ATAGI Advice on mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose intervals and COVID-19 vaccination post infection
ATAGI have provided updated advice on mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose intervals and COVID-19 vaccination post infection.
It is now recommended that the dose interval between primary doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines should be extended to 8 weeks, with the extended dose interval shown to improve effectiveness and immune response to vaccination, as well as potentially also reduce the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis.
ATAGI have also recommended that COVID-19 vaccination is deferred 3 months following COVID-19 infection to optimise protection.
To read the updated recommendations in full, please click on the link below.
ATAGI Advice on mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose intervals and COVID-19 vaccination post infection
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
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
ABC News: Chickenpox defies COVID-19 restrictions, prompting vaccination warning
Throughout the pandemic, the highly transmissible varicella zoster virus, which causes chickenpox has continued to spread with more than 10,000 cases recorded in Queensland last year and similar levels observed in 2020.
While the pandemic has shown social and physical distancing to be very effective in limiting the spread of diseases, this article reveals that we can expect to see a number of infectious diseases increase as measures are relaxed.
Immunising against the varicella zoster virus is the best way to protect against infection. Data shows that the vaccine is 95 to 99 per cent effective at preventing severe chickenpox so there is a need to encourage individuals – especially pregnant women – to ensure they are up to date with their vaccinations.
To read the article in full, please click on the link below.
ABC News: Chickenpox defies COVID-19 restrictions, prompting vaccination warning
The Conversation: Do COVID boosters cause more or fewer side effects? How quickly does protection wane? Your questions answered
With more than 2,400 people currently in hospital, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends Australians aged 16 years and older have a COVID-19 booster vaccine to ensure high levels of protection against severe disease and hospitalisation. A booster dose of the COVID vaccine, three months following the completion of the primary course can provide a similar level of protection against Omicron as two primary doses against Delta.
Additionally, data shows that the booster dose renders milder side effects compared to the first 2 doses with less than 1% of people reporting the need for a medical consultation.
This article explores the benefits of a booster vaccine compared to the primary 2 doses, the time frame recommendation for receiving a booster following COVID infection, and whether additional vaccine doses will be required in the future.
Follow the link below to read the full article:
Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine (SPIKEVAX) provisionally approved for use in individuals 6 years and older
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has provisionally approved the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, SPIKEVAX, for use in individuals aged 6 years and older. This follows provisional approvals granted by the TGA to Moderna for the use of SPIKEVAX in individuals aged 12 years and older on 3 September 2021, and on 7 December 2021 the SPIKEVAX booster dose for use in adults 18 years and older.
The TGA carefully assessed the data following the KidCOVE clinical trial which included up to 4,000 participants aged 6 to 11 years across the US and Canada, demonstrating that the immune response to the vaccine in children was similar to that seen in older age groups.
In addition to this, clinical data showed that the safety profile in children is similar to that seen in adults. The most frequent side effects in this age cohort were short term and non-severe. These included injection site pain, redness and/or swelling, axillary (groin) swelling or tenderness, fatigue, headache, fever and muscle pain.
Further advice on the rollout of SPIKEVAX to this age group will be provided to the Government by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
To read the statement in full, please click on the link below:
CDC: Effectiveness of Maternal Vaccination with mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine During Pregnancy Against COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization in Infants Aged <6 Months — 17 States, July 2021–January 2022
A recent CDC report revealed that maternal completion of a 2-dose primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccine course during pregnancy reduced the risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation amongst infants <6 months. Data revealed that of 176 COVID-19 related paediatric hospitalisations, 148 (84%) of infants were born to mothers who were not vaccinated during pregnancy.
Transplacental transfer of SARS-CoV2-specific antibodies that may provide protection to infants is evident in women vaccinated during the later stages of pregnancy. Detectable COVID-19 antibodies were also present in breast milk, indicating a transfer of maternal antibodies to the baby.
This study demonstrates that mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant and breast-feeding women is safe and effective and provides increased protection to the baby.
To read the report in full, follow the link below:
CDC: Effectiveness of Maternal Vaccination with mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine During Pregnancy Against COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization in Infants Aged <6 Months — 17 States, July 2021–January 2022
ATAGI recommendations for use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose in adolescents aged 16-17 years
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has made recommendations for use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose in adolescents aged 16-17 years.
Evidence demonstrates that waning of protection against the Omicron variant occurs after a two-dose primary vaccination schedule and a booster dose is required to increase protection against infection and severe disease.
This statement addresses the safety, efficacy and epidemiological considerations.
Follow the link below to read the recommendations in full:
ATAGI recommendations for use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose in adolescents aged 16-17 years.
CEPI partners with BioNet to expand variant-proof vaccine programme
As a core part of its $3.5 billion pandemic preparedness plan, CEPI (the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) will work together with BioNet to support the researchers of a global multidisciplinary consortium as they establish preclinical and clinical proof of concept for a novel Coronavirus vaccine. The vaccine will employ multiple mRNA molecules that encode several SARS-CoV-2 target proteins. This groundbreaking research could provide broad protection against differentiated COVID-19 variants as well as enable the rapid development of broadly protective vaccines against other Betacoronaviruses.
“Science has consistently delivered throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Science delivered safe and effective vaccines in record time, weakening the link between COVID-19 infection and severe illness or death, in countries with sufficient access to these innovations” - Dr Richard Hatchett
To read the full statement, follow the link below:
CEPI partners with BioNet to expand variant-proof vaccine programme
Sydney Morning Herald: Fourth COVID vaccine shot found to be highly effective
A preliminary study published by Israel’s Sheba medical centre found that a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine administered to people 60 years and over, made them three times more resistant to serious illness and twice as resistant to infection than thrice-vaccinated people in the same age group.
Moving forward, Pfizer’s chief executive Albert Bourla said annual COVID-19 vaccine boosters would be preferable to more frequent boosters
At this stage, Pfizer is nearly ready to file for approval for a redesigned vaccine that targets Omicron while still protecting against other variants.
To read the full article, follow the link below:
Fourth COVID vaccine shot found to be highly effective