ATAGI update following weekly COVID-19 meeting – 16 February 2022
ATAGI held their weekly meeting on Wednesday 16 February to discuss the latest developments and recommendations relating to COVID-19 immunisations.
The meeting addressed the use of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 6 to 11 years, as well as, the use of Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine as a booster and recommendations regarding the vaccine dose interval for children.
To read the full update, follow the link below:
ATAGI update following weekly COVID-19 meeting – 16 February 2022
NCIRS 网络研讨会 - 与 COVID-19 一起生活：像往常一样恢复免疫接种业务
NCIRS 将于 3 月 3 日星期四举办网络研讨会，届时将有一组专家发言，其中包括 MVEC 的 A/Nigel Crawford 教授。网络研讨会的主题是 与 COVID-19 一起生活：照常进行免疫接种 并将涵盖：
- 澳大利亚 COVID‑19 疫苗建议的更新
- 区域和全球范围内的 COVID-19 和常规免疫计划——需要什么
- 新的 COVID-19 疫苗——我们是否需要改变我们的策略以应对新的变种？
有关注册的更多信息和详细信息，请访问以下链接：
NCIRS 网络研讨会 - 与 COVID-19 一起生活：像往常一样恢复免疫接种业务
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.
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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
Contemporary Pediatrics: Novavax pediatric COVID-19 vaccine trial yields positive results
Novavax’s protein-based recombinant nanoparticle COVID-19 vaccine NVC-CoV2373 has demonstrated an 80% overall efficacy in paediatric trials against the Delta variant.
The paediatric trial included 2247 adolescent participants between the ages of 12 to 17 years, of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, across 73 sites in the United States.
“We are encouraged by the results in this adolescent population given the ongoing need for alternative vaccine options for COVID-19,” said Filip Dubovsky, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Novavax, in the statement.
To read the full press release, follow the link below:
Novavax pediatric COVID-19 vaccine trial yields positive results
MCRI: Dose-finding trial paves way for novel rotavirus vaccine to prevent a deadly diarrheal disease from birth
A reduced dose of a rotavirus vaccine developed from a unique neonatal rotavirus strain in Melbourne has produced a robust immune response in children at risk from the fatal rotavirus disease.
Researchers from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Clinical Research Programme and University of Liverpool have confirmed through a phase 2 clinical trial that three doses of the mid-level amount of vaccine produced an equivalent immune response as the highest dose schedule.
This triumph in research and development is exceptionally gratifying to see as the first rotavirus vaccine was developed by Professors Ruth Bishop and Grame Barned at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. To continue to provide support to the communities most impacted, MCRI has made RV3-BB readily available to manufacturers for the license to produce on a large scale for an accessible price.
To read the full statement, follow the link below:
Dose-finding trial paves way for novel rotavirus vaccine to prevent a deadly diarrheal disease from birth
The Washington Post: Coronavirus vaccine for young children further delayed as FDA reverses course, says it will wait for data on three doses
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have announced it won’t make a decision on whether to authorise a COVID-19 vaccine for children younger than 5 until data on a third dose becomes available.
The vaccine trial that commenced on 20日 January, was designed to test the safety and efficacy of a lower dose of vaccine and was reported to include 3,900 children between the ages of 6 months and 4 years.
To understand if two doses would provide sufficient protection in children younger than 5, Pfizer and BioNTech have been testing two 3-microgram doses, a small fraction of the adult dose. Smaller doses are expected to trigger an equivalent immune response in children, indicating strong protection.
With the study advancing at a rapid pace, Pfizer and BioNTech will opt to wait for the three-dose data suggesting it may provide a higher level of protection in this age group.
Click on the link below to read the article in full:
The Washington Post: Coronavirus vaccine for young children further delayed as FDA reverses course, says it will wait for data on three doses
ATAGI statement on defining 'up-to-date' status for COVID-19 vaccination
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has released a statement on defining 'up-to-date' status for COVID-19 vaccination.
The guidance summarises ‘up-to-date' vaccination status as the number and timing of appropriate COVID-19 vaccine doses recommended for and received by an individual, according to their age and other factors.
The recommendations aim to provide the optimal individual and/or population protective vaccination benefits (over risks) and take into account other factors, such as vaccine access. COVID-19 vaccine up-to-date status will likely need to be modified over time, with the ATAGI recommendations based on future changes in disease epidemiology and as new evidence becomes available regarding booster doses, including those that may be specifically targeting variants of concern (VOC).
To read the statement in full, click on the link below:
ATAGI statement on defining 'up-to-date' status for COVID-19 vaccination