ABC: With their AstraZeneca supplies nearing expiration, PNG comes up with creative ways to vaccinate people
There has been a slow uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in Papua New Guinea (PNG), thought to be due to the impact of misinformation. With stocks of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines nearing their expiry date, creative initiatives have been undertaken in an effort to boost uptake.
Among these initiatives is the development of PNG’s first mobile vaccination unit, a yellow bus. The bus takes vaccines to communities enabling the locals to see the vaccination process in action.
All supplies, vaccines and emergency equipment required to vaccinate can be taken to villages in the bus, some of which don't have their own health clinics. This community led initiative enables people to seek information from health providers in an effort to overcome hesitancy and misinformation and get vaccinated.
With widespread community transmission, a focus remains on encouraging health care workers to get vaccinated, as well as eligible members of the community such as the elderly and those with comorbidities.
To read more about Papua New Guinea’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout and the mobile vaccination unit please refer to the link below:
Joint statement between RANZCOG and ATAGI about COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and ATAGI have released a joint statement regarding COVID-19 vaccines and pregnant women.
It is recommended that pregnant women are routinely offered Comirnaty™ at any stage of pregnancy. This recommendation has been made based on the increased risk of severe outcomes for pregnant women and their unborn baby, should the woman develop COVID-19 disease
This advice reflects the findings of international data which has not identified any safety signals following the administration of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to pregnant women. Further to this, antibodies have been detected in the cord blood and breastmilk of vaccinated women, suggesting the transfer of protection to the baby,
To read the statement in full please refer to the following link:
Joint statement between RANZCOG and ATAGI about COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women
RACGP - Australian authorities update side effect advice on AstraZeneca vaccine
Following the recent joint statement from ATAGI and the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Society of Australia and New Zealand (THANZ), RACGP confirms that almost anyone over the age of 50 can safely receive the AstraZeneca vaccine. The statement also clarifies that the rare blood clotting condition that has been linked with the use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine in some groups – Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) – can now be treated effectively.
The latest release also confirms that the risk of TTS is not likely to be increased in people with the following conditions (and that over-50s in these groups can still get vaccinated with AstraZeneca):
- History of blood clots in typical sites
- Increased clotting tendency that is not immune mediated
- Family history of blood clots
- History of ischaemic heart disease or stroke
- Current or past thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)
- Those receiving anticoagulation therapy
Furthermore, the ATAGI/THANZ statement also reports that UK data suggest the risk of TTS is much lower following a second dose, with only 15 cases reported to date out of nine million administered, translating to an estimated rate of 1.7 cases per million doses.
Please refer to the article and statement in full in the following link:
RACGP - Australian authorities update side effect advice on AstraZeneca vaccine
Talking to patients about AstraZeneca vaccine resource
The Department of Health have created a resource for health professionals to assist in talking to patients about the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
This resource details key facts about the AstraZeneca vaccine including current recommendations, effectiveness and information about the risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia (TTS).
You can access the resource via the link below:
Health.gov.au: Talking to patients about AstraZeneca vaccine
BBC: Covid Vaccines: No, your jab isn't magnetic
Videos of people sticking magnets to where they claim they've had the Covid vaccine have racked up millions of views on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Some people say there must be something magnetic in the vaccines and others have gone further to say it’s proof of a microchip - a theory which just isn’t true.
BBC Reality Check's Jack Goodman debunks the so-called #magnetchallenge.
To read more, follow the link below:
BBC: Covid Vaccines: No, your jab isn't magnetic
Flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccination- change in recommendation for residents and staff in residential aged care and disability care settings
Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria, Australia's Chief Health Officer Paul Kelly, has advised of a changed recommendation to the timing of influenza and COVID-19 vaccines for certain groups.
In order to ensure that all residents and staff in residential aged care and disability care settings are vaccinated as soon as possible, the previous 14 day minimum interval between influenza and COVID-19 vaccines no longer applies for this group.
Shortening this time frame will not have any impact on the effectiveness of either vaccine and will result in the rapid protection of the most vulnerable. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines should not be administered on the same day.
To read more follow the link below:
Nature: Mix-and-match COVID vaccines trigger potent immune response
Preliminary results from a trial involving 663 participants receiving a mixed schedule of COVID-19 vaccine brands has been released. Participants who had received their first COVID-19 vaccine as AstraZeneca were then offered their second dose as Pfizer at least 8 weeks later.
Higher antibody levels were produced following dose 2 than had been produced following receipt of dose 1. The immune response generated was also stronger compared with a standard 2 dose course of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The side effects reported following a mixed schedule were similar to those experienced by those who received a same brand schedule. This is in contrast to a similar study in the UK which showed higher reports of common side effects following a mixed schedule of COVID-19 vaccination.
To read the article in full refer to the link below:
Nature: Mix-and-match COVID vaccines trigger potent immune response
Raising Children Network - new COVID-19 vaccination: pregnancy and breastfeeding resource
MVEC have partnered with the Raising Children Network to develop a new resource focused on providing COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy.
To view this article follow the link below:
COVID-19 vaccination: pregnancy and breastfeeding
Further information on vaccines for pregnant and breastfeeding women can be found via our immunisation reference pages below:
MVEC: Maternal vaccination during pregnancy
MVEC: Breastfeeding and immunisations
BBC News: Covid: Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs work against Indian variant - study
A study conducted by Public Health England (PHE) has shown that either of the Pfizer or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine brands are highly effective against the COVID-19 Indian strain. Two weeks after the administration of dose 2, the Pfizer vaccine was found to be 88% effective at stopping symptomatic disease and the AstraZeneca vaccine was 60% effective.
The effectiveness of only 1 dose of either brand was reduced to 33%, highlighting the importance of administering both doses.
To read more, follow the link below:
BBC News: Covid: Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs work against Indian variant - study
WHO: COVID-19 subcommittee of the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) reviews cases of mild myocarditis reported with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines
The WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) COVID-19 subcommittee has released a statement following the review of a small number of cases of myocarditis reported in individuals who have received COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.
Cases have predominantly been reported in adolescents and young adults, with a typical symptom onset occurring within 4 days of vaccination. Reports were more common following receipt of a second dose of the vaccine. GACVS notes that most cases of myocarditis appear to be mild.
The COVID-19 subcommittee reiterates that the benefit of vaccination in reducing deaths and hospitalisations due to COVID-19 disease outweighs potential risk of vaccine side effects.
To read more follow the link below: