The Sydney Morning Herald: Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster dose ‘appears protective against Omicron’

Following laboratory testing, data shows that whilst a two-dose primary course of the Spikevax (Moderna) vaccine resulted in a low generation of neutralising antibodies against the Omicron variant, a booster dose provided a 37-fold increase in neutralising antibodies. 

 

For more information on these findings refer to the full article via the link below:

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster dose ‘appears protective against Omicron’


Raising Children Network - COVID-19 vaccination and children: 5-11 years

Immunising children against COVID-19 ensures stronger, longer-lasting protection than infection does. To build the best immunity, ATAGI recommends that children aged 5 to 11 years should have a 2 dose primary course of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, 8 weeks apart.  

This Raising Children article developed in collaboration with MVEC explores the safety, efficacy and recommendations for immunising children aged 5 to 11 years against COVID-19. 

To read the full article, follow the link below: 

COVID-19 vaccination and children: 5-11 years


Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommendations on the use of Spikevax (Moderna) as a COVID-19 booster vaccine

Following recent approval from the TGA, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) have recommended the use of Spikevax (Moderna) as a COVID-19 booster vaccine for people aged 18 years and older (including pregnant women), who have completed their primary course of COVID-19 vaccine 5 or more months ago. The booster dose is half the recommended dose of the Spikevax vaccine used for the primary course. 

ATAGI notes that Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are equally acceptable for use as booster vaccines in Australia in the eligible population.  

To read ATAGI's full statement on the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine as a booster follow the link below:

Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommendations on the use of Spikevax (Moderna) as a COVID-19 booster vaccine


The Conversation: Is your child frightened of needles? Here’s how to prepare them for their COVID vaccine

Most children are fearful of needles and approximately one in five kids (19%) aged 4-6 years old experience needle phobia.

A child’s initial interaction with needles in their primary years may be formative for their relationship with immunisations throughout their lives. As such, it’s important to cultivate a safe and positive vaccination experience.

This article discusses techniques and strategies to help prepare children for vaccination, including accessing professional help from play and child life therapists for those with needle phobia.

To read the full article, please follow the link below:

Is your child frightened of needles? Here’s how to prepare them for their COVID vaccine


The Conversation: How can scientists update coronavirus vaccines for omicron? A microbiologist answers 5 questions about how Moderna and Pfizer could rapidly adjust mRNA vaccines

The new Omicron variant has raised the question of whether current COVID-19 vaccines will provide sufficient protection against infection. If the virus has changed significantly, antibodies created by the original vaccine will no longer be able to recognise and defend against the new mutated variant. Consequentially, vaccines will need to be modified by swapping out the genetic code of the original spike protein for the one found on the new variant.

This article explores the scientific process behind updating mRNA vaccines including timelines and authorization procedures.

Follow the link below to read the full article:

How can scientists update coronavirus vaccines for omicron? A microbiologist answers 5 questions about how Moderna and Pfizer could rapidly adjust mRNA vaccines


Australian Academy of Science: COVID-19 vaccines and their long-term safety

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best way to protect ourselves and our communities. Current data and evidence confidently support the long term safety of COVID-19 vaccines. 

This article discusses the various safety processes currently in place for COVID-19 vaccines to ensure that they continue to be effective in preventing severe disease.

To read the article in full, click on the link below:
COVID-19 vaccines and their long-term safety

 


The Conversation: COVID vaccines for 5 to 11 year old’s are inching closer. Here’s what we know so far

This week, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorised the provisional use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in children between the age of 5 to 11 years. Children will receive two doses of the vaccine, at a reduced dose (one-third of the adult dose) administered approximately three weeks apart.

Pfizer has submitted a partial application to Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and is currently on track to supply the remaining data over the next two weeks. Once approved, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisations (ATAGI) will advise the government on timing the rollout.

Current data suggests a clear advantage to immunising children against COVID-19, including protecting them from severe complications associated with the Delta variant, and helping to minimise the spread of the virus amongst the more vulnerable in the community.

Follow this link to read the full article:

COVID vaccines for 5 to 11 year old’s are inching closer. Here’s what we know so far

 


Novavax Files for Authorization of its COVID-19 Vaccine in the United Kingdom

Novavax has completed the rolling regulatory submission to the U.K Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for authorization of the first protein-based COVID-19 vaccine.

The NVX-CoV2373 vaccine is engineered from the genetic sequence of the first strain of SARS-CoV-2. Using Novavax recombinant nanoparticle technology to generate antigen derived from the coronavirus spike protein and is formulated with Novavax patented saponin-based Matrix-M ™ adjuvant to stimulate high levels of neutralizing antibodies.

Clinical data from Phase 3 trials included over 15,000 participants and demonstrated that NVX-CoV2373 elicited a strong immune response with an overall efficacy of 89.7% as well as a favourable safety and tolerability profile.

Follow the link below to read the full article:

Novavax Files for Authorization of its COVID-19 Vaccine in the United Kingdom


MVEC Vodcast series - COVID-19 vaccines

As 2020 draws to a close there is optimism that a safe and effective vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) will soon be approved to control the pandemic. With over 200 vaccine candidates currently in various stages of clinical trials across the globe, Australia has signed advance purchase agreements with 4 different vaccines.

In our 3-part vodcast series, COVID-19 vaccines, Dr Daryl Cheng and Dr Daniela Say discuss how it is possible to develop a vaccine in such a compressed timeline, the various vaccine platforms being utilised in clinical trials and their individual advantages and disadvantages, as well as the different priority groups to be offered immunisation. Daryl and Daniela touch on the preliminary results from clinical trials and what they show us in terms of vaccine safety and effectiveness, as well as discuss the ongoing safety monitoring that will occur even once a vaccine has been approved for use.

You can view the vodcasts via the link below:

MVEC: Vaccine vodcasts

 


Final episode of COVID19 Road to a vaccine: Professor Walter Orenstein

In the final episode of this podcast series our host, Associate Professor Nigel Crawford, speaks with Professor Walter Orenstein. Dr Orenstein is a Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, Global Health and Paediatrics at Emory University; Associate Director of the Emory Vaccine Center and the Director of Emory Vaccine Policy and Development. An expert in vaccinology, Dr Orenstein has worked at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Director of the United States Immunisation Program and is a current member of several WHO groups. Further to this he is the co-editor of the vaccine textbook, Plotkin’s Vaccines, 7th edition. In this episode they discuss:

  • Lessons that can be learnt from Plotkin’s Vaccines in the setting of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and development of vaccines
  • Recent press releases showing promising early results from two mRNA COVID-19 vaccine candidates developed by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna
  • The critical role of ongoing monitoring for safety and effectiveness of vaccines once they are in use
  • The likely highest priority groups when vaccines do become available
  • The role of children in SARS-CoV-2 transmission and whether or not they need to be vaccinated
  • The importance of a correlate of protection in SARS-CoV-2 vaccines
  • The need to monitor for vaccine associated enhanced disease (VAED)
  • The importance of immunisation providers supporting reports of adverse events following immunisation (AEFI)
  • The importance of communication in supporting vaccine acceptance and uptake
  • Key next steps on the road to a COVID-19 vaccine: a better understanding of how many doses are required and when, a prioritisation process so the vaccines can be used most effectively (with a clear allocation system); and communicating to the public that social distancing and wearing a mask will be ongoing for some time as a level of normality won’t be reached immediately, even with the exciting new efficacious COVID-19 vaccines

Links:

You can listen to the episode here:

Spreaker - Apple - Spotify