RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey using an online questionnaire was conducted between January 3 to 25, 2021, among HCPs (n = 834) in Bangladesh.
RESULTS: Less than 50% of HCPs would receive the vaccine against COVID-19 if available and 54% were willing to take the vaccine at some stage in the future. Female participants (OR:1.64;95%CI:1.172-2.297), respondents between 18-34 years old (OR:2.42; 95% CI:1.314-4.463), HCPs in the public sector (OR:2.09; 95% CI:1.521-2.878), and those who did not receive a flu vaccine in the previous year (OR:3.1; 95% CI:1.552-6.001) were more likely to delay vaccination.
CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that, if available, less than half of the HCPs would accept a COVID-19 vaccine in Bangladesh. To ensure the broader success of the vaccination drive, tailored strategies and vaccine promotion campaigns targeting HCPs and the general population are needed.
AREAS COVERED: This systematic review included published articles from January 2010 to August 2020 using MEDLINE/Embase. Grey literature websites were searched for national immunization programs and medical society vaccination recommendations from areas of interest. A total of 69 publications were identified.
EXPERT OPINION: In the AP region, pneumococcal disease burden and serotype prevalence are variable among adult populations, particularly among older adults. Data was provided primarily from countries with established national immunization programs (NIPs). Further research on the disease burden and emphasis on the benefits of vaccination in AP areas lacking pneumococcal vaccination programs is warranted.
METHOD: Herein, we studied the antibody response to the first dose of AZD1222 in 86 Bangladeshi individuals using in-house ELISA kits. Study subjects were categorized into two groups, convalescent and uninfected, based on prior infection history and SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid-IgG profiles.
RESULTS: All the convalescent individuals presented elevated spike-1-IgG compared to 90% of uninfected ones after the first dose. Day >28 post-vaccination, the convalescent group showed six times higher antibody titer than the uninfected ones. The most elevated antibody titers for the former and later group were found at Day 14 and Days >28 post-vaccination, respectively. The spike-1-IgA titer showed a similar pattern as spike-1-IgG, although in a low-titer. In contrast, the IgM titer did not show any significant change in either group.
CONCLUSION: High antibody titer in the convalescent group, signify the importance of the first dose among the uninfected group. This study advocates the integration of antibody tests in vaccination programs in the healthcare system for maximizing benefit.
AREAS COVERED: Using the publicly available IVAC VIEW-hub platform, we reviewed 52 studies on vaccine effectiveness (VE) after booster vaccinations. VE were reported for SARS-CoV-2 symptomatic infection, severe disease and death and stratified by vaccine schedule and age. In addition, a non-systematic literature review of safety was performed to identify single or multi-country studies investigating adverse event rates for at least two of the currently available COVID-19 vaccines.
EXPERT OPINION: Booster shots of the current COVID-19 vaccines provide consistently high protection against Omicron-related severe disease and death. Additionally, this protection appears to be conserved for at least 3 months, with a small but significant waning after that. The positive risk-benefit ratio of these vaccines is well established, giving us confidence to administer additional doses as required. Future vaccination strategies will likely include a combination of schedules based on risk profile, as overly frequent boosting may be neither beneficial nor sustainable for the general population.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A combined cohort Markov decision tree model was used to compare booster vaccination with an Omicron-adapted bivalent COVID-19 vaccine versus no booster vaccination in Malaysia. The model utilized age-specific data from January 2021 to March 2022 derived from published sources. The outcomes of interest included case numbers, hospitalizations, deaths, medical costs, and productivity losses. The population was stratified into high-risk and standard-risk subpopulations, and the study evaluated the benefits of increased coverage in different age and risk groups.
RESULTS: Vaccinating only high-risk individuals and those aged ≥ 65 years was estimated to avert 274,313 cases, 33229 hospitalizations, 2,434 deaths, Malaysian ringgit (MYR) 576 million in direct medical costs, and MYR 579 million in indirect costs. Expanding vaccination coverage in the standard-risk population to 75% was estimated to avert more deaths (31%), hospitalizations (155%), infections (206%), direct costs (206%), and indirect costs (281%).
CONCLUSIONS: These findings support broader population Omicron-adapted bivalent booster vaccination in Malaysia with potential for significant health and economic gains.
AREAS COVERED: The steps involved in preparing the mRNA-based cancer vaccines are isolation of the mRNA cancer from the target protein using the nucleic acid RNA-based vaccine, sequence construction to prepare the DNA template, in vitro transcription for protein translation from DNA into mRNA strand, 5' cap addition and poly(A) tailing to stabilize and protect the mRNA from degradation and purification process to remove contaminants produced during preparation.
EXPERT OPINION: Lipid nanoparticles, lipid/protamine/mRNA nanoparticles, and cell-penetrating peptides have been used to formulate mRNA vaccine and to ensure vaccine stability and delivery to the target site. Delivery of the vaccine to the target site will trigger adaptive and innate immune responses. Two predominant factors of the development of mRNA-based cancer vaccines are intrinsic influence and external influence. In addition, research relating to the dosage, route of administration, and cancer antigen types have been observed to positively impact the development of mRNA vaccine.