Coronavirus

The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted to move toward a unified strain composition for COVID-19 primary and booster vaccines.

In the CDC’s latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, investigators reported the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech updated vaccines helped prevent acute infection from the latest Omicron mutations.

The data may help explain why COVID-19 patients experience dangerous secondary infections.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was associated with rare instances of myo/pericarditis and acute kidney injury, according to a nationwide study in New Zealand that confirmed the safety profile of the vaccine.

The new guidance looks at preexposure and postexposure prophylaxis as well as treatment for COVID-19.

A new study demonstrated continuous neutralization after 3 doses.

“Vaccination coverage among pregnant women remains a priority,” the study authors noted.

In this week’s meeting, FDA is expected to ask their advisory committee to consider changes to simplify the vaccination schedule and look at delivering it annually, much like an influenza vaccine.

What factors contribute to post-COVID-19 conditions (“long COVID”)? Can vaccination before or after a COVID-19 infection decrease the risk of long COVID?

Reported reasons adults had not received a bivalent COVID-19 booster dose differed across age groups.

Although vaccine rates overall remain high, a new report shows a reduction 2 years in a row, leaving thousands of children not vaccinated against vaccine-preventable viruses.

Interleukin-6 receptor antagonists and antiplatelets are highly likely to improve long-term survival of critically ill adults with COVID-19, a recent study suggests.

This act designed to allow pharmacists and technicians the ability to administer certain vaccines without a prescriber order will lapse next year. A new report looks at vaccination trends in the US and how pharmacists are playing a vital role in administering vaccines.

High levels of mucosal IgA antibodies in the airways were found to protect against COVID-19 reinfection for at least 8 months.

This live-attenuated investigational vaccine was developed by Codagenix, which uses its codon de-optimization platform for its candidates.

A CDC report looked at 2 vaccine safety surveillance systems for the bivalent boosters in this population and there were no reports of myocarditis or death. Many of the reports were due to vaccine errors and not adverse events.

The two agencies said one of the vaccine surveillance systems prompted an investigation into whether there was a safety concern for ischemic stroke in seniors for this booster.

As COVID-19 continues to mutate, immunocompromised persons need new, effective treatments. Convalescent plasma could be the answer.

A randomized trial found the antidepressant to be ineffectual in helping improve time to sustained recovery.

A 2-year retrospective study looking at patients admitted to the ICU showed that the number of intubated males infected with Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) was double the number of intubated females.

Recent numbers show a lack of new people entering the field combined with existing shortfalls in many US locations.These factors demonstrate a potentially dangerous reduction in this vital medical specialty.

Research will focus on new technologies for early diagnosis of severe illnesses resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

RSV cases spiked to unprecedented levels this season. Why were these infections so frequent and severe? Why has vaccine development taken so long?

Good news: across 23 countries, trust in COVID-19 vaccines increased 5.2% from 2021 to 2022. However, vaccine hesitancy remains in key populations.

The company is moving forward with vaccines to address respiratory and latent viruses as well as oncology.

Evusheld, the only FDA-approved COVID-19 pre-exposure prophylactic, is anticipated to be ineffective against the emerging XBB.1.5 variant.

The investigational antiviral showed the potential of another therapy that could benefit this patient population that is at risk for hospitalization and death.

“This was a total surprise,” said study lead author John Tsang, PhD.

In just a month, the XBB.1.5 variant went from causing 1% to over 40% of new COVID-19 infections.

Due to negative results, the I-SPY COVID Trial is no longer evaluating cyproheptadine to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients.