Complete program for the CVU Miniseries virtual event now available
The next Clinical Vaccinology Update Miniseries event, COVID-19 vaccines: a Victorian landscape, will be held virtually on February 8th, 2021.
We are excited to welcome our presenters who will be covering the COVID-19 vaccine landscape in Victoria, including vaccine safety, Victorian COVID-19 vaccine rollout plans and stakeholder engagement and participation.
This is a free event, however you will need to register for tickets via the link below, where you can also view the complete program:
CVU Miniseries: February 8, 2021
New immunisation reference page: COVAX Facility
The COVAX Facility is coordinated by Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organization. It brings together governments of over 180 countries, global health organisations, private sector, scientists and manufacturers, in order to provide innovative and equitable access to COVID-19 diagnostics, treatments and vaccines. Our new reference page details information on the COVAX Facility COVID-19 vaccine portfolio.
To read more please refer to the link below:
New immunisation reference pages: COVID-19 vaccines
In 2020, the Australian Government entered into four Advance Purchase Agreements (APA) for the supply of COVID-19 vaccines, if they prove safe and effective. More than $3.3 billion has been invested through these agreements, putting Australia in a strong position to access safe and effective vaccines when they become available. In 2021, three of these vaccines are still active, with the 4th (University of Queensland) withdrawn from clinical trials. Our new reference pages detail information regarding the clinical trials of each vaccine candidate, interim data on their safety and efficacy, as well as other vaccine specific information.
To read more please refer to the links below:
- MVEC: University of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
- MVEC: Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
- MVEC: Novavax COVID-19 vaccine
CNN: How some states are administering Covid-19 vaccines at twice the speed of others
Data from the CDC reveals that of the 31 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine that have been distributed to the various jurisdictions in the United States, only 39% (12.2 million doses) have actually been administered. Those states with the highest vaccination rates have suggested that preparation, communication and strategic planning have been vital in vaccine rollout.
To read more follow the link below:
CNN: How some states are administering Covid-19 vaccines at twice the speed of others
ABC radio: Norway to continue using Pfizer's COVID vaccine despite elderly deaths
Dr Steinar Madsen, Medical Director of the Norwegian Medicines Agency, has been interviewed by ABC radio to discuss the recent reports of deaths in elderly people following immunisation with the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Whilst investigations are underway, he stresses that side effects are rare and Norway will continue with the use of this vaccine as part of their COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
To listen to the interview, please follow the link below:
ABC radio: Norway to continue using Pfizer's COVID vaccine despite elderly deaths
TGA: Norwegian investigation of COVID-19 vaccination risks for elderly, very frail patients
There have been recent reports from Norway of over 30 deaths out of the 40,000 elderly people who have been vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The deaths were associated with fever, nausea and diarrhoea following vaccination. Adverse events following immunisation like these are expected following this vaccine and are usually short-lived. The recorded deaths were in very frail patients whose life expectancy was weeks to months.
The TGA is working closely with European regulators to investigate these reports further and will determine whether product information for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine should include warnings about risks to frail, elderly or terminally ill people.
Read more in the TGA’s statement via the link below:
TGA: Norwegian investigation of COVID-19 vaccination risks for elderly, very frail patients
The Washington Post: The coronavirus-free island nation of Palau could soon vaccinate almost all its people
With a population of close to 18,000 people, the tiny island nation of Palau has managed to remain free of COVID-19 disease. As part of a "free association" agreement with the United States, Palau has access to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, and aims to immunise almost its entire population by April 2021.
To read more, follow the below link:
Save the date for our first CVU Miniseries event: February 8, 2021
MVEC is excited to announce the details for our first CVU Miniseries event!
When: February 8, 2021
Time: 7:00-8:30pm
Topics will include:
- COVID-19 vaccine profiles (AstraZeneca/Pfizer)
- Scan of the Victorian COVID-19 vaccine landscape
- Victorian COVID-19 vaccine rollout information
Cost: Free
Further details and registration information will be available shortly via our Events page. Please note that this event will be held virtually via zoom.
A video recording will also be made available on our website following the event.
The Age: We cannot delay vaccine rollout and risk major illness in winter
A call by many scientists to pause the proposed COVID-19 vaccine rollout is a cause for concern.
The following article suggests that Australia's initial public health goal should be a rapid vaccine rollout and not herd immunity, in order to limit further risk of major illness. In order to achieve a rapid rollout, both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are needed. Recent modelling suggests that vaccination will most likely shift SARS-CoV-2 from a virus causing major disease burden, to a relatively benign coronavirus causing the common cold.
To read the article in full follow the below link:
The Age: We cannot delay vaccine rollout and risk major illness in winter
Peak bodies support Australia's COVID-19 vaccine strategy
In a statement released on January 13, 2020, the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID), the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) and the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) have shown support for the Commonwealth Government's COVID-19 vaccine strategy. The statement suggests that recent media reports surrounding concerns for the ability of any vaccine to create herd immunity is unjustified and reinforces that the public should have confidence in the approach being taken to provide COVID-19 vaccines to Australians.
To read the statement in full follow the link below:
Peak bodies support Australia's COVID-19 vaccine strategy