Category: Covid-19 Vaccine

As the World Health Organization warns about a worrying comeback of COVID-19 amid a summer surge of infections, new vaccines may soon come to Canada this fall.

Health Canada told Global News it is reviewing submissions from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax for their updated COVID-19 shots targeting the most recent strains circulating and will approve them if they are deemed safe and effective.

Health Canada will authorize the vaccines if, following a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence, we determine that the vaccines meet safety, quality, and efficacy standards, Nicholas Janveau, a spokesperson for the agency, said in an email Tuesday.

Starting in the fall of 2024, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) strongly recommends the most recently updated COVID-19 vaccines for previously vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2infection or severe COVID-19 illness.

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These include everyone aged 65 or older, long-term care home residents, pregnant people, those with underlying medical conditions and people from Indigenous communities.

Receiving the most recently updated COVID-19 vaccine is expected to provide a better immune response against circulating COVID-19 strains compared to earlier vaccines and is especially important for those at increased risk for COVID-19 infection or severe COVID-19 illness, Janveau said.

0:42 COVID-19 rise in cases not surprising, says epidemiologist

The latest Canadian wastewater data, as of Tuesday, shows a moderate viral activity level of COVID-19 in the country, but that could change in the coming months as schools reopen and the weather gets cooler, experts say.

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I think from what weve seen, we are expecting theres going to be a significant amount of COVID in the fall and winter, Allison McGeer, an infectious disease physician at Sinai Health in Toronto, said in an interview with Global News.

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McGeer said since COVID is still a concern in Canada, people should get vaccinated.

Theres still very clearly a benefit to getting your shot when theyre available in Canada to protect you through the winter, she said.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus has constantly changed and mutated into different variants, keeping vaccine makers on their toes to update their shots.

The KP.3 variant is dominating in Canada right now, accounting for the majority of the COVID-19 cases in the country.

KP.3 is the genetic cousin of KP.1 and KP.2, which are playfully dubbed the FLiRT variants.

These originate fromJN.1, the Omicron subvariant thatfuelled the winter surge.

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Pfizer and Modernas updated mRNA vaccines that are seeking Health Canada approval both target the KP.2 variant.

The pharmaceutical companies told Global News that this variant was selected and prioritized in consultation with the Public Health Agency of Canada.

The introduction of a KP.2-adapted vaccine is expected to provide improved immunity and help protect against the strains that are believed likely to be circulating in the fall, said Sophie Morin, a Pfizer Canada spokesperson.

Moderna said choosing KP.2 for its updated shots aligns with the FDAs recommendation, ensuring a unified approach in North America to best address the dominant strains in this region.

As COVID-19 continues to mutate, these updates help ensure that vaccines provide the best possible effectiveness during the peak respiratory season, Shehzad Iqbal, Moderna Canadas country medical director, told Global News.

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Novavaxs protein-based formula vaccine is also seeking Health Canada approval.

That vaccine targets the JN.1 variant, but is active against KP.2 and KP.3, in addition to other JN.1 sublineage strains, Novavax president and CEO John C. Jacobs said in a July statement.

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McGeer said the predominant KP.3 variant circulating across North America is pretty well covered by these new vaccines.

You get some coverage from the old vaccine but theres no doubt that the new vaccines are better adapted to it, she said.

McGeer said its likely that Health Canada will approve the updated vaccines within the next few weeks.

She said for most people it is a good idea to wait for the new shots, but others who are at a greater risk or are travelling might want to talk to their doctors about getting vaccinated earlier.

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Pending approval, Canada has secured a sufficient supply of COVID-19 vaccines to meet provincial and territorial requirements for the fall and winter, Janveau said.

with files from Global News Katie Dangerfield.

2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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Significant amount of COVID expected in the fall. Are new vaccines coming? - Global News Toronto

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What to know about the updated COVID vaccines coming this fall - ABC News

Strategies for Physicians to Address Vaccine Hesitancy

A study published in Vaccines highlights how physicians can reduce vaccine hesitancy by combating misinformation. Researchers interviewed physicians to understand how healthcare providers perceive and respond to patient vaccine hesitancy. Physicians reported addressing concerns about vaccine safety, side effects, misinformation, and distrust of government. The findings suggest that physicians can reduce vaccine hesitancy by engaging patients in open discussions, addressing concerns with empathy, and providing clear, evidence-based information that draws from trusted sources.

Source: Melnikow, J., Padovani, A., Zhang, J., Miller, M., Gosdin, M., Loureiro, S., & Daniels, B. (2024). Patient concerns and physician strategies for addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine, 42(14), 3300-3306.

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KFF Health Misinformation Monitor Volume 4 - KFF

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says most people are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations.

People 5 and older should get one dose of the updated vaccine, regardless of how many and which vaccines they previously received. Children 6 months to 4 years old may need more than one shot, depending on their age and vaccination status, according to CDC recommendations.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is no longer available in the U.S.

The CDC recommends that adults 65 and older get a dose of the 2023/2024 vaccine for added protection, as long as it's been at least four months since the last shot.

People with compromised immune systems may receive additional doses, depending on their vaccination history. More information is available at theCDCs website.

Vaccines are administered at retail pharmacies, including Walgreens, Walmart and CVS, clinics and other locations, such as doctors offices. Use the federal governments website Vaccines.gov to search for vaccination sites by zip code. Get the same information by texting your zip code to 438829 or by calling 800-232-0233. You can check with your primary care physicians office to see if COVID-19 vaccinations are offered. If you are a veteran, the Department of Veterans Affairs offers COVID-19 vaccinations at VA facilities. Sign up online or call 800-827-1000 to make an appointment.

More information about COVID-19 vaccines is available at the Virginia Division of Immunization website. You can use the provider locator to find locations where vaccines are available. Or you can contact the states call center at 877-829-4682 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday with questions about the vaccine.

The federal government no longer covers the cost of the vaccines, but most people with Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance will not have to pay.

Children 18 and younger may qualify to receive no-cost or low-cost vaccines through the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program.

The Virginia Vaccines for Children program (VVFC) will provide children who are underinsured or insured with COVID-19 vaccines. Use this locator tool to find a provider.

Its safe and effective to receive an updated Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax vaccine at least two months after your last dose no matter which brand youve received, including Johnson & Johnson.

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The updated vaccines only target one strain of the omicron variant, called XBB.1.5, and are recommended by the CDC to protect against more recently circulating strains of the virus. The bivalent boosters, released in 2022, targeted the original strain of the virus and two omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5. The Novavax booster targeted only the original strain of the virus.

Vaccine manufacturers are once again working to update the vaccines for the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season. The redesigned shots, which should be available in the fall, will target a strain of the virus that is causing a significant share of infections this summer.

Some vaccination sites ask for proof of identity or eligibility. Bring a drivers license or other state-issued ID that shows your name, age and state residency, along with your health insurance card.

The CDC no longer distributes vaccine cards, and they are not required to receive a vaccine. If youve lost your vaccine card, you can call the site where you were vaccinated to request a new one or a copy of your vaccination record.

You also can request a copy of your COVID-19 vaccine record through the states vaccination record request portal.

Its common to experience mild to moderate side effects after getting vaccinated, such as soreness in the arm, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, nausea, fever or chills but these are temporary and normal signs that your body is building protection, the CDC says.

A small number of vaccine recipients have experienced adverse reactions to the shots.

According to the CDC, it is safe to receive the flu vaccine and updated COVID-19 vaccines simultaneously, although you are a little more likely to experience side effects, such as a headache and fatigue. Adults 75 or older (and those 60 to 74 with certain underlying health conditions) who are encouraged to get the RSV vaccine may receive that at the same time as the others, but some health experts suggestspacing them out. If you had the RSV vaccine last year, you dont need another one this year.

Contact your health care provider for more information.

The U.S. government no longer distributes COVID-19 vaccines to long-term care facilities. That means nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care settings are responsible for coordinating COVID-19 vaccination programs for their residents and staff. Most long-term care facilities have partnerships with pharmacies or health departments to provide vaccines for flu, COVID-19 and other illnesses.

Long-term care facilities that receive Medicare and/or Medicaid dollars are required by federal law to educate residents, their representatives and staff about COVID-19 vaccines and offer a COVID-19 vaccine to residents, resident representatives and staff.

All vaccines reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections and are highly effective at preventing severe illness and death from the disease. No vaccine is 100 percent effective, and infections can still occur postvaccination.

Be aware that scammers often purport to offer COVID-19 vaccines and treatments and try to charge for them. The AARP Fraud Watch Network is tracking the latest scams.

Virginia residents who believe theyve encountered a COVID-19 scam can report it to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General by calling 800-447-8477 or by submitting a complaint online.

Editor's note: This guide was last published Oct. 6, 2023, and has been updated with new information.

Elissa Chudwin covers federal and state policy and writes the podcast Todays Tips from AARP. She previously worked as a digital producer for The Press Democrat in Santa Rosa, California, and as an editor for Advocate magazines in Dallas.

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How and Where to Get COVID-19 Vaccines in Virginia - AARP States

University Health officials on Thursday announced the temporary pause of administering COVID vaccines at all University Health pharmacies starting next week.

The news comes after the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District stopped reporting local COVID infections and as coronavirus cases continue to rise in Bexar County.

Beginning July 31, University Health pharmacies will temporarily pause administering the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine, said University Health spokeswoman Andrea Wazir in a statement. This is due to nationwide preparations for an updated 2024-2025 vaccine formula expected this fall.

The current vaccine is being paused at all pharmacies because inventory is running out, Wazir told the San Antonio Report. University Health plans to resume COVID vaccines with the updated 2024-2025 vaccines as soon as they are available, she said.

Metro Health said COVID-19 vaccinations in its inventory will be available at its clinics until it receives notification from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to discontinue their use.

An estimated 22% of adults in the U.S., and 14% of children, eligible for the COVID vaccines got their 2023-2024 booster.

Although the updated booster vaccine is expected to drop in late August or early September, COVID infections remain high, so immediate protection against infection is recommended for certain people.

If you have a higher risk for a more severe COVID infection, ask your doctor what the best plan for you is.

Keep in mind that if you do get the current booster, you may have to wait up to three months before you can get the updated vaccine, said Dr. Jason Bowling, director of hospital epidemiology for University Health and professor at UT Health San Antonio.

The updated vaccine is going to be around pretty soon, Bowling said. I think most people are going to hold tight and get the updated vaccine when it comes out.

Receiving an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine can restore and enhance protection against the variants currently responsible for most infections and hospitalizations in the United States, according to the CDC.

COVID-19 vaccination also reduces the chance of suffering the effects of Long COVID, which can develop during or following acute infection and lasts for an extended time.

Everyone ages 6 months and older should receive an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine, according to public health experts.

People should get this new vaccine when it becomes available, obviously the problem is that were seeing the cases go up now, so people should try to protect themselves, Bowling said in a recent interview with the San Antonio Report.

The updated COVID vaccine targets the strains circulating now, better, Bowling said.

Its based on the predominant strains that are circulating now, he said.Those strains include KP.3 and KP.2 variants, known as FLiRT variants for their mutations.

The updated COVID vaccines will remain free of cost for uninsured and University Health CareLink patients through the Vaccines for Children and Adult Safety Net programs.

The CDCs Bridge Access Program, which provides free vaccines for uninsured or underinsured adults, will end in August, around the time the new COVID vaccine is expected.

Metro Health said the updated COVID vaccines will remain free for uninsured and underinsured patients under 18 through the Vaccines for Children program and for University Health CareLink patients through its adult safety net programs.

Youll likely experience sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, fatigue, headache and maybe loss of smell or taste.

The CDC recommends staying home 24 hours past your last fever, and wear a mask in public five days from symptom onset. After infection, immunity lasts three to four months.

The CDC recommends treating COVID symptoms with over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, but if you have mild to moderate symptoms or are at a higher risk of severe illness, more treatments are available, such as Paxlovid or the three-day intravenous infusions Remdesivir and Molnupiravir.

Paxlovid and Lagevrio treatments are available for underinsured, uninsured or Medicaid and Medicare patients through patient assistant programs to help lower out-of-pocket costs.

Originally posted here:

University Health pauses COVID vaccinations starting July 31 - San Antonio Report

US reportedly acknowledged spreading propaganda about Sinovac, a Chinese Covid vaccine, in the Philippines. Reuters

The US Department of Defense has acknowledged, albeit not publicly, that it spread propaganda in the Philippines aimed at undermining Chinas Sinovac vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic. This revelation, documented in a June 25 memo, was brought to light by a former top government official earlier this month.

The disclosure was initially mentioned in a podcast by Harry Roque, former spokesman for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Reuters subsequently reviewed the confidential document and verified its contents with a knowledgeable source.

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Pentagons admission

It is true that the Department of Defense communicated with Philippine audiences to cast doubt on the safety and efficacy of Sinovac, the document stated. It referenced information exchanged between the US Defense Department and the Philippine Departments of Foreign Affairs and National Defense. The Pentagon admitted to missteps in our COVID-related messaging but assured improved oversight and accountability of information operations since 2022.

The June 25 document indicated that Pentagon officials deemed the anti-vaccine campaign misaligned with our priorities. The US military informed Filipino officials that operatives ceased COVID-related messaging in August 2021.

US Defense Department spokesman Pete Nguyen acknowledged the distribution of social media content about the safety and efficacy of Sinovac to Reuters, but did not confirm the specifics of the cited document.

Firstpost could not independently verify the document.

How US propaganda campaign unfolded

At the start of the campaign, US national security officials were concerned that China was leveraging the pandemic to secure geopolitical deals and undermine US alliances by providing aid to the Philippines and other nations.

Using defence contractors and non-military partners, the US deployed networks of online bots and fake social media accounts to influence foreign audiences. Reuters identified hundreds of fake accounts on X (formerly Twitter) matching descriptions from former US military officials familiar with the operation. Philippines reaction

The US admission followed a June 14th Reuters investigation, which uncovered a covert Pentagon psychological operation aimed at discrediting Chinese vaccines and other COVID-related aid during 2020 and 2021. The revelation prompted the Philippine Senate Foreign Relations Committee to launch an inquiry and seek a formal response from the US. The Philippine Senate, led by Senator Imee Marcos, has commenced an investigation. Marcos condemned the US military campaign as evil, wicked, dangerous, unethical, questioning its legality and potential recourse for the Philippines.

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The clandestine operation extended beyond the Philippines, targeting countries in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia in 2020 and 2021. Many of these nations relied heavily on Sinovac to combat the deadly virus. The Philippines, particularly hard-hit by COVID-19, saw nearly 67,000 fatalities and over 4 million infections by 2024, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) data.

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US Admits it spread propaganda against Chinas Covid-19 vaccine in Philippines, Middle East: Report - Firstpost

1. In a cohort of infants born to mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic, neither vaccination nor infection with COVID-19 led to increased risk of any congenital anomaly.

Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)

There is an increased risk of pregnancy complications in women who contract COVID-19 while pregnant. As a result, it is highly recommended that pregnant women get vaccinated against COVID-19 to prevent transmission. Since there are not many past studies on the effects of vaccinations during pregnancy, these researchers attempted to understand the risk of the fetus developing congenital anomalies from exposure to COVID-19 (whether through the vaccination or infection) during the first trimester. This prospective-based study included 343 066 liveborn singleton births in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway with an estimated pregnancy start time between March 1, 2020, and February 14, 2022. Covid-19 vaccination, and infection were used as two separate exposures. Major congenital anomalies were defined according to the EUROCAT (European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies) classification. The analyses were done separately for each country and then combined using a random effects meta-analysis. Among the infants in the study, 17,704 received a diagnosis of a major congenital anomaly, and 737 of those infants (4.2%) had anomalies in multiple subgroups. Only 3% (10 299) of the infants had mothers who got a COVID-19 infection during the first trimester. Common trends seen in these women include higher parity, lower educational level, lower household income, and born in the Middle East or Africa. Ultimately there was not an increased risk of developing any major congenital anomalies after the mother had a COVID-19 infection (odds ratio [OR] 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87 to 1.05). Similarly, there was no increased risk of having any congenital anomalies in infants whose mothers were vaccinated in the first trimester (OR, 1.03; 95% CI 0.97 to 1.09). Further assessment showed adjusted ranges from the lowest of 0.84 (0.31 to 2.31) for nervous system anomalies to the highest of 1.69 (0.76 to 3.78) for abdominal wall defects. Maternal vaccination or infection with COVID-19 did not lead to an increased risk of any major congenital anomalies in their infants.

Click to read the study in BMJ

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2024 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensing here. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

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COVID-19 vaccination and infection not associated with increased risk of congenital anomalies - Physician's Weekly

Children of mothers who had Covid-19 or were vaccinated against it in the first trimester did not have an increased risk of birth defects, according to a large new study. (Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB) A large Nordic study shows that children of mothers who had Covid-19 or were vaccinated during the first trimester did not have an increased risk of congenital anomalies.

The is the largest study of its kind, according to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH). Researchers from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark examined 11 different categories of congenital anomalies and found no increased risk for any of them.

Across the three countries, 516 out of every 10,000 children had a congenital anomaly detected by the age of 9 months.

The study included approximately 160,000 live-born children in Sweden, 100,000 in Norway, and 78,000 in Denmark. The women were pregnant between March 1, 2020, and February 14, 2022. Three per cent of the children in the study had mothers who had a Covid-19 infection in the first trimester, while 19 per cent had mothers who were vaccinated against Covid-19 in the first trimester.

This is the largest study conducted to date in this field. Such a Scandinavian collaboration was essential to have a sufficiently large study population and reliable registry data to investigate these rare health outcomes, says Maria Magnus, a researcher at the NIPHs Centre for Fertility and Health.

Pregnant women who were not in risk groups were given the opportunity to receive a Covid-19 vaccine after consultation with a doctor starting in May 2021. Before this, the vaccines were only available to pregnant women in risk groups.

There were no differences in risk when researchers controlled for the different virus variants or vaccine types.

These are reassuring findings that support the safety of mRNA vaccines against Covid-19 for pregnant women, says Magnus.

The study only investigated vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer, as these were the ones recommended for pregnant women in the three countries.

It was not possible for the researchers to study pregnancies that ended in foetal death.

The research report states that foetuses from early miscarriages are known to have a higher likelihood of congenital anomalies, potentially resulting in an underestimation of the associations.

According to NIPH, the new study supports several other studies confirming the safety of Covid-19 vaccines for pregnant women.

Several larger studies have now shown that there does not appear to be an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as premature birth, poor foetal growth, or stillbirth among mothers who were vaccinated against Covid-19 during pregnancy, NIPH writes in its press release.

They point out that previous studies looking at congenital anomalies have been relatively small and therefore could not investigate specific categories of defects as this study did.

The Nordic collaboration is funded by the Research Council of Norway and NordForsk, and the collaboration between NIPH and other Scandinavian researchers will continue. Norwegian researchers at NIPH are working together with colleagues at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.

The work will continue to study the consequences of Covid-19 infection and vaccination during pregnancy for both mother and child. This includes the risk of various infections and the development of various diseases in the child.

Reference:

Magnus et al.Covid-19 infection and vaccination during first trimester and risk of congenital anomalies: Nordic registry based study.BMJ, 2024. DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2024-079364

Translated by Alette Bjordal Gjellesvik

Read the Norwegian version of this article on forskning.no

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No increased risk of birth defects for pregnant women after Covid-19 vaccination - Sciencenorway

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MHRA approves Comirnaty JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine for adults and children from infancy - GOV.UK

In 2013, the Los Angeles County (LAC) Health Officer issued a Health Officer Order (Order) directing all licensed acute care hospitals, intermediate care facilities, and skilled nursing facilities in Los Angeles County require their healthcare personnel (HCP) who have patient contact or work in patientcare areas, receive an annual influenza immunization or wear a respiratory mask during the respiratory virus season (November 1 of one year through April 30 of the following year). This Order has since been expanded to include Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provider agencies and HCP working in all licensed healthcare facilities in Los Angeles County.

Updated COVID-19 vaccines have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for everyone 6 months and older. Starting in the 2023-2024 respiratory virus season, this Order requires HCP working in all licensed healthcare facilities in Los Angeles County to also receive the updated COVID-19 vaccines (2023-2024 Formula) or wear a respiratory mask when in contact with patients or working in patient-care areas during the respiratory virus season.

The Order remains in effect during each respiratory virus season, unless rescinded. Additionally, given the risk posed by influenza and COVID-19, Public Health strongly encourages other unlicensed healthcare and direct care entities to voluntarily adopt the same measures for their employees to protect their personnel and patients during the respiratory virus season.

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Respiratory Virus Season Health Officer Order Information for Providers - Department of Public Health