long-term health effects of vaping.

Recent statistics from the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) charity show a concerning trend. The percentage of 11 to 17-year-olds who vape, either regularly or occasionally, has risen from 4.1% in 2020 to 7.6% present day. In light of these figures, the Prime Minister underlined the necessity of strong measures to curtail vaping among children. While acknowledging that vaping is significantly less harmful than traditional smoking, the UK's National Health Service (NHS) notes that the long-term risks of vaping are still not fully understood due to its relatively recent emergence.

Cameroon has launched the first routine malaria vaccine program in Africa, marking a significant step in the fight against the disease.

The first vaccine was administered to a baby girl named Daniella, near Yaoundé. Developed by GSK, a British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, the vaccine has been in production and testing for over 30 years. It is now being offered free of charge to infants up to six months old and requires four doses. Although the vaccine's effectiveness is approximately 36%, it is considered a crucial addition to malaria control strategies.

Malaria is a major health concern in Africa, with 600,000 annual deaths, predominantly in children under five. The World Health Organisation (WHO) applauds this milestone. Twenty more African countries, including Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone plan to introduce the vaccine this year.

Despite concerns about vaccine hesitancy due to safety and efficacy doubts, health officials emphasise its benefits. The WHO notes that Cameroon alone experiences six million malaria cases and 4,000 deaths yearly. The vaccine is hoped to significantly reduce these numbers, especially in districts with the highest vulnerability and mortality rates.

A recent BBC News report reveals that key NHS targets in the UK for A&E, cancer, and planned treatments have been missed in all four nations for over seven years. Notably, Northern Ireland and Wales have consistently failed to meet the four-hour A&E target for two decades, contributing to over 100 years of cumulative target misses.

The only time the A&E target was met was in Scotland during the 2020 lockdown, coinciding with fewer A&E visits. All UK nations have recognised the need to improve waiting times and are committed to making investments. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer criticised the extensive waiting times for children, with over 180,000 cases exceeding the 18-week target. Labour proposes a plan to ensure no child waits over 18 weeks for treatment, part of a wider child health initiative including banning junk food ads and enhancing school health programs.

Experts and patient groups are alarmed by these delays and their impact on health. Personal stories, such as Ian Binns' delayed cancer treatment and David Corbitt's extended A&E wait, highlight the human cost of these systemic failures.

UK governments are addressing these issues, promising more investment, and prioritising urgent and long-wait cases. Yet, substantial improvements are essential to meet healthcare targets and improve service delivery.

The discovery of a novel antibiotic, Zosurabalpin, is making waves in the medical community due to its potent effectiveness against Acinetobacter Baumannii, often referred to as Crab. This particular germ, typically found in hospital environments, is notorious for its resistance to a variety of existing antibiotics, posing a significant challenge to healthcare providers.

Prof. Laura Piddock has highlighted the unique action mechanism of Zosurabalpin. Unlike conventional antibiotics, it works by inhibiting the formation of Crab's essential protective outer layer. This disruption is critical as it leads to the germ's demise, a strategy not commonly seen in current antibiotic treatments. This innovative approach could be a game-changer in managing infections caused by such resilient bacteria.

Following encouraging results from initial safety evaluations conducted on a small cohort of healthy volunteers, Zosurabalpin is poised for more extensive clinical trials. These trials are imperative to determine the drug's effectiveness and safety on a larger scale, and to understand its full potential in clinical settings.

The emergence of Zosurabalpin marks a major milestone in the ongoing battle against antibiotic-resistant infections. Its ability to target and dismantle a key bacterial defence mechanism opens up new avenues in antimicrobial therapy. This could potentially lead to the development of treatments for a range of other stubborn, resistant bacterial strains.

A groundbreaking study reveals that Nirsevimab, a novel antibody treatment administered in a single dose, holds the potential to reduce winter virus hospitalisations for babies by over 80%. The focus is on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), known for causing mild cold-like symptoms that can escalate to Bronchiolitis and Pneumonia.

Conducted across the UK, France and Germany, the trial enlisted 8,000 children aged up to 12 months. Half of them received Nirsevimab, leading to an impressive 83% reduction in RSV-related hospitalisations and a 58% decrease in admissions for all chest infections. With over 30,000 UK children under five being hospitalised annually due to RSV, resulting in 20 to 30 deaths, the Harmonie study results signify a significant breakthrough.

Parents participating in the trial express optimism about the impact on children's health during the winter season. Developed by AstraZeneca and Sanofi, Nirsevimab received UK licensing last year. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommends exploring a cost-effective RSV immunisation program for both infants and older adults, with options including the antibody jab or an RSV vaccine for pregnant women.

Professor Saul Faust, co-study leader at the University of Southampton, underscores the importance of these results in influencing the UK's decisions regarding future RSV immunisation initiatives. The potential to reduce hospitalisations, especially during routine clinical practice, highlights the significance of this long-acting antibody.