CDC: Effectiveness of COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccination in Preventing COVID-19–Associated Emergency Department and Urgent Care Encounters and Hospitalizations Among Nonimmunocompromised Children and Adolescents Aged 5–17 Years
A recent study conducted by the CDC and the VISION Network examined 39,217 emergency department (ED), urgent care (UC) encounters and 1,699 hospitalisations among persons aged 5 to 17 years with COVID-19–like illness during April 9, 2021–January 29, 2022. The study employed a case-control test-negative design to estimate the VE of two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in preventing COVID-19 associated hospitalisations in this cohort.
Click on the link below to access the study findings:
CDC: Effectiveness of 2-Dose BNT162b2 (Pfizer BioNTech) mRNA Vaccine in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Children Aged 5–11 Years and Adolescents Aged 12–15 Years — PROTECT Cohort
The CDC has released the findings of a recent PROTECT study, assessing the efficacy of two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in preventing infection from the Omicron variant amongst children 5 to 11 and adolescents 12 to 15 years of age. The study included clinical data from a cohort of 1,364 participants gathered from July 2021 to February 2022.
The report provides evidence that two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is effective in preventing both asymptomatic and symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in this cohort.
Click on the link below to read the full report:
New reference page: Japanese encephalitis
An outbreak of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a rare but potentially lethal mosquito-transmitted disease that can cause inflammation of the brain has been detected in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. While most infections are asymptomatic, it is currently the leading cause of vaccine-preventable encephalitis in Asia.
Our new reference page: Japanese encephalitis addresses key factors including:
- What is JEV?
- What to look for?
- How it is transmitted?
- Epidemiological information
- Prevention
- Vaccine information
Follow the link to view the full reference page:
Japanese encephalitis
New global vaccine trial launched to evaluate fractional COVID-19 booster shots
CEPI will provide up to AU $12.3 million to support a global clinical trial led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) on the potential merits of administering a reduced COVID-19 booster dose. The trial which will include up to 3300 healthy adults across Australia, Indonesia and Mongolia coincides with a large-scale global initiative to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines.
“Our project, announced today with CEPI, will specifically examine how best to vaccinate communities with follow-up booster shots and the timings around these subsequent booster doses. And while fractional doses could provide the opportunity for great savings for countries, they are also likely to produce less side effects, which will improve the acceptability of booster doses” MCRI’s Professor Kim Mulholland.
A similar strategy, known as fractionation has previously been used to maximize global vaccine supply during outbreaks of Yellow fever, Polio and most recently, for the experimental rotavirus vaccine.
To fund this important work, CEPI’s Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit will take place next month, bringing together leading figures from across the world to work on this urgent global health initiative.
To read the article in full, please click on the link below:
New global vaccine trial launched to evaluate fractional COVID-19 booster shots
Recording now available: Healthed Going Viral Podcast featuring A/Prof Nigel Crawford
On Tuesday 1st March, MVEC’s Associate Professor Nigel Crawford delivered the COVID-19 Update as part of the Healthed Australia online lecture series.
In this lecture, A/Prof Nigel Crawford discussed the following:
- A clinical overview of Novavax
- Is a fourth booster imminent for Australia?
- Post-COVID cardiovascular risk
To access the recording, please click on the link below:
Healthed Going Viral Podcast featuring A/Prof Nigel Crawford
NCIRS webinar recording now available: Living with COVID-19: Getting back to immunisation business as usual
A recording of the NCIRS webinar Living with COVID-19: Getting back to immunisation business as usual is now available. The session featured a panel of expert speakers including MVEC’s A/Prof Nigel Crawford and covered:
- an update on Australian COVID‑19 vaccine recommendations
- vaccine and infection immunity duration – where are we headed?
- new COVID-19 vaccines – do we need to change our strategy in response to new variants?
- COVID-19, routine immunisation and emerging from the pandemic
To access the recording, please click on the link below:
NCIRS webinar: Living with COVID-19: Getting back to immunisation business as usual
ATAGI clinical guidance on COVID-19 vaccine administration errors
ATAGI has provided the below guidance for clinicians outlining the appropriate management of common COVID-19 vaccine administration errors. It includes scenarios where the vaccine is administered in the following circumstances:
- Via the incorrect site/route
- At a higher/lower dose
- Following incorrect storage and handling
- In an unapproved age group
- Mixed vaccine schedules
- With incorrect intervals
It is important to note that in Victoria, any vaccine administration error should be reported to SAEFVIC. Following the identification of a vaccine error, open disclosure with the vaccine recipient is important and addressing the cause of the error will prevent errors from occurring again in the future.
To read the full guideline, follow the link below:
ATAGI clinical guidance on COVID-19 vaccine administration errors
New resource: NCIRS Decision aid (5–15 years): Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine for my child?
NCIRS have designed a new decision aid resource to help families make an informed decision about whether COVID-19 vaccination is right for their children.
The tool provides evidence-based information about the disease and the vaccine and takes the user through five simple steps to help weigh up the risks and benefits of vaccination.
To access the decision guide, please click on the link below.
New resource: NCIRS Decision aid (5–15 years): Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine for my child?
Clinical recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines- updated booster advice
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) have provided updated recommendations on the use of booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines:
- Individuals aged 18 years and above are recommended to receive a single booster dose of either mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna), 3 months after the completion of a primary course of vaccination.
- Individuals aged 16-17 years are recommended to receive a single dose of Comirnaty (Pfizer) as their booster, 3 months following the completion of their primary course. Alternate COVID-19 vaccine brands are not registered for use as a booster dose in this age group.
- Whilst Nuvaxovid (Novavax) is not TGA-registered for use as a booster dose, ATAGI recommends that it may be used as a booster in individuals aged 18 years or older in circumstances where there is a contraindication to mRNA vaccines. There is limited safety and efficacy data to support the use of Nuvaxovid as a booster dose, however there are no theoretical concerns.
- Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) is no longer recommended for use as a booster dose. Individuals who have already received Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) as their booster dose do not need a repeat booster dose of an alternate brand.
For further information regarding the ATAGI recommendations on the use of a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine, please refer to the links below:
ATAGI recommendations on the use of a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine
ATAGI recommendations on the use of Spikevax (Moderna) COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 6 to 11 years
Following the TGA’s provisional approval, ATAGI has put forth a guideline that recommends the use of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine (Spikevax) in children aged 6 to 11 years.
Clinical data supports that Spikevax produces a strong immune response and reduces the likelihood of children in this cohort developing COVID-19.
This statement addresses the recommendations, considerations and rationale for the use of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 6 to 11.
To read the full statement, follow the link below.