Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases webinar recording now available: JEV outbreak in Australia - important insight for clinicians
A recording of the Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases webinar: JEV outbreak in Australia - important insight for clinicians is now available.
The Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases (ASID) and Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists (ANZAN) welcomed a panel of expert speakers to discuss the current JEV outbreak in Australia on Thursday 17 March.
To access the recording, please click on the link below:
For additional information regarding JEV, please refer to our MVEC reference page:
Vocal cord dysfunction/inducible laryngeal obstruction(s) mimicking anaphylaxis during SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) vaccination
Researchers at Monash Health have published findings related to vocal cord dysfunction/inducible laryngeal obstruction(s) (VCD/ILO) in relation to incident-associated VCD which may be related to vaccination.
Their findings are related to a case series of ten individuals who were initially labelled as having experienced anaphylaxis following COVID-19 vaccination. These individuals were referred on to a specialist allergy service, where 9 out of the 10 received a second dose of the same COVID-19 vaccine that caused their initial reaction. It was found that 2 out of the 10 individuals met the Brighton Criteria for anaphylaxis, and symptoms recurred in 8 of the 9 individuals who received a second dose, mirroring their initial reactions which had been diagnosed as anaphylaxis.
Clinical features of VCD/ILO overlap with those of the Brighton Criteria for vaccine-related anaphylaxis, with this research demonstrating the need for providers to be able to differentiate between anaphylaxis and VCD/ILO.
To read the article in full, please follow the link below:
For further information on how to differentiate between anaphylaxis and an acute stress response, refer to the animation on the MVEC: Allergy and Immunisation reference page.
The Conversation: Flu, COVID and flurona: what we can and can’t expect this winter
With international borders open and public health measures alleviated, it is highly likely that COVID-19 and influenza will be circulating simultaneously in Australian communities this coming winter.
This article addresses some probable outcomes and provides helpful tips on how people can protect themselves during this flu season.
Click on the link below to read the full article:
Flu, COVID and flurona: what we can and can’t expect this winter
The New York Times: In Africa, a Mix of Shots Drives an Uncertain Covid Vaccination Push
While many wealthy countries are well on track with their COVID-19 booster rollout using the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, African countries continue to rely on products and dosing schedules that many researchers believe render lower vaccine efficacy.
With COVID vaccination rates averaging about 14% across the continent, experts reveal that there are several barriers to vaccination to consider and warn that a fifth, potentially more lethal wave is imminent.
Follow the link below to read the full article:
The New York Times: In Africa, a Mix of Shots Drives an Uncertain Covid Vaccination Push
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 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
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