PAHPA watch

It’s a big week for PAHPA—here’s what happened yesterday and what we’re watching today. Plus, we have promising news on global childhood vaccination rates and how Bayer’s advancing regenerative farming and food security. (609 words, 3 minutes, 2 seconds)

Global vaccination is recovering from pandemic levels but...

Childhood vaccination rates are improving, according to new World Health Organization (WHO) data—but there’s still a lot of work to do.

The encouraging numbers: In 2022, 20.5 million children missed one or more routine vaccines, compared to 24.4 million in 2021, WHO reported.

The worrying numbers: We’re still short of 2019’s pre-pandemic levels when 18.4 million children missed vaccines. Also, measles vaccination is lagging, putting an additional 35.2 million children at risk of one of the most infectious pathogens.

Low-income countries lag behind. However, in the U.S., more than 9 in 10 babies get recommended vaccines, though uninsured children are eight times more likely to be missing vaccines by age 2, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Why it matters: “Vaccines have saved more human lives than any other medical invention in history,” said WHO. Childhood vaccination declined during the pandemic and the worldwide effort to restore this essential practice is seeing some success.

What they’re saying: “Before vaccines, there were more than 500,000 cases of measles reported every year in the U.S. In 2020, there were 13. Let’s keep it that way,” Vaccinate Your Family said.

Bayer plans to double crop science business with regenerative farming

Already a leader in biotech for agriculture, Bayer has announced plans to double its Crop Sciences Division with a major push into regenerative farming.

What we’re talking about: Regenerative farming, or “crop-smart agriculture,” enhances sustainability and productivity by recognizing agriculture’s position within the larger ecosystem. It makes soil healthier and eases the impact of climate change with practices to capture carbon and nitrogen and leave them sequestered in the ground.

Building with biotech: Bayer recently announced plans to add €100 billion in revenue with biotech-based regenerative farming developments like:

• Crop fertility, including nitrogen fixation to grow more crops with fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
• Biologics, biobased plant protection with fewer chemicals.
• Biofuels, including fuels made from cover crops.
• Short corn, a “greener,” more productive crop.
• Carbon farming, where advances like deeper roots and no-till farming foster carbon income for farmers through the Bayer Carbon Initiative.

Bringing small farmers along: Bayer recognizes the role small farms play in feeding local populations. The company plans to support 100 million smallholders by 2030 through initiatives providing education, modern technology, and resources.

And Bayer’s smallholder initiatives work, according to an independent survey showing large majorities of participants in four diverse programs report increased productivity and income, improved farming methods, and better quality of life.

What they’re saying: “The positive results are encouraging because they validate the objectives of Bayer’s smallholder and regenerative agriculture strategy, with its focus on sustainable production and improving the social and economic well-being of farmers and their communities,” according to Bayer’s Frank Terhorst.

There's more: Bayer has partnered with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide Ukrainian farmers access to Bayer’s digital farming platform and donate high-quality seeds. Bayer just this week announced an expansion of the partnership.

President Biden’s Thursday: Discussing “Bidenomics” during a visit to the shipyard in Philadelphia, a city that the president visits more than most, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Yesterday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation to reauthorize the Pandemic All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) along party lines due to a disagreement around solutions to address drug shortages. Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee executive session will vote on their PAHPA legislation. A previously released discussion draft by the HELP Committee included ill-advised price control measures.

BIO has been actively seeking to shape the House and Senate versions of PAHPA and we’ll be recapping the week’s developments tomorrow.