Coronavirus Tidbits #148 7/11/21

Mix-and-match COVID vaccines: the case is growing, but questions remain

A slew of studies suggests that mixing vaccines provokes potent immune responses, but scientists still want answers on real-world efficacy and rare side effects.

Nature Dyani Lewis  01 July 2021

Mixing COVID-19 vaccines is emerging as a good way to get people the protection they need when faced with safety concerns and unpredictable supplies. Most vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 must be given in two doses, but multiple studies now back up the idea that mixing the Oxford–AstraZeneca jab and the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine triggers an immune response similar to — or even stronger than — two doses of either vaccine.

Results announced on Monday 1 by a UK group suggest that the combination sometimes outperforms two shots of the same vaccine, and a similar picture is emerging from German studies2^,3.

People can now “feel a bit more comfortable” with the idea of mix-and-match, says immunologist Leif Erik Sander at Charité University Hospital in Berlin.

The results are also giving researchers confidence that combining other COVID-19 vaccines, that haven’t yet been tested together, might also work. But at least 16 vaccines have been approved for use in one or more countries, and mix-and-match studies so far have been small, so more extensive trials and long-term monitoring for side effects are sorely needed.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01805-2

~ ~ ~

India's Covaxin quite effective

Efficacy analysis demonstrates COVAXIN® to be 77.8% effective against symptomatic COVID19, and 93.4% effective against severe symptomatic COVID-19,

https://www.precisionvaccinations.com/2021/07/03/indias-covid-19-vaccine-found-very-effective

~ ~ ~

Vaccine Diplomacy - Mexico's Government Launches Sputnik V Vaccine Production

Mexico became the first country in North America to register Sputnik V and launch local production.

To date, Sputnik V has been registered in 67 countries globally.

The Sputnik V vaccine is based on human adenoviral vectors and uses different vectors for the two vaccine doses. The price of Sputnik V is less than $10 per dose.

https://www.precisionvaccinations.com/2021/07/05/mexicos-government-launches-sputnik-v-vaccine-production

~ ~ ~

U.S. Donated COVID-19 Vaccines Distributed in Pakistan

About 2.5 million doses of Moderna (SpikeVax) COVID-19 vaccines donated by the United States are being distributed by the Government of Pakistan to vaccinate priority groups across the country, in line with the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan.

So far, three million people have been fully vaccinated and 13.5 million partially vaccinated in Pakistan, using vaccines that the Government procured through COVAX or bilateral agreements.

More than 960,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country since the start of the outbreak, and at least 22,379 people have succumbed to the disease.

https://www.precisionvaccinations.com/2021/07/06/us-donated-covid-19-vaccines-distributed-pakistan

(US is also donating vax to India)

~ ~ ~

COVAX Demands Equal Recognition of Covid-19 Vaccines

The global COVAX Facility says not recognising certain shots for travel will create a two-tier system and exacerbate the inequity already seen in vaccine distribution.

the European Union’s (EU) Digital Covid Certificate — a vaccine “passport” which aims to facilitate free travel across the bloc’s 27 member nations, plus Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein — did not recognise Covishield, the AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine maker.

https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2021/07/04/covax-demands-equal-recognition-of-covid-19-vaccines/

~ ~ ~

Israel reported a drop in Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine effectiveness

against infections and symptoms amid Delta (B1617.2) variant spread and relaxed restrictions, though it is still highly effective against serious illness. Since Jun 6, efficacy against infection and symptomatic disease declined to 64%, with efficacy against serious illness and hospitalization at 93%, according to the country's health ministry.

~ ~ ~

In US, 11% of people have missed second COVID-19 vaccine dose

https://www.healio.com/news/infectious-disease/20210706/in-us-11-of-people-have-missed-second-covid19-vaccine-dose

~ ~ ~

Can we stretch existing Covid vaccines to inoculate more people? Experts are divided

https://statnews.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f8609630ae206654824f897b6&id=7d4b655ea5&e=f4c6ea30a0

~ ~ ~

Should We Be Concerned About the Lambda Variant?

https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/93458?

~ ~ ~

Superb piece by doctors ⁦@jeremyfaust⁩ ⁦@celinegounder⁩ & Katie Dickerson Mayes.

Covid infection poses a much greater risk to adolescents than Covid vaccines (which are astoundingly safe & efficacious).

I support vaccinating 12-17 year olds. https://t.co/muGcGwR4Cb

— Prof. Gavin Yamey MD MPH (@GYamey) July 5, 2021

~ ~ ~

Pfizer and its vaccine partner BioNTech will seek FDA authorization for a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine, citing positive data from an Israeli study; in response, the CDC and FDA issued a joint statement saying data do not yet support the need for a third dose. (The Hill)