scholarly journals Real-world data on immune responses following heterologous prime-boost COVID-19 vaccination schedule with Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines in England

Author(s):  
Samantha J Westrop ◽  
Heather J Whitaker ◽  
Annabel A Powell ◽  
Linda Power ◽  
Corinne Whillock ◽  
...  

Background There are limited data on immune responses to heterologous COVID–19 immunisation schedules, especially following an extended ≥12–week interval between doses. Methods SARS–CoV–2 infection–naïve and previously–infected adults receiving ChAd–BNT (ChAdOx1 nCoV–19, AstraZeneca followed by BNT162b2, Pfizer–BioNTech) or BNT–ChAd as part of the UK national immunisation programme provided blood samples at 30 days and 12 weeks after their second dose. Geometric mean concentrations (GMC) of anti–SARS–CoV–2 spike (S-antibody) and nucleoprotein (N-antibody) IgG antibodies and geometric mean ratios (GMR) were compared with a contemporaneous cohort receiving homologous ChAd–ChAd or BNT–BNT. Results During March–October 2021, 75,827 individuals were identified as having received heterologous vaccination, 9,489 invited to participate, 1,836 responded (19.3%) and 656 were eligible. In previously–uninfected adults, S–antibody GMC at 30 days post–second dose were lowest for ChAd–ChAd (862 (95%CI, 694– 1069)) and significantly higher for ChAd–BNT (6233 (5522– 7035); GMR 6.29; (5.04– 7.85); p<0.001), BNT-ChAd (4776 (4066– 5610); GMR 4.55 (3.56– 5.81); p<0.001) and BNT–BNT (5377 (4596– 6289); GMR 5.66 (4.49– 7.15); p<0.001). By 12 weeks after dose two, S–antibody GMC had declined in all groups and remained significantly lower for ChAd–ChAd compared to ChAd–BNT (GMR 5.12 (3.79– 6.92); p<0.001), BNT–ChAd (GMR 4.1 (2.96– 5.69); p<0.001) and BNT–BNT (GMR 6.06 (4.32– 8.50); p<0.001). Previously infected adults had higher S–antibody GMC compared to infection–naïve adults at all time–points and with all vaccine schedules. Conclusions These real–world findings demonstrate heterologous schedules with adenoviral–vector and mRNA vaccines are highly immunogenic and may be recommended after a serious adverse reaction to one vaccine product, or to increase programmatic flexibility where vaccine supplies are constrained.

2019 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Lang ◽  
Sarah Loving ◽  
Noel Denis McCarthy ◽  
Mary Elizabeth Ramsay ◽  
David Salisbury ◽  
...  

The centrally coordinated response that controlled the polio epidemics of the 1950s through immunisation led to the development of a national immunisation strategy in the UK and the formation of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in 1963, which oversees the immunisation programme and advises the UK Department of Health on new vaccine introductions. As a result of technological advances in vaccine development and scientific advances in immunology and microbiology over the 56 years since then, and the formation of a comprehensive public health surveillance system for vaccine-preventable disease, the National Health Service immunisation programme now covers 18 serious diseases of childhood, with an astonishing impact on child health. Here we consider the formation of the JCVI and the development of the national immunisation programme and review the introduction of vaccines over the past half century to defend public health.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 482-485
Author(s):  
Deborah Louise Duncan

Varicella, commonly known as chickenpox is an acute and highly infectious disease, which is caused by the varicella zoster virus Varicella. The two chickenpox vaccines available in the UK are Varilrix and Varivax but are not included in the routine childhood vaccination scheme unless they are immunocompromised ( Gov.uk, 2018 ; PHE, 2019 ). The varicella vaccination has been associated with a dramatic reduction in chickenpox cases in countries such as the United States, where every child can be vaccinated ( Seward et al, 2002 ). Johnston et al (1997) ; however, suggest that approximately 2–3% of patients vaccinated per year can develop a mild form of chickenpox regardless of the vaccine given. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (2010) has not recommended it as part of the national immunisation programme but nearly a decade later perhaps it is time to revisit this topic.


2019 ◽  
pp. archdischild-2019-317314
Author(s):  
Sarah Lang ◽  
Sarah Loving ◽  
Noel Denis McCarthy ◽  
Mary Elizabeth Ramsay ◽  
David Salisbury ◽  
...  

The impact of immunisation is best understood through a historical lens, since so many of the diseases which placed a burden on our population have been eliminated or controlled through immunisation. The United Kingdom (UK) National Health Service (NHS), which celebrated its 70thbirthday in 2018, is responsible for delivering the highly successful universal national immunisation programme. However, the first vaccines used in the UK were not part of a centrally coordinated programme until the 1960s. Resources that summarise the first 200 years of immunisation in the UK are not readily accessible. Here we provide a two part chronological insight into the history of the UK immunisation programme from primary sources. In Part I, we highlight the importance of wartime conditions, unprecedented vaccine development, and the polio outbreaks in the in driving developments in immunisation and discuss subsequent changes in the use of the original vaccines of the immunisation programme, namely, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio. In Part 2, we discuss the formation of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and its role, working with public health agencies and advising the UK Governments on vaccine policy, to bring a comprehensive programme to defend the health of the population against serious infectious diseases, highlighting the importance of programme organisation and leadership.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e024840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nayana P Nair ◽  
Samarasimha Reddy N ◽  
Sidhartha Giri ◽  
Venkata Raghava Mohan ◽  
Umesh Parashar ◽  
...  

IntroductionRotavirus infection accounts for 39% of under-five diarrhoeal deaths globally and 22% of these deaths occur in India. Introduction of rotavirus vaccine in a national immunisation programme is considered to be the most effective intervention in preventing severe rotavirus disease. In 2016, India introduced an indigenous rotavirus vaccine (Rotavac) into the Universal Immunisation Programme in a phased manner. This paper describes the protocol for surveillance to monitor the performance of rotavirus vaccine following its introduction into the routine childhood immunisation programme.MethodsAn active surveillance system was established to identify acute gastroenteritis cases among children less than 5 years of age. For all children enrolled at sentinel sites, case reporting forms are completed and a copy of vaccination record and a stool specimen obtained. The forms and specimens are sent to the referral laboratory for data entry, analysis, testing and storage. Data from sentinel sites in states that have introduced rotavirus vaccine into their routine immunisation schedule will be used to determine rotavirus vaccine impact and effectiveness.Ethics and disseminationThe Institutional Review Board of Christian Medical College, Vellore, and all the site institutional ethics committees approved the project. Results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and with stakeholders of the universal immunisation programme in India.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alies van Lier ◽  
Brechje de Gier ◽  
Scott A McDonald ◽  
Marie-Josée J. Mangen ◽  
Maarten van Wijhe ◽  
...  

Introduction Estimating burden of disease (BoD) is an essential first step in the decision-making process on introducing new vaccines into national immunisation programmes (NIPs). For varicella, a common vaccine-preventable disease, BoD in the Netherlands was unknown. Aim To assess national varicella BoD and compare it to BoD of other vaccine-preventable diseases before their introduction in the NIP. Methods In this health estimates reporting study, BoD was expressed in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) using methodology from the Burden of Communicable Diseases in Europe (BCoDE)-project. As no parameters/disease model for varicella (including herpes zoster) were available in the BCoDE toolkit, incidence, disease progression model and parameters were derived from seroprevalence, healthcare registries and published data. For most other diseases, BoD was estimated with existing BCoDE-parameters, adapted to the Netherlands if needed. Results In 2017, the estimated BoD of varicella in the Netherlands was 1,800 (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 1,800–1,900) DALYs. Herpes zoster mainly contributed to this BoD (1,600 DALYs; 91%), which was generally lower than the BoD of most current NIP diseases in the year before their introduction into the NIP. However, BoD for varicella was higher than for rotavirus gastroenteritis (1,100; 95%UI: 440–2,200 DALYs) and meningococcal B disease (620; 95%UI: 490–770 DALYs), two other potential NIP candidates. Conclusions When considering the introduction of a new vaccine in the NIP, BoD is usually estimated in isolation. The current approach assesses BoD in relation to other vaccine-preventable diseases’ BoD, which may help national advisory committees on immunisation and policymakers to set vaccination priorities.


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