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Hot Topics of the Day are picked by experts to capture the latest information and publications on public health genomics and precision health for various diseases and health topics. Sources include published scientific literature, reviews, blogs and popular press articles.

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69 hot topic(s) found with the query "Immunization"

Should COVID vaccines be yearly? Proposal divides US scientists
M Kozlov, Nature, January 27, 2023 (Posted: Jan 27, 2023 9AM)

Scientists are split about a US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) proposal to update COVID-19 vaccines once a year, similar to the agency’s approach for annually updating influenza vaccines. At a meeting of the FDA’s vaccine advisory panel on 26 January, some researchers argued that the proposal to offer an updated vaccine every US autumn would help simplify the country’s complex COVID immunization schedule and might boost uptake as a result. But other scientists were less convinced about the timeline — or whether healthy adults should be urged to receive an annual COVID-19 jab at all.

mRNA revolutionized the race for a Covid-19 vaccine. Could cancer be next?
J Wosen, Stat News, November 21, 2022 (Posted: Nov 21, 2022 7AM)

The unprecedented success of messenger RNA vaccines against the coronavirus is raising hopes that the technology could lead to new and better vaccines against a much older public health scourge: cancer. In some ways, the challenge is similar: The aim of any vaccine is to focus the immune system’s response against a particular molecule, or antigen, whether that’s a piece of a virus or a protein that coats tumor cells. There’s one important difference, however: Cancer vaccines are generally treatments rather than preventative measures.

Interim Recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for the Use of Bivalent Booster Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines - United States, October 2022.
Rosenblum Hannah G et al. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report 2022 11 (45) 1436-1441 (Posted: Nov 11, 2022 6AM)

During September-October 2022, FDA authorized bivalent mRNA vaccines for use as a booster dose in persons aged =5 years who completed any FDA-approved or FDA-authorized primary series and removed EUAs for monovalent COVID-19 booster doses. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna bivalent booster vaccines each contain equal amounts of spike mRNA from the ancestral and Omicron BA.4/BA.5 strains. After the EUA amendments, ACIP and CDC recommended that all persons aged =5 years receive 1 bivalent mRNA booster dose =2 months after completion of any FDA-approved or FDA-authorized monovalent primary series or monovalent booster doses.

After Giving Up on Cancer Vaccines, Doctors Start to Find Hope
G Kolata, NY Times, October 10, 2022 (Posted: Oct 10, 2022 11AM)

Encouraging data from preliminary studies are making some doctors feel optimistic about developing immunizations against pancreatic, colon and breast cancers. That view is a far cry from where the field was a decade ago, when researchers had all but given up. Studies that would have seemed like a pipe dream are now underway. Researchers foresee a time when anyone with a precancerous condition or a genetic predisposition to cancer could be vaccinated and protected.

CDC Recommends the First Updated COVID-19 Booster
CDC, September 1, 2022 Brand (Posted: Sep 02, 2022 9AM)

Today, CDC Director endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendations for use of updated COVID-19 boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech for people ages 12 years and older and from Moderna for people ages 18 years and older. Updated COVID-19 boosters add Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein components to the current vaccine composition, helping to restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination by targeting variants that are more transmissible and immune-evading.

Interim Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for Use of Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines in Children Aged 6 Months–5 Years — United States, June 2022
KE Fleming-Dutra et al, MMWR, June 28, 2022 (Posted: Jun 29, 2022 0PM)

On June 17, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration granted Emergency Use Authorization for the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 6 months–5 years and 6 months–4 years, respectively. On June 18, 2022, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) issued interim recommendations for the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 months–5 years and for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 months–4 years in the United States for prevention of COVID-19. ACIP determined that the benefits of vaccination outweigh risks for this population.

Technical Guide for Public Health Departments: Reporting and Analyzing COVID-19 Cases by Vaccination Status
CDC, June 23, 2022 Brand (Posted: Jun 25, 2022 11AM)

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many health departments have developed the capacity to routinely link COVID-19 case surveillance and immunization information system (IIS) data to monitor cases and deaths by vaccination status. This page provides information and resources to help public health departments report rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths according to vaccination status. It also provides guidance to health departments that are interested in reporting their data to CDC.

CDC Recommends Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine for Children and Adolescents
CDC, June 24, 2022 Brand (Posted: Jun 25, 2022 11AM)

CDC endorsed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation that Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine be used as an option for children ages 6 through 17 years, in addition to its already recommended use in children 6 months through 5 years and adults 18 years and older. This recommendation reinforces the use of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine as an important tool in the pandemic and provides another vaccine option for children and adolescents.

CDC Recommends COVID-19 Vaccines for Young Children
CDC, June 18, 2022 (Posted: Jun 18, 2022 7PM)

Today, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation that all children 6 months through 5 years of age should receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This expands eligibility for vaccination to nearly 20 million additional children and means that all Americans ages 6 months and older are now eligible for vaccination. Parents and caregivers can now get their children 6 months through 5 years of age vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines to better protect them from COVID-19. All children, including children who have already had COVID-19, should get vaccinated.

COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage, by Race and Ethnicity — National Immunization Survey Adult COVID Module, United States, December 2020–November 2021
JL Kriss et al, MMWR, June 10, 2022 (Posted: Jun 10, 2022 7AM)

Racial and ethnic minority groups have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination is effective in preventing COVID-19 infection and severe illness, and equitable vaccine administration can reduce COVID-19–related disparities. Asian and non-Hispanic White adults had the highest COVID-19 vaccination coverage by the end of April 2021. By the end of November 2021, disparities in vaccination coverage for some racial and ethnic groups narrowed, and coverage was similar for non-Hispanic Black (78.2%), Hispanic (81.3%), Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (75.7%), and non-Hispanic White (78.7%) adults.

Analysis of immunization time, amplitude, and adverse events of seven different vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 across four different countries.
ME Romero-Ibarguengoitia et al, MEDRXIV, May 4, 2022 (Posted: May 04, 2022 4PM)

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Recommendation for Use of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine in Adults Aged ≥18 Years and Considerations for Extended Intervals for Administration of Primary Series Doses of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines — United States, February 2022
M Wallace et al, MMWR, March 18, 2022 (Posted: Mar 18, 2022 7AM)

On January 31, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for persons aged =18 years. On February 4, 2022, after a systematic review of the evidence,?the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices issued a standard recommendation for use of the Moderna?COVID-19 vaccine in persons aged =18 years. CDC provided guidance that an 8-week interval between primary series doses of mRNA vaccines might be optimal for some persons.

Covid-19 Vaccine Effectiveness against the Omicron (B.1.1.529) Variant
N Andrews e al, NEJM, March 2, 2022 (Posted: Mar 02, 2022 5PM)

Primary immunization with two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or BNT162b2 vaccine provided limited protection against symptomatic disease caused by the omicron variant. A BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 booster after either the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or BNT162b2 primary course substantially increased protection, but that protection waned over time.

Boosting immunity to Omicron
X Shen, Nature Medicine, February 24, 2022 (Posted: Feb 25, 2022 9AM)

New data confirm that the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose is crucial for the generation of neutralizing antibody responses against Omicron, while better therapeutic antibodies are needed for this and future variants. Three studies present data on the neutralizing antibody response against Omicron induced by vaccine regimens with and without a booster immunization, and a fourth study reports on the susceptibility of Omicron to therapeutic antibodies. These four studies, together with recent real-world reports of vaccine efficacy against Omicron, begin to illustrate the threat of this variant to current vaccines and monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies, and suggest ways to mitigate this threat.

Durability of Omicron-neutralizing serum activity following mRNA booster immunization in elderly individuals
K Vanshylla et al, MEDRXIV, February 2, 2022 (Posted: Feb 03, 2022 0PM)

Three exposures to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 by either infection or vaccination elicit superior neutralizing immunity to all variants of concern.
Wratil Paul R et al. Nature medicine 2022 1 (Posted: Jan 29, 2022 10AM)

We show that a superior infection-neutralizing capacity against all VoCs, including omicron, developed after either two vaccinations in convalescents or after a third vaccination or breakthrough infection of twice-vaccinated, naive individuals. These three consecutive spike antigen exposures resulted in an increasing neutralization capacity per anti-spike antibody unit and were paralleled by stepwise increases in antibody avidity. We conclude that an infection-plus-vaccination-induced hybrid immunity or a triple immunization can induce high-quality antibodies with superior neutralization capacity against VoCs, including omicron.

CDC Expands Booster Shot Eligibility and Strengthens Recommendations for 12-17 Year Olds
CDC, January 5, 2022 Brand (Posted: Jan 06, 2022 7AM)

CDC?is endorsing the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation to expand eligibility of booster doses to those 12 to 15 years old. CDC now recommends that adolescents age 12 to 17 years old should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series. Data show that COVID-19 boosters help broaden and strengthen protection against Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants. ACIP reviewed the available safety data following the administration of over 25 million vaccine doses in adolescents; COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.

Interim Estimate of Vaccine Effectiveness of BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) Vaccine in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Adolescents Aged 12–17 Years — Arizona, July–December 2021
K Lutrik et al, MMWR, December 30, 2021 (Posted: Dec 31, 2021 6AM)

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to be effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in adolescents in randomized placebo-controlled Phase III trials. A prospective cohort of 243 adolescents aged 12–17 years in Arizona completed weekly SARS-CoV-2 testing by nasal swab for 19 consecutive weeks. Under real-world conditions, vaccine effectiveness of full immunization (completion of the second in a 2-dose series =14 days earlier) was 92% against SARS-CoV-2 infections irrespective of symptom status.

CDC endorses ACIP’s updated COVID-19 vaccine recommendations
CDC, December 16, 2021 Brand (Posted: Dec 17, 2021 6AM)

Today, CDC is endorsing updated recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the prevention of COVID-19, expressing a clinical preference for individuals to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine over Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine. ACIP’s unanimous recommendation followed a robust discussion of the latest evidence on vaccine effectiveness, vaccine safety and rare adverse events, and consideration of the U.S. vaccine supply.

Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of concern
N Andrews et al, MEDRXIV, December 14, 2021 (Posted: Dec 15, 2021 7AM)

We used a test-negative case-control design to estimate vaccine effectiveness (VE) against symptomatic disease caused by the Omicron and Delta variants in England. VE was calculated after primary immunization with two BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 doses, and at 2+ weeks following a BNT162b2 booster. We found that primary immunization with two BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 doses provided no or limited protection against symptomatic disease with the Omicron variant. Boosting with BNT162b2 following either primary course significantly increased protection.

mRNA booster immunization elicits potent neutralizing serum activity against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant
H Gruell et al, MEDRXIV, December 14, 2021 (Posted: Dec 14, 2021 1PM)

V-safe and Registry Monitoring People Who Report Pregnancy
CDC, December 7, 2021 Brand (Posted: Dec 08, 2021 8AM)

As of December 6, 2021, more than 178 thousand v-safe participants have indicated they were pregnant at the time they received COVID-19 vaccination. CDC is currently enrolling eligible participants and analyzing data to better understand how COVID-19 vaccination affects pregnant people. As CDC learns more about the effects of vaccination during pregnancy, data will be presented at the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meetings, which are open to the public, and in published reports.

CDC Expands Eligibility for COVID-19 Booster Shots to All Adults
CDC, November 19, 2021 (Posted: Nov 21, 2021 10AM)

Today, the CDC Director endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) expanded recommendations for booster shots to include all adults ages 18 years and older who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at least six months after their second dose. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorization and CDC’s recommendation for use are critical next steps forward in our country’s booster program – a program which will help provide increased protection against COVID-19 disease and death.

Safety and immunogenicity of concomitant administration of COVID-19 vaccines (ChAdOx1 or BNT162b2) with seasonal influenza vaccines in adults in the UK (ComFluCOV): a multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 4 trial
R Lazarus et al, The Lancet, November 11, 2021 (Posted: Nov 13, 2021 6AM)

This study found that concomitant vaccination with ChAdOx1 or BNT162b2 plus an age-appropriate influenza vaccine raises no safety concerns and preserves antibody responses to both vaccines. Concomitant vaccination with both COVID-19 and influenza vaccines over the next immunization season should reduce the burden on health-care services for vaccine delivery, allowing for timely vaccine administration and protection from COVID-19 and influenza for those in need.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Interim Recommendation for Use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in Children Aged 5–11 Years — United States, November 2021
KR Woodworth et al, MMWR, November 5, 2021 (Posted: Nov 06, 2021 9AM)

On October 29, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration granted Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5–11 years. On November 2, 2021,?after a systematic review of available data,?the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices made an interim recommendation for use of the Pfizer-BioNTech?COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 5–11 years in the United States for prevention of COVID-19. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has high efficacy (>90%) against COVID-19 in children aged 5–11 years, and benefits outweigh risks for vaccination.

CDC Recommends Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine for Children 5 to 11 Years
CDC, November 2, 2021 Brand (Posted: Nov 03, 2021 0PM)

Today, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation that children 5 to 11 years old be vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine. CDC now expands vaccine recommendations to about 28 million children in the United States in this age group and allows providers to begin vaccinating them as soon as possible. COVID-19 cases in children can result in hospitalizations, deaths, MIS-C (inflammatory syndromes) and long-term complications, such as “long COVID,” in which symptoms can linger for months.

If You’ve Had Covid, Do You Need the Vaccine? So-called natural immunity varies from patient to patient, scientists say. Immunization is still the best choice after recovering from the disease.
A Mandavilli, NY Times, October 12, 2021 (Posted: Oct 12, 2021 1PM)

Immune responses to two and three doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in adults with solid tumors
RT Shroff et al, Nature Medicine, September 30, 2021 (Posted: Oct 01, 2021 6AM)

We initiated a phase 1 trial for 20 cancer cohort participants of a third vaccine dose of BNT162b2 ; primary outcomes were immune responses, with a secondary outcome of safety. At 1 week after a third immunization, 16 participants demonstrated a median threefold increase in neutralizing antibody responses, but no improvement was observed in T cell responses. Adverse events were mild. These results suggest that a third dose of BNT162b2 is safe, improves humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and could be immunologically beneficial for patients with cancer on active chemotherapy.

Use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in Persons Aged ≥16 Years: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, September 2021
K Dooling et al, MMWR, September 21, 2021 (Posted: Sep 21, 2021 4PM)

On August 30, 2021,?after a systematic review of the data,?the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices revised its interim recommendation to a standard recommendation for use of the Pfizer-BioNTech?COVID-19 vaccine in persons aged =16 years for the prevention of COVID-19. Continued use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, now fully approved by the FDA in persons aged =16 years, is recommended based on increased certainty that its benefits (prevention of asymptomatic infection, COVID-19, and associated hospitalization and death) outweigh vaccine-associated risks.

Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection During a Delta Variant Epidemic Surge in Multnomah County, Oregon, July 2021
RS Barlow et al, MEDRXIV, September 3, 2021 (Posted: Sep 04, 2021 10AM)

500 case-control pairs were matched (n=1000). Overall effectiveness of any completed COVID-19 immunization was 73% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 49-86%) and 74% (95% CI 65-85%) for mRNA immunizations and 72% (95% CI 47-85%) for individuals that had started but not completed mRNA immunizations. Our findings estimate high, yet reduced, VE during Delta variant dissemination.

Prevalence of Allergic Reactions After Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccination Among Adults With High Allergy Risk
R Shavit et al, JAMA Network Open, August 31, 2021 (Posted: Sep 01, 2021 7AM)

In this cohort study of 8102 individuals with an allergy history, an algorithm was used to define 429 (5%) as “highly allergic”; this group was referred to receive immunization under medical supervision. A total of 98% of the highly allergic individuals had no allergic reaction, 6 (1%) had mild allergic responses, and 3 (0.7%) had anaphylactic reactions.

Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Approved or Authorized in the United States
CDC Update, August 31, 2021 Brand (Posted: Sep 01, 2021 7AM)

Recent changes include: New Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation for use of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved Pfizer-BioNTech (COMIRNATY) COVID-19 Vaccine in persons aged =16 years- Updated information in Key points to reflect currently available evidence-Updated information on COVID-19 vaccines in the Background section- Updated information in the section on Considerations for use of an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine following a primary vaccine series- Updated laboratory testing information on timing of immune-based tests for tuberculosis infection in relation to COVID-19 vaccine administration

High failure rate of ChAdOx1-nCoV19 immunization against asymptomatic infection in healthcare workers during a Delta variant surge: a case for continued use of masks post-vaccination
R Ujjainiya et al, MEDRXIV, August 28, 2021 (Posted: Aug 29, 2021 6AM)

Joint Statement from HHS Public Health and Medical Experts on COVID-19 Booster Shots
HHS, August 18, 2021 Brand (Posted: Aug 18, 2021 11AM)

“We have developed a plan to begin offering these booster shots this fall subject to FDA conducting an independent evaluation and determination of the safety and effectiveness of a third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines and CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) issuing booster dose recommendations based on a thorough review of the evidence. We are prepared to offer booster shots for all Americans beginning the week of September 20 and starting 8 months after an individual’s second dose.

Use of COVID-19 Vaccines After Reports of Adverse Events Among Adult Recipients of Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) and mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna): Update from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, July 2021
HG Rosenblum et al, MMWR, August 2021 (Posted: Aug 15, 2021 3PM)

On July 22, 2021, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices reviewed updated benefit-risk analyses after Janssen and mRNA COVID-19 vaccination and concluded that the benefits outweigh the risks for rare serious adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination. Continued COVID-19 vaccination will prevent COVID-19 morbidity and mortality far exceeding GBS, TTS, and myocarditis cases expected. Information about rare adverse events should be disseminated to providers, vaccine recipients, and the public.

BNT162b2-Elicited Neutralization against New SARS-CoV-2 Spike Variants.
Liu Yang et al. The New England journal of medicine 2021 5 (5) 472-474 (Posted: Jul 29, 2021 8AM)

Our study shows that the newly emerged B.1.526, B.1.429, and B.1.1.7+E484K variants remain susceptible to an important vaccine-elicited immune effector (neutralizing antibody). The data confirm the importance of mass immunization with current, highly effective, authorized vaccines as a central strategy to end the Covid-19 pandemic.

Quarter-dose of Moderna COVID vaccine still rouses a big immune response
E Dolgin, Nature News, July 2021 (Posted: Jul 16, 2021 7AM)

A little bit of coronavirus vaccine goes a long way towards generating lasting immunity. Two jabs that each contained only one-quarter of the standard dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine gave rise to long-lasting protective antibodies and virus-fighting T cells, according to tests in nearly three dozen people1. The results hint at the possibility of administering fractional doses to stretch limited vaccine supplies and accelerate the global immunization effort.

Use of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine After Reports of Myocarditis Among Vaccine Recipients: Update from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, June 2021
JW Gargano et al, CDC MMWR< July 6, 2021 (Posted: Jul 06, 2021 0PM)

An elevated risk for myocarditis among mRNA COVID-19 vaccinees has been observed, particularly in males aged 12–29 years. On June 23, 2021, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices concluded that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination to individual persons and at the population level clearly outweighed the risks of myocarditis after vaccination.

Myocarditis Occurring After Immunization With mRNA-Based COVID-19 Vaccines.
Shay David K et al. JAMA cardiology 2021 6 (Posted: Jun 30, 2021 7AM)

While more definitive data on the incidence of myocarditis following immunization with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and associated risk will eventually be provided by large population-based vaccine adverse event monitoring systems, including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vaccine Safety Datalink,11 several interim conclusions can be offered. Cardiac injury after SARS-CoV-2 infection occurs and may result in severe outcomes. Based on currently available data, myocarditis following immunization with current mRNA-based vaccines is rare.

Long-lasting neutralizing antibody responses in SARS-CoV-2 seropositive individuals are robustly boosted by immunization with the CoronaVac and BNT162b2 vaccines
NA Muena et al MEDRXIV, May 18, 2021 (Posted: May 19, 2021 8AM)

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Interim Recommendation for Use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in Adolescents Aged 12–15 Years — United States, May 2021
M Wallace et al, MMWR, May 14, 2021 (Posted: May 14, 2021 3PM)

On May 10, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration expanded Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to include adolescents aged 12–15 years. On May 12, 2021,?after a systematic review of all available data,?the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices made an interim recommendation for use of the Pfizer-BioNTech?COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents aged 12–15 years for the prevention of COVID-19.

CDC Director Statement on Pfizer’s Use of COVID-19 Vaccine in Adolescents Age 12 and Older
CDC, May 12, 2021 (Posted: May 13, 2021 3PM)

Today, I adopted CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation that endorsed the safety and effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and its use in 12- through 15-year-old adolescents. CDC now recommends that this vaccine be used among this population, and providers may begin vaccinating them right away.

Pfizer COVID vaccine protects against worrying coronavirus variants- Data from Qatar provide strongest evidence yet that COVID-19 vaccines can stop strains thought to pose a threat to immunization efforts.
E Callaway, Nature, May 6, 2021 (Posted: May 07, 2021 10AM)

Interplay between Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Pandemic Control.
Neuzil Kathleen M et al. The New England journal of medicine 2021 5 (Posted: May 06, 2021 7AM)

The emergence of variant strains is arguably the greatest threat to control of the Covid-19 pandemic. A coordinated global prevention-and-control plan is the only way forward. Global investments in vaccine science and technology must be accompanied by investments in public health, genomic and disease surveillance, and programmatic immunization infrastructure to mitigate the effects of Covid-19 and future pandemics.

mRNA vaccination boosts cross-variant neutralizing antibodies elicited by SARS-CoV-2 infection
L Stamatatos et al, Science, March 27, 2021 (Posted: Mar 26, 2021 8AM)

We examined whether sera from recovered and naïve donors collected prior to, and following immunizations with existing mRNA vaccines, could neutralize the Wuhan-Hu-1 and B.1.351 variants. Pre-vaccination sera from recovered donors neutralized Wuhan-Hu-1 and sporadically neutralized B.1.351, but a single immunization boosted neutralizing titers against all variants and SARS-CoV-1 by up to 1000-fold.

Approaches for Optimal Use of Different COVID-19 Vaccines - Issues of Viral Variants and Vaccine Efficacy
JP Moore, JAMA, March 4, 2021 (Posted: Mar 04, 2021 1PM)

This Viewpoint proposes ways to maximize vaccine efficacy and allocation given the rise of coronavirus variants and authorization of a Johnson & Johnson vaccine, including reserving the latter for younger healthier populations, boosting it with a single-dose mRNA vaccination, and single mRNA immunization of people with prior documented SARS-CoV-2 infection.

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines
CB Creech et al, JAMA, February 26, 2021 (Posted: Feb 27, 2021 7AM)

This JAMA Insights clinical review explains different approaches to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development, including inactivated and protein subunit, viral vector, and mRNA immunization strategies, and summarizes safety and efficacy data for global products authorized for use or in later-stage clinical trials.

Could mixing COVID vaccines boost immune response? Combining different coronavirus shots could speed immunization campaigns — and even boost immune response.
H Ledford, Nature News, February 4, 2021 (Posted: Feb 07, 2021 6AM)

SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 escape from mRNA vaccine-elicited neutralizing antibodies
D Collier et al, MEDRXIV, February 2, 2021 (Posted: Feb 02, 2021 10AM)

We measured neutralising antibody responses following a single immunization using pseudoviruses expressing the wild-type Spike protein or the 8 mutations found in the B.1.1.7 Spike protein. The vaccine sera exhibited a broad range of neutralizing titres against the wild-type pseudoviruses (<1:4 to 3449) that were reduced against B.1.1.7 variant by 3.85 fold (IQR 2.68-5.28). This reduction was also evident in sera from some convalescent patients.

The effectiveness of the first dose of BNT162 b 2 vaccine in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infection 13-24 days after immunization: real-world evidence
G Chodcik et al, MEDRXIV, January 29, 2021 (Posted: Jan 29, 2021 9AM)

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from 2.6 million-member state-mandated health provider in Israel. Study population consisted of all members aged 16 or above years who were vaccinated with BNT162b2-vaccine between December/19/2020 and January/15/2021. We demonstrated an effectiveness of 51% of BNT162b2 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection 13-24 days after immunization with the first dose.

When Vaccine is Limited, Who Should Get Vaccinated First?
CDC, January 8, 2021 Brand (Posted: Jan 09, 2021 0PM)

Because the U.S. supply of COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be limited at first, CDC is providing recommendations to federal, state, and local governments about who should be vaccinated first. CDC’s recommendations are based on those from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an independent panel of medical and public health experts.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Interim Recommendation for Use of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine — United States, December 2020
SE Oliver et al, MMWR, December 20, 2020 (Posted: Dec 21, 2020 7AM)

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Interim Recommendation for Use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine — United States, December 2020
SE Oliver et al, MMWR, December 13, 2020 (Posted: Dec 14, 2020 6AM)

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' Ethical Principles for Allocating Initial Supplies of COVID-19 Vaccine - United States, 2020.
McClung Nancy et al. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report 2020 Nov (47) 1782-1786 (Posted: Nov 27, 2020 10AM)

During the period when the US supply of COVID-19 vaccines is limited, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will make vaccine allocation recommendations. In addition to scientific data and implementation feasibility, 4 principles will assist ACIP in formulating recommendations for the initial allocation of COVID-19 vaccine: 1) maximizing benefits and minimizing harms; 2) promoting justice; 3) mitigating health inequities; and 4) promoting transparency.

All eyes on a hurdle race for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
C Gaebler et al, Nature News, October 19, 2020 (Posted: Oct 20, 2020 1PM)

Leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates have progressed through laboratory tests at record speed. Two early clinical trials suggest that immunization delivers a favorable immune response and safety profile, but questions remain.

An Inactivated Virus Candidate Vaccine to Prevent COVID-19
MJ Mulligan, JAMA, August 13, 2020 (Posted: Aug 13, 2020 11AM)

Genetic immunization approaches are particularly suited to a rapid pandemic response. While no genetic immunization vaccine has ever been licensed by the FDA for human use, these platforms hold great promise. Genetic immunization candidates can be seen as mimics of natural infection or of traditional live-attenuated vaccines, like the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine.

AI Can Help Us Fight Infectious Diseases In A More Effective Way
M Colangelo et al, Forbes, March 27, 2020 (Posted: Mar 28, 2020 8AM)

There are several approaches that can be taken with technology. One approach is to apply data science techniques to personalized vaccination on a massive scale. Another is to optimize immunization management using AI. By using AI, big data, and small data techniques together, vaccines could be distributed on a massive scale in a more precise way.

There Are Vaccines You Need as an Adult
CDC, 2019 Brand (Posted: Aug 08, 2019 9AM)

Maternal Vaccines: Part of a Healthy Pregnancy
CDC, 2019 Brand (Posted: Aug 08, 2019 9AM)

Vaccines: Life savers against infectious diseases
Wellcome Trust Sanger Blog, August 2, 2019 (Posted: Aug 03, 2019 0PM)

Smallpox has been stamped out and various other diseases are declining, thanks to vaccination. But not all diseases have vaccines yet – can genomics help speed up the search?

Preventive care services and health behaviors in children with fragile X syndrome.
Gilbertson Kendra E et al. Disability and health journal 2019 May (Posted: Jul 19, 2019 10AM)

This CDC study is the first description of preventive care services specifically received by children and young adults with fragile X syndrome (FXS). 75% of the sample met dental care guidelines, 55.4% met influenza vaccination guidelines, 92.1% met immunization guidelines, and 24.4% met physical activity (PA) guidelines.

Common Genetic Variations Associated with the Persistence of Immunity following Childhood Immunization.
O'Connor Daniel et al. Cell reports 2019 Jun (11) 3241-3253.e4 (Posted: Jun 18, 2019 10AM)

Why some people don’t respond to childhood vaccines—and how our DNA could fix it
N Akpan, PBS< June 17, 2019 (Posted: Jun 18, 2019 10AM)

Genetic approach towards a vaccine against malaria.
Garrido-Cardenas Jose Antonio et al. European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology 2018 Jun (Posted: Aug 03, 2018 0PM)

DNA and mRNA vaccination against allergies.
Scheiblhofer Sandra et al. Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology 2018 Jul (Posted: Aug 03, 2018 0PM)

Protect Your Baby with Immunization
Brand (Posted: Apr 23, 2018 3PM)

A world without bacterial meningitis: how genomic epidemiology can inform vaccination strategy.
Rodrigues Charlene M C et al. F1000Research 2018 401 (Posted: Apr 23, 2018 3PM)

National Immunization Week
2018 DIGITAL MEDIA TOOLKIT Brand (Posted: Apr 23, 2018 3PM)

Global Introduction of New Vaccines: Delivering More to More
CDC Grand Rounds, Mar 20, 2018 Brand (Posted: Mar 20, 2018 11AM)


Disclaimer: Articles listed in Hot Topics of the Day 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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