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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Pfizer's vaccine Penbraya, making it the first shot to protect against five groups of a deadly bacteria that can cause meningitis and blood poisoning, the company said on Friday. Meningococcal diseases are rare bacterial infections that commonly affect the brain, spinal cord and bloodstream, and can be deadly in a matter of hours. (10/20)

French drugmaker Sanofi said on Friday it was seeing an "unprecedented level" of demand for an antibody therapy it co-developed to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a leading cause of hospitalizations in infants. The therapy, branded Beyfortus and jointly developed by Sanofi and AstraZeneca, was approved in July to prevent RSV in infants and toddlers. (10/21)

So what is brewing in the viral stew? There's the big three to start: the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19. "These are the three that cause the most utilization of the health care system and the most severe disease," says Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. ... And there are other viruses in the mix, says Marlene Wolfe, an epidemiologist and assistant professor at Emory University. (Huang, 10/21)

Flu activity in the United States is low and remains well below baselines, but some parts of the country are experiencing slight rises, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its latest weekly update. The percentage of respiratory specimens that tested positive for flu at clinical labs rose last week in region 8, which includes Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Levels remained stable in other parts of the country. (Schnirring, 10/20)

Flu and cold season has arrived early in Alaska this year, prompting reminders from public health officials about the importance of getting yearly influenza vaccines, and soon. “We’re definitely having a busier, earlier flu season than we have in recent years,” said Anna Frick, an epidemiologist with the Alaska Department of Health. “It’s here, it’s in multiple parts of the state, and seems to be on the rise. So now is a great time to go get that shot,” she said. (Berman, 10/22)