Corona vaccination

According to a recent study, those with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who got a “booster” dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination after obtaining the full quantity are roughly half as likely to suffer a future “breakthrough” COVID-19 infection.

On July 12, this study was published in the journal The Lancet Rheumatology. According to the researchers, the discovery should bring relief to the more than 200,000 Americans who suffer with SLE, an illness in which the body’s immune system erroneously assaults its own healthy tissues, mainly joints and skin. They are more vulnerable to infections, such as SARS-CoV-2, when they are on immune-suppressing drugs, such as steroids, which are necessary to treat the disease’s symptoms.

The present study, coordinated by clinicians from NYU Grossman School of Medicine, tracked 163 completely immunised men and women getting SLE therapy at NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s associated facilities in New York City. Given that more than half of the patients were using at least one immunosuppressive medication for their SLE, the researchers sought to know who caught the virus during a six-month period. Prior to June 2021, all had had some combination of Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson immunizations, but only 125 had received a booster or third dosage.

By the end of the monitoring period (April 24, 2022), 44 vaccinated SLE patients had developed breakthrough infections, with two of them requiring hospitalisation (but both surviving their infection).

28 of 125 (22%) of patients with breakthrough infections had had a booster, compared to 16 of 38 (42%) who had not. The majority of breakthrough infections (42 of 44) occurred after the city detected its first instance of the exceedingly infectious omicron strain on December 2, 2021, according to investigators.

Another notable research finding was among the 57 patients who agreed to have their blood antibody levels examined twice: once after the first immunisation and again after the booster dose.

By the end of the monitoring period (April 24, 2022), 44 vaccinated SLE patients had developed breakthrough infections, with two of them requiring hospitalisation (but both surviving their infection).

28 of 125 (22%) of patients with breakthrough infections had had a booster, compared to 16 of 38 (42%) who had not. The majority of breakthrough infections (42 of 44) occurred after the city detected its first instance of the exceedingly infectious omicron strain on December 2, 2021, according to investigators.

Another notable research finding was among the 57 patients who agreed to have their blood antibody levels examined twice: once after the first immunisation and again after the booster dose.

However, a previous study found that increased antibody levels in fully immunised lupus patients reinforced critical indications of

However, a previous study found that greater antibody levels in fully immunised lupus patients enhanced critical indications of long-term immunity, which may help to explain why individuals with breakthrough infections do not have severe illness.

“Our study results provide patients with systemic lupus erythematosus clinical assurance that vaccines are exceedingly efficient at avoiding severe COVID-19, despite their higher risk of getting the illness,” says co-lead investigator and rheumatologist Amit Saxena, MD, MS.

COVID-19 vaccine boosters, or third doses, offered an additional, double layer of protection against a breakthrough infection, according to Saxena, an assistant professor in the department of medicine at NYU Langone Health. SARS-CoV-2 infection cases were often mild even among SLE patients who were adequately vaccinated.

“Our research also shows that most SLE patients who are adequately vaccinated and boosted developed strong responses despite being on immune suppression,” says co-senior investigator and rheumatologist Peter Izmirly, MD. Izmirly is an associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health.

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Researchers recommend continued patient monitoring to see if there is an antibody “cutoff” level below which SLE patients are more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The researchers discovered that hospitalisation rates for SLE patients at NYU Langone during the first wave of the pandemic in spring 2020 were more than twice as high as those for people without the condition, despite the fact that fatality rates were the same.

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According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, more than 19.58 crore of balance and unutilized COVID-19 vaccine doses are still accessible in the states and Union Territories (UTs).

More than 193.04 crore (1,93,04,24,025) vaccine doses have been provided to states/UTs so far through the government of India (free of cost channel) and direct state procurement category, of which more than 19.58 crore (19,58,22,570) balance and unutilized COVID vaccine doses are still available with the states/UTs to be administered, according to an official statement. The countrywide COVID-19 immunisation campaign began on January 16, 2021. The next phase of COVID-19 vaccine universalization began on June 21, 2021.

The immunisation campaign has been stepped up with the availability of additional vaccinations, advanced awareness of vaccine availability to states and UTs for improved planning, and simplification of the vaccine supply chain.

As part of the statewide immunisation campaign, the government of India has been supplying free COVID vaccines to states and union territories.

In the new phase of the COVID-19 immunisation drive’s universalization, the Union Government would acquire and deliver (at no cost) to States and UTs 75% of the vaccines manufactured in the country by vaccine makers.

Vaccination of children aged 12 to 15 against Covid-19 will begin on Wednesday and will initially take place only at government vaccination centres across India until Biological E, the maker of Corbevax, announces the price of its vaccine for the private sector.

“For now, it will be available only at government vaccination facilities,” a central government official said on condition of anonymity. “Once the company (Biological E) notifies its rate for private hospitals, as was done by Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech, then private hospitals can also procure and its vaccine will also be available at private Covid vaccination centres.”

The government said on Tuesday that the Covid-19 immunisation will be available to all children born on or before March 15, 2010. Previously, children born on or after January 1, 2007, were able to participate in the national vaccination programme.

On March 16, registration for vaccinations for youngsters will begin at 9 a.m. According to the rules, it may be done by self-registering in an existing account of a family member on the government’s CoWIN site, or by creating a new account using a unique cellphone number. It can also be done by the vaccinator registering on-site.

Appointments can be made either online or on the spot. Vaccination of the 12-to-15-year-old age group will take place in specialised inoculation sessions to minimise inadvertent inoculation with any other Covid-19 vaccines other than the required Corbevax.

“NTAGI agreed approximately three months ago at one of its sessions that children with co-morbidities had a 5-6 times higher likelihood of acquiring serious illness. According to NK Arora, chairperson of the Covid-19 working group of the National Technical Advisory Bracket on Immunization, “approximately 10-15 percent of children in the age group of 12-15 years suffer from various co-morbidities” (NTAGI). “As a result, it was decided to begin immunisation against Covid-19 in this age group as well.”

At least one vaccine dose has been administered to 95.5 percent of the eligible population aged 15 and older, and at least 80 percent of adolescents in this age range have been completely immunised.

“It’s particularly crucial in the light of the current Covid-19 issue in China, where cases are on the rise; and a new variety that’s a combination of Delta and Omicron has been detected,” Arora added. “According to WHO SAGE recommendations, children should be vaccinated after adults if supplies are available.”

The World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (WHO SAGE) is an acronym for World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization.

The central government announced rules on Tuesday for Covid-19 immunisation of youngsters aged 12 to 15, which will begin on Wednesday, and stated that only the Corbevax vaccine of Biological E would be used for the cohort’s beneficiaries.

“Keeping in mind the evolving situation of the Covid-19 pandemic and the emerging evidence, the expert group has decided to expand Covid-19 vaccination programme to children aged 21 to 14 years from March 2022. Only Corbevax would be used for these beneficiaries in the age group of 12 to 13 years, and 13-14 years in government CVCs (covid-19 vaccination centres) in view of vaccine security issues and limited availability of other Covid-19 vaccines approved for this age group,” health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to states.

“The vaccinator and verifier should ensure that beneficiaries less than 12 years on the date of vaccination are not vaccinated even if he/she is registered on CoWIN,” the letter added.

Corbevax is a protein subunit vaccine that is given intramuscularly in two doses 28 days apart.

With the COVID-19 pandemic entering its third year, efforts to mitigate the risk for infection remain vitally important, especially for vulnerable populations. A recent study from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) showed vaccination during pregnancy resulted in more lasting antibody levels in infants, when compared to babies born to unvaccinated, COVID-infected mothers.

Source: Massachusetts General Hospital