New immunisation reference page: Drive-through immunisation clinics
Drive-through immunisation clinics are an alternative venue for supporting vaccine delivery and can assist members of the community to continue to receive recommended immunisations whilst maintaining physical distancing.
Our new reference page highlights the equipment, staffing and logistics to consider when setting up a drive-through clinic.
To access this resource please visit our Immunisation References or follow the link below:
MVEC: Drive-through immunisation clinics
Latest monitoring data confirms safety of COVID-19 vaccines
Data from the UK's independent medicines regulator (MHRA) has confirmed that the safety profile of the approved COVID-19 vaccines (Oxford Astra/Zeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech) remains as high as reported in the clinical trial data that supported those approvals.
With over 10 million doses already delivered, there have been 22,820 reports of suspected side effects with the majority being short-lasting, mild and expected side effects including sore arms and 'flu-like' symptoms.
To read the press release in full follow the link below:
Latest monitoring data confirms safety of COVID-19 vaccines
CVU Miniseries event February 8, 2021- registration closing soon
COVID-19 vaccines: A Victorian landscape is the first event in our CVU Miniseries for 2021.
Please join us online on Monday the 8th of February at 7pm to hear about COVID-19 vaccine safety and Victorian COVID-19 vaccine rollout information.
To view the full program and to register, please visit our Event page.
Registrations for this FREE event will close on Monday the 8th of February at 2pm.
A recording of COVID-19 vaccines: A Victorian landscape will be accessible on our Education Portal following the event.
JAMA Pediatrics: Assessment of Maternal and Neonatal Cord Blood SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies and Placental Transfer Ratio
A recent cohort study conducted at Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia involving 1714 participants assessed maternal and cord blood for the transfer of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Trial participants were from various ethnic backgrounds with ages ranging from 28-35 years. IgG and/or IgM was detected in 83 woman at the time of delivery and IgG was detected in the cord blood of 72 of the 83 infants. The transfer of antibodies occurred after symptomatic and asymptomatic infections during pregnancy.
To read the article in full refer to the link below:
MVEC eLearning: Use of Multi-Dose Vials
MVEC are excited to launch the next of our eLearning packages. Our eLearning packages are designed to allow immunisation providers consolidate and evaluate their technical skills. Targeted resources are available to assist with our eLearning and a certificate of completion will be made available upon completion of the corresponding eLearning quiz.
Use of Multi-Dose Vials has been designed to demonstrate the safe preparation and storage of vaccines from multi-dose vials that require reconstitution and from those that do not.
You can access Use of Multi-Dose Vials via our Education Portal.
Community pharmacies to participate in COVID-19 vaccination program
The Australian Government has announced an expression of interest (EOI) process has begun for community pharmacies to participate in the COVID-19 vaccination program.
Participation is voluntary, with pharmacies needing to demonstrate their capacity, capability and ability to meet high safety standards.
Eligible pharmacies would be able to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to priority populations from phase 2a of the of Australian COVID-19 vaccination rollout strategy (expected to be in May 2021). They would be incentivised to provide both doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in an effort to increase uptake of the vaccine.
Read more about this in the Health Minister’s statement via the link below:
Community Pharmacy to join COVID-19 vaccine workforce
Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Demonstrates 89.3% Efficacy in UK Phase 3 Trial
Novavax have released interim results for both its UK phase III clinical trial as well as for the phase 2b studies being conducted in South Africa.
The UK phase III clinical trial involves more than 15,000 participants aged 18-84 years. During a period of high transmission with the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2, the preliminary results show an efficacy rate of 89.3%. After review of the vaccine safety database it has also been reported that any adverse events were balanced between both the vaccine and the placebo groups and any serious or severe side effects occurred at low levels.
In the South African phase 2b clinical trial, an efficacy rate of 60% was seen in the HIV-negative cohort, with an overall 49.4% efficacy rate seen across the total 4,400 trial participants (both HIV-negative and HIV positive individuals). During the time of the trial, the South African variant of SARS-CoV-2 was widely circulating.
The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine candidate is a protein-based vaccine utilising a nanoparticle technology platform.
To read the full press release follow the link below:
Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Demonstrates 89.3% Efficacy in UK Phase 3 Trial
New immunisation reference page: COVID-19 vaccines: frequently asked questions
MVEC's COVID-19 vaccine FAQ’s have been designed to address common queries relating to COVID-19 vaccines, and include information on the vaccine development process, priority groups, vaccine effectiveness, storage, administration and safety.
This page will be updated on a regular basis as further information becomes available.
MVEC: COVID-19 vaccines: frequently asked questions
New immunisation reference page: Vaccine-associated enhanced disease (VAED)
With hundreds of COVID-19 vaccine candidates in various stages of development and approval, an understanding of any potentially serious adverse events is vital to ensure vaccine acceptance and confidence.
Our new reference page explores vaccine-associated enhanced disease (VAED). It occurs when a more severe presentation of disease develops in an individual who has previously been immunised, compared with when an infection occurs without prior vaccination. VAED has previously been associated with dengue fever infection; RSV, MERS and SARS-CoV-1 vaccine candidates; as well as a measles virus.
It is a theoretical risk only when considering COVID-19 vaccine candidates however as a result, the possibility of VAED has been closely monitored during all stages of clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccine candidates.
For further information please refer to our reference page:
MVEC: Vaccine-associated enhanced disease (VAED)
TGA provisionally approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
Following a thorough and independent review, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has found that the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine candidate, Comirnaty, meets the strict safety and efficacy standards required for provisional approval. It is now provisionally approved for use in those aged 16 years or older for active immunisation to prevent COVID-19 disease.
For more information please refer to the links below:
TGA provisionally approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
COVID-19 vaccine: Pfizer Australia - COMIRNATY BNT162b2 (mRNA)
For more information on the provisional pathway of vaccine approval, please refer to our reference page below:
MVEC: Provisional registration of COVID-19 vaccine(s) in Australia