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Published on 04/21/2022

COVID-19 Genomics and Precision Public Health Weekly Update Content

Pathogen and Human Genomics Studies

  • Fourth Dose of BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine in a Nationwide Setting.
    Magen Ori et al. The New England journal of medicine 2022 4
    The primary analysis included 182,122 matched pairs. Relative vaccine effectiveness in days 7 to 30 after the fourth dose was estimated to be 45% (95% confidence interval [CI], 44 to 47) against polymerase-chain-reaction–confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, 55% (95% CI, 53 to 58) against symptomatic Covid-19, 68% (95% CI, 59 to 74) against Covid-19–related hospitalization, 62% (95% CI, 50 to 74) against severe Covid-19, and 74% (95% CI, 50 to 90) against Covid-19–related death. The corresponding estimates in days 14 to 30 after the fourth dose were 52% (95% CI, 49 to 54), 61% (95% CI, 58 to 64), 72% (95% CI, 63 to 79), 64% (95% CI, 48 to 77), and 76% (95% CI, 48 to 91). In days 7 to 30 after a fourth vaccine dose, the difference in the absolute risk (three doses vs. four doses) was 180.1 cases per 100,000 persons (95% CI, 142.8 to 211.9) for Covid-19–related hospitalization and 68.8 cases per 100,000 persons (95% CI, 48.5 to 91.9) for severe Covid-19.
  • High vaccine effectiveness against severe Covid-19 in the elderly in Finland before and after the emergence of Omicron
    U Baum et al, Research Square, April 14, 2022
    The cohort included 897932 individuals. Comirnaty (BioNTech/Pfizer) VE against Covid-19-related hospitalization was 93% (95% CI90%–95%) and 87% (95% CI 84%–89%) 14–90 and 91–180 days after the second dose; VE increased to 96% (95% CI 95%–97%) 14–60 days after the third dose. VE of other homologous and heterologous three dose series was similar. Protection against severe Covid-19 requiring ICU treatment was even better. Since January 1, 2022, Comirnaty VE was 91% (95% CI 79%–96%) and 76% (95% CI 56%–86%) 14–90 and 91–180 days after the second and 95% (95% CI 94%–97%) 14–60 days after the third dose.
  • CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL REPORT|ONLINE NOW Immunogenicity of convalescent and vaccinated sera against clinical isolates of ancestral SARS-CoV-2, beta, delta, and omicron variants
    A Banerjee et al, Med, April 13, 2022
    Convalescent sera from unvaccinated individuals infected by the ancestral virus demonstrated reduced neutralization against beta and omicron VOCs. Sera from individuals that received three doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines demonstrated reduced neutralization of the omicron variant relative to ancestral SARS-CoV-2. Sera from individuals that were naturally infected with ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and subsequently received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine induced significantly higher neutralizing antibody levels against ancestral virus and all VOCs. Infection alone, either with ancestral SARS-CoV-2 or the delta variant was not sufficient to induce high neutralizing antibody titers against omicron.
  • Urticaria 12 Days After COVID-19 mRNA Booster Vaccination
    AR Wolfson et al, JAMA, April 14, 2022
  • Increased COVID-19 mortality rate in rare disease patients: a retrospective cohort study in participants of the Genomics England 100,000 Genomes project.
    Zhang Huayu et al. Orphanet journal of rare diseases 2022 4 (1) 166
    People with rare diseases had increased risk of COVID19-related deaths compared to the unaffected relatives (OR [95% CI] = 3.47 [1.21- 12.2]). Although, the effect was insignificant after adjusting for age and number of comorbidities (OR [95% CI] = 1.94 [0.65-5.80]). Neurology and neurodevelopmental diseases was significantly associated with COVID19-related death in both univariable (OR [95% CI] = 4.07 [1.61-10.38]) and multivariable analysis (OR [95% CI] = 4.22 [1.60-11.08]).
  • Estimating disease severity of Omicron and Delta SARS-CoV-2 infections
    A Sigal et al, Nature Reviews Immunology, April 2022
    Measuring COVID-19 disease severity in a population has been important for understanding the public health impact of each variant of concern. It also impacts immunologists and virologists closely as it reflects population immunity and the mechanisms of viral infection. The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has been reported to cause milder disease in adults but lead to increased hospital admissions in children. How can we compare disease severity in Omicron and Delta infections, and how should differences be interpreted?
  • COVID-profiler: a webserver for the analysis of SARS-CoV-2 sequencing data.
    Phelan Jody et al. BMC bioinformatics 2022 4 (1) 137
    We developed a web-based bioinformatic pipeline ("COVID-Profiler") that inputs raw or assembled sequencing data, displays raw alignments for quality control, annotates mutations found and performs phylogenetic analysis. The pipeline software can be applied to other (re-) emerging pathogens.
  • Genetic risk and incident venous thromboembolism in middle-aged and older adults following 1 Covid-19 vaccination
    J Xie et al, MEDRXIV, April 18, 2022
    Using data from the UK Biobank, which contains in-depth genotyping data and linked vaccination and health outcomes information, we generated a polygenic risk score (PRS) using 299 genetic variants identified from a previous large genome-wide association study. We prospectively assessed associations between PRS and incident VTE after first and the second-dose vaccination separately. The PRS was significantly associated with a higher risk of VTE (HR per 1 SD increase in PRS, 1.41 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.73) in 28 days and 1.36 (95% CI 1.22 to 1.52) in 90 days). Similar associations were found after stratification by vaccine type, in the two-dose cohort and across the historical unvaccinated cohorts.
  • Three-dose mRNA-1273 vaccination schedule: sufficient antibody response in majority of immunocompromised hematology patients
    S Haggenburg et al, MEDRXIV, April 18, 2022
  • Hospitalizations of Children Aged 5–11 Years with Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 — COVID-NET, 14 States, March 2020–February 2022
    DS Shi et al, MMWR, April 19, 2022
    COVID-19 can cause severe illness in children. Children aged 5–11 years became eligible for COVID-19 vaccination on November 2, 2021. During the period of Omicron predominance (December 19, 2021–February 28, 2022), COVID-19–associated hospitalization rates in children aged 5–11 years were approximately twice as high among unvaccinated as among vaccinated children. Non-Hispanic Black children represented the largest group of unvaccinated children. Thirty percent of hospitalized children had no underlying medical conditions, and 19% were admitted to an intensive care unit. Children with diabetes and obesity were more likely to experience severe COVID-19.
  • Longitudinal COVID-19 vaccination-induced antibody responses and Omicron neutralization in patients with lung cancer
    PC Mack et al, Cell, April 19 2022
  • Effectiveness of mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, and JNJ-78436735 COVID-19 Vaccines Among US Military Personnel Before and During the Predominance of the Delta Variant
    AAE Cost et al, JAMA Network Open, April 20, 2022
    Did the effectiveness of the mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, and JNJ-78436735 COVID-19 vaccines change among US-based military personnel before and during the predominance of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta (B.1.617.2) variant? In this case-control study of 441?379 active US military personnel, overall COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness decreased by 19% from the pre-Delta to the Delta period. JNJ-78436735 had the lowest overall vaccine effectiveness in the pre-Delta (81.8%) and Delta (38.3%) periods.

Non-Genomics Precision Health Studies

  • Fourth Dose of BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine in a Nationwide Setting.
    Magen Ori et al. The New England journal of medicine 2022 4
    The primary analysis included 182,122 matched pairs. Relative vaccine effectiveness in days 7 to 30 after the fourth dose was estimated to be 45% (95% confidence interval [CI], 44 to 47) against polymerase-chain-reaction–confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, 55% (95% CI, 53 to 58) against symptomatic Covid-19, 68% (95% CI, 59 to 74) against Covid-19–related hospitalization, 62% (95% CI, 50 to 74) against severe Covid-19, and 74% (95% CI, 50 to 90) against Covid-19–related death. The corresponding estimates in days 14 to 30 after the fourth dose were 52% (95% CI, 49 to 54), 61% (95% CI, 58 to 64), 72% (95% CI, 63 to 79), 64% (95% CI, 48 to 77), and 76% (95% CI, 48 to 91). In days 7 to 30 after a fourth vaccine dose, the difference in the absolute risk (three doses vs. four doses) was 180.1 cases per 100,000 persons (95% CI, 142.8 to 211.9) for Covid-19–related hospitalization and 68.8 cases per 100,000 persons (95% CI, 48.5 to 91.9) for severe Covid-19.
  • High vaccine effectiveness against severe Covid-19 in the elderly in Finland before and after the emergence of Omicron
    U Baum et al, Research Square, April 14, 2022
    The cohort included 897932 individuals. Comirnaty (BioNTech/Pfizer) VE against Covid-19-related hospitalization was 93% (95% CI90%–95%) and 87% (95% CI 84%–89%) 14–90 and 91–180 days after the second dose; VE increased to 96% (95% CI 95%–97%) 14–60 days after the third dose. VE of other homologous and heterologous three dose series was similar. Protection against severe Covid-19 requiring ICU treatment was even better. Since January 1, 2022, Comirnaty VE was 91% (95% CI 79%–96%) and 76% (95% CI 56%–86%) 14–90 and 91–180 days after the second and 95% (95% CI 94%–97%) 14–60 days after the third dose.
  • CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL REPORT|ONLINE NOW Immunogenicity of convalescent and vaccinated sera against clinical isolates of ancestral SARS-CoV-2, beta, delta, and omicron variants
    A Banerjee et al, Med, April 13, 2022
    Convalescent sera from unvaccinated individuals infected by the ancestral virus demonstrated reduced neutralization against beta and omicron VOCs. Sera from individuals that received three doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines demonstrated reduced neutralization of the omicron variant relative to ancestral SARS-CoV-2. Sera from individuals that were naturally infected with ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and subsequently received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine induced significantly higher neutralizing antibody levels against ancestral virus and all VOCs. Infection alone, either with ancestral SARS-CoV-2 or the delta variant was not sufficient to induce high neutralizing antibody titers against omicron.
  • Urticaria 12 Days After COVID-19 mRNA Booster Vaccination
    AR Wolfson et al, JAMA, April 14, 2022
  • Increased COVID-19 mortality rate in rare disease patients: a retrospective cohort study in participants of the Genomics England 100,000 Genomes project.
    Zhang Huayu et al. Orphanet journal of rare diseases 2022 4 (1) 166
    People with rare diseases had increased risk of COVID19-related deaths compared to the unaffected relatives (OR [95% CI] = 3.47 [1.21- 12.2]). Although, the effect was insignificant after adjusting for age and number of comorbidities (OR [95% CI] = 1.94 [0.65-5.80]). Neurology and neurodevelopmental diseases was significantly associated with COVID19-related death in both univariable (OR [95% CI] = 4.07 [1.61-10.38]) and multivariable analysis (OR [95% CI] = 4.22 [1.60-11.08]).
  • Estimating disease severity of Omicron and Delta SARS-CoV-2 infections
    A Sigal et al, Nature Reviews Immunology, April 2022
    Measuring COVID-19 disease severity in a population has been important for understanding the public health impact of each variant of concern. It also impacts immunologists and virologists closely as it reflects population immunity and the mechanisms of viral infection. The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has been reported to cause milder disease in adults but lead to increased hospital admissions in children. How can we compare disease severity in Omicron and Delta infections, and how should differences be interpreted?
  • COVID-profiler: a webserver for the analysis of SARS-CoV-2 sequencing data.
    Phelan Jody et al. BMC bioinformatics 2022 4 (1) 137
    We developed a web-based bioinformatic pipeline ("COVID-Profiler") that inputs raw or assembled sequencing data, displays raw alignments for quality control, annotates mutations found and performs phylogenetic analysis. The pipeline software can be applied to other (re-) emerging pathogens.
  • Genetic risk and incident venous thromboembolism in middle-aged and older adults following 1 Covid-19 vaccination
    J Xie et al, MEDRXIV, April 18, 2022
    Using data from the UK Biobank, which contains in-depth genotyping data and linked vaccination and health outcomes information, we generated a polygenic risk score (PRS) using 299 genetic variants identified from a previous large genome-wide association study. We prospectively assessed associations between PRS and incident VTE after first and the second-dose vaccination separately. The PRS was significantly associated with a higher risk of VTE (HR per 1 SD increase in PRS, 1.41 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.73) in 28 days and 1.36 (95% CI 1.22 to 1.52) in 90 days). Similar associations were found after stratification by vaccine type, in the two-dose cohort and across the historical unvaccinated cohorts.
  • Three-dose mRNA-1273 vaccination schedule: sufficient antibody response in majority of immunocompromised hematology patients
    S Haggenburg et al, MEDRXIV, April 18, 2022
  • Hospitalizations of Children Aged 5–11 Years with Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 — COVID-NET, 14 States, March 2020–February 2022
    DS Shi et al, MMWR, April 19, 2022
    COVID-19 can cause severe illness in children. Children aged 5–11 years became eligible for COVID-19 vaccination on November 2, 2021. During the period of Omicron predominance (December 19, 2021–February 28, 2022), COVID-19–associated hospitalization rates in children aged 5–11 years were approximately twice as high among unvaccinated as among vaccinated children. Non-Hispanic Black children represented the largest group of unvaccinated children. Thirty percent of hospitalized children had no underlying medical conditions, and 19% were admitted to an intensive care unit. Children with diabetes and obesity were more likely to experience severe COVID-19.
  • Longitudinal COVID-19 vaccination-induced antibody responses and Omicron neutralization in patients with lung cancer
    PC Mack et al, Cell, April 19 2022
  • Effectiveness of mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, and JNJ-78436735 COVID-19 Vaccines Among US Military Personnel Before and During the Predominance of the Delta Variant
    AAE Cost et al, JAMA Network Open, April 20, 2022
    Did the effectiveness of the mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, and JNJ-78436735 COVID-19 vaccines change among US-based military personnel before and during the predominance of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta (B.1.617.2) variant? In this case-control study of 441?379 active US military personnel, overall COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness decreased by 19% from the pre-Delta to the Delta period. JNJ-78436735 had the lowest overall vaccine effectiveness in the pre-Delta (81.8%) and Delta (38.3%) periods.

News, Reviews and Commentaries

  • Fourth Dose of BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine in a Nationwide Setting.
    Magen Ori et al. The New England journal of medicine 2022 4
    The primary analysis included 182,122 matched pairs. Relative vaccine effectiveness in days 7 to 30 after the fourth dose was estimated to be 45% (95% confidence interval [CI], 44 to 47) against polymerase-chain-reaction–confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, 55% (95% CI, 53 to 58) against symptomatic Covid-19, 68% (95% CI, 59 to 74) against Covid-19–related hospitalization, 62% (95% CI, 50 to 74) against severe Covid-19, and 74% (95% CI, 50 to 90) against Covid-19–related death. The corresponding estimates in days 14 to 30 after the fourth dose were 52% (95% CI, 49 to 54), 61% (95% CI, 58 to 64), 72% (95% CI, 63 to 79), 64% (95% CI, 48 to 77), and 76% (95% CI, 48 to 91). In days 7 to 30 after a fourth vaccine dose, the difference in the absolute risk (three doses vs. four doses) was 180.1 cases per 100,000 persons (95% CI, 142.8 to 211.9) for Covid-19–related hospitalization and 68.8 cases per 100,000 persons (95% CI, 48.5 to 91.9) for severe Covid-19.
  • High vaccine effectiveness against severe Covid-19 in the elderly in Finland before and after the emergence of Omicron
    U Baum et al, Research Square, April 14, 2022
    The cohort included 897932 individuals. Comirnaty (BioNTech/Pfizer) VE against Covid-19-related hospitalization was 93% (95% CI90%–95%) and 87% (95% CI 84%–89%) 14–90 and 91–180 days after the second dose; VE increased to 96% (95% CI 95%–97%) 14–60 days after the third dose. VE of other homologous and heterologous three dose series was similar. Protection against severe Covid-19 requiring ICU treatment was even better. Since January 1, 2022, Comirnaty VE was 91% (95% CI 79%–96%) and 76% (95% CI 56%–86%) 14–90 and 91–180 days after the second and 95% (95% CI 94%–97%) 14–60 days after the third dose.
  • CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL REPORT|ONLINE NOW Immunogenicity of convalescent and vaccinated sera against clinical isolates of ancestral SARS-CoV-2, beta, delta, and omicron variants
    A Banerjee et al, Med, April 13, 2022
    Convalescent sera from unvaccinated individuals infected by the ancestral virus demonstrated reduced neutralization against beta and omicron VOCs. Sera from individuals that received three doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines demonstrated reduced neutralization of the omicron variant relative to ancestral SARS-CoV-2. Sera from individuals that were naturally infected with ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and subsequently received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine induced significantly higher neutralizing antibody levels against ancestral virus and all VOCs. Infection alone, either with ancestral SARS-CoV-2 or the delta variant was not sufficient to induce high neutralizing antibody titers against omicron.
  • Urticaria 12 Days After COVID-19 mRNA Booster Vaccination
    AR Wolfson et al, JAMA, April 14, 2022
  • Increased COVID-19 mortality rate in rare disease patients: a retrospective cohort study in participants of the Genomics England 100,000 Genomes project.
    Zhang Huayu et al. Orphanet journal of rare diseases 2022 4 (1) 166
    People with rare diseases had increased risk of COVID19-related deaths compared to the unaffected relatives (OR [95% CI] = 3.47 [1.21- 12.2]). Although, the effect was insignificant after adjusting for age and number of comorbidities (OR [95% CI] = 1.94 [0.65-5.80]). Neurology and neurodevelopmental diseases was significantly associated with COVID19-related death in both univariable (OR [95% CI] = 4.07 [1.61-10.38]) and multivariable analysis (OR [95% CI] = 4.22 [1.60-11.08]).
  • Estimating disease severity of Omicron and Delta SARS-CoV-2 infections
    A Sigal et al, Nature Reviews Immunology, April 2022
    Measuring COVID-19 disease severity in a population has been important for understanding the public health impact of each variant of concern. It also impacts immunologists and virologists closely as it reflects population immunity and the mechanisms of viral infection. The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has been reported to cause milder disease in adults but lead to increased hospital admissions in children. How can we compare disease severity in Omicron and Delta infections, and how should differences be interpreted?
  • COVID-profiler: a webserver for the analysis of SARS-CoV-2 sequencing data.
    Phelan Jody et al. BMC bioinformatics 2022 4 (1) 137
    We developed a web-based bioinformatic pipeline ("COVID-Profiler") that inputs raw or assembled sequencing data, displays raw alignments for quality control, annotates mutations found and performs phylogenetic analysis. The pipeline software can be applied to other (re-) emerging pathogens.
  • Genetic risk and incident venous thromboembolism in middle-aged and older adults following 1 Covid-19 vaccination
    J Xie et al, MEDRXIV, April 18, 2022
    Using data from the UK Biobank, which contains in-depth genotyping data and linked vaccination and health outcomes information, we generated a polygenic risk score (PRS) using 299 genetic variants identified from a previous large genome-wide association study. We prospectively assessed associations between PRS and incident VTE after first and the second-dose vaccination separately. The PRS was significantly associated with a higher risk of VTE (HR per 1 SD increase in PRS, 1.41 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.73) in 28 days and 1.36 (95% CI 1.22 to 1.52) in 90 days). Similar associations were found after stratification by vaccine type, in the two-dose cohort and across the historical unvaccinated cohorts.
  • Three-dose mRNA-1273 vaccination schedule: sufficient antibody response in majority of immunocompromised hematology patients
    S Haggenburg et al, MEDRXIV, April 18, 2022
  • Hospitalizations of Children Aged 5–11 Years with Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 — COVID-NET, 14 States, March 2020–February 2022
    DS Shi et al, MMWR, April 19, 2022
    COVID-19 can cause severe illness in children. Children aged 5–11 years became eligible for COVID-19 vaccination on November 2, 2021. During the period of Omicron predominance (December 19, 2021–February 28, 2022), COVID-19–associated hospitalization rates in children aged 5–11 years were approximately twice as high among unvaccinated as among vaccinated children. Non-Hispanic Black children represented the largest group of unvaccinated children. Thirty percent of hospitalized children had no underlying medical conditions, and 19% were admitted to an intensive care unit. Children with diabetes and obesity were more likely to experience severe COVID-19.
  • Longitudinal COVID-19 vaccination-induced antibody responses and Omicron neutralization in patients with lung cancer
    PC Mack et al, Cell, April 19 2022
  • Effectiveness of mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, and JNJ-78436735 COVID-19 Vaccines Among US Military Personnel Before and During the Predominance of the Delta Variant
    AAE Cost et al, JAMA Network Open, April 20, 2022
    Did the effectiveness of the mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, and JNJ-78436735 COVID-19 vaccines change among US-based military personnel before and during the predominance of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta (B.1.617.2) variant? In this case-control study of 441?379 active US military personnel, overall COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness decreased by 19% from the pre-Delta to the Delta period. JNJ-78436735 had the lowest overall vaccine effectiveness in the pre-Delta (81.8%) and Delta (38.3%) periods.
Disclaimer: Articles listed in COVID-19 Genomics and Precision Public Health Weekly Update are selected by Public Health Genomics Branch to provide current awareness of the scientific literature and news. Inclusion in the update does not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nor does it imply endorsement of the article's methods or findings. CDC and DHHS assume no responsibility for the factual accuracy of the items presented. The selection, omission, or content of items does not imply any endorsement or other position taken by CDC or DHHS. Opinion, findings and conclusions expressed by the original authors of items included in the Clips, or persons quoted therein, are strictly their own and are in no way meant to represent the opinion or views of CDC or DHHS. References to publications, news sources, and non-CDC Websites are provided solely for informational purposes and do not imply endorsement by CDC or DHHS.
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