Building a stronger Australian Immunisation Register
A change in legislation, making it a requirement for all vaccination providers to report every vaccine to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), has passed through Parliament.
This will allow for a more comprehensive reporting of immunisation data to help enhance vaccination coverage rates and monitor the effectiveness of Australia's immunisation program.
Every COVID-19 vaccine administered within Australia must reported to AIR. From March 1, 2021 every Influenza vaccine must be included and all other NIP vaccines must be reported from July 1, 2021.
To understand more about the new legislation please refer to the press release below:
Building a stronger Australian Immunisation Register
Imperial College London survey suggests confidence in coronavirus vaccines is rising globally
A recent survey from the Imperial College London’s Institute of Global Health Innovation has shown that willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine is increasing.
The survey was initially run in November 2020 across 15 countries and demonstrated that just 41% of people would be willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time. This number has risen to 54% in results from the same survey, run again in January 2021. Results demonstrated vast differences in attitudes towards vaccination based on location, with 78% of people surveyed in the UK willing to be vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine. People in France demonstrated the least willingness, with 44% of people stating they would not be vaccinated.
The survey further demonstrated that worry over vaccine side effects has decreased in 9 of the 15 countries who participated. The report is part of a global effort to monitor health related behaviours and attitudes during the pandemic to inform decision-makers based on a country’s needs.
Read more about the results of the survey via the link below:
Imperial College London: Confidence in coronavirus vaccines is rising globally, survey suggests
ASCIA release COVID-19 vaccination position statement
The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) have released a position statement on COVID-19 vaccination. The statement reflects the COVID-19 vaccines the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has granted provisional approval for use in Australia, as well as vaccines that may also be granted provisional approval in the future. It contains guidance based on current data for COVID-19 vaccination in people with allergic conditions, immunodeficiencies and autoimmune conditions, pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under 16 years of age.
You can access the full statement via the link below:
ASCIA: Allergy, Immunodeficiency, Autoimmunity and COVID-19 Vaccination Position Statement
BBC- Covid: New Oxford vaccine 'ready by the autumn' to tackle mutations
With the emergence of various mutations of SARS-CoV-2 there is still reassuring evidence that existing vaccines are providing good protection, although at a slightly less rate than with the initial variants. Additionally, interim results released by the Oxford/AstraZeneca team showed that vaccination with the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine could cut transmission of the virus by up to 67%.
In the following article published in the BBC, Professor Andy Pollard from Oxford University suggests that updating vaccines to make them more effective against mutations is a quick process. With manufacturing processes already established, newer vaccines could be available relatively quickly.
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BBC- Covid: New Oxford vaccine 'ready by the autumn' to tackle mutations
Latest monitoring data confirms safety of COVID-19 vaccines
Data from the UK's independent medicines regulator (MHRA) has confirmed that the safety profile of the approved COVID-19 vaccines (Oxford Astra/Zeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech) remains as high as reported in the clinical trial data that supported those approvals.
With over 10 million doses already delivered, there have been 22,820 reports of suspected side effects with the majority being short-lasting, mild and expected side effects including sore arms and 'flu-like' symptoms.
To read the press release in full follow the link below:
Latest monitoring data confirms safety of COVID-19 vaccines
JAMA Pediatrics: Assessment of Maternal and Neonatal Cord Blood SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies and Placental Transfer Ratio
A recent cohort study conducted at Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia involving 1714 participants assessed maternal and cord blood for the transfer of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Trial participants were from various ethnic backgrounds with ages ranging from 28-35 years. IgG and/or IgM was detected in 83 woman at the time of delivery and IgG was detected in the cord blood of 72 of the 83 infants. The transfer of antibodies occurred after symptomatic and asymptomatic infections during pregnancy.
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Community pharmacies to participate in COVID-19 vaccination program
The Australian Government has announced an expression of interest (EOI) process has begun for community pharmacies to participate in the COVID-19 vaccination program.
Participation is voluntary, with pharmacies needing to demonstrate their capacity, capability and ability to meet high safety standards.
Eligible pharmacies would be able to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to priority populations from phase 2a of the of Australian COVID-19 vaccination rollout strategy (expected to be in May 2021). They would be incentivised to provide both doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in an effort to increase uptake of the vaccine.
Read more about this in the Health Minister’s statement via the link below:
Community Pharmacy to join COVID-19 vaccine workforce
Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Demonstrates 89.3% Efficacy in UK Phase 3 Trial
Novavax have released interim results for both its UK phase III clinical trial as well as for the phase 2b studies being conducted in South Africa.
The UK phase III clinical trial involves more than 15,000 participants aged 18-84 years. During a period of high transmission with the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2, the preliminary results show an efficacy rate of 89.3%. After review of the vaccine safety database it has also been reported that any adverse events were balanced between both the vaccine and the placebo groups and any serious or severe side effects occurred at low levels.
In the South African phase 2b clinical trial, an efficacy rate of 60% was seen in the HIV-negative cohort, with an overall 49.4% efficacy rate seen across the total 4,400 trial participants (both HIV-negative and HIV positive individuals). During the time of the trial, the South African variant of SARS-CoV-2 was widely circulating.
The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine candidate is a protein-based vaccine utilising a nanoparticle technology platform.
To read the full press release follow the link below:
Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Demonstrates 89.3% Efficacy in UK Phase 3 Trial
TGA provisionally approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
Following a thorough and independent review, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has found that the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine candidate, Comirnaty, meets the strict safety and efficacy standards required for provisional approval. It is now provisionally approved for use in those aged 16 years or older for active immunisation to prevent COVID-19 disease.
For more information please refer to the links below:
TGA provisionally approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
COVID-19 vaccine: Pfizer Australia - COMIRNATY BNT162b2 (mRNA)
For more information on the provisional pathway of vaccine approval, please refer to our reference page below:
MVEC: Provisional registration of COVID-19 vaccine(s) in Australia
TGA grants additional provisional determination for a COVID-19 vaccine
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has granted provisional determination to Biocelect Pty Ltd (on behalf of Novavax Inc.) for their COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
Granting provisional determination means that Biocelect (on behalf of Novavax) is now eligible to apply for provisional registration. Following the provisional pathway provides a formal and transparent mechanism for speeding up the registration of promising new medicines with preliminary clinical data.
Provisional determination is only granted once the TGA has considered all eligibility criteria, including evidence of a plan to submit comprehensive clinical data.
You can read the press release from the TGA below:
TGA grants additional provisional determination for a COVID-19 vaccine
For more information on the process of COVID-19 vaccine provisional approval please refer to our reference page:
MVEC: Provisional registration of COVID-19 vaccine(s) in Australia