With inputs from Dr Monica Vasudev

WHO approves Covovax Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an emergency use listing (EUL) for Covovax “NVX-CoV2373” produced by the Serum Institute of India under licence from Novavax. Covovax requires two doses and is produced by creating an engineered baculovirus containing a gene for a modified SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. It is a subunit of the vaccine developed by Novavax and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) … (Source: WHO, December 17, 2021)

More than 5 times higher risk of reinfection with Omicron than Delta

New research from the Imperial College London has found that Omicron was associated with a 5.41-fold higher risk of reinfection compared with Delta suggesting that immunity accorded by previous infection is as low as 19%. Persons who had taken their second vaccine dose two or more weeks before and were two or more weeks past their booster dose were at an increased risk of developing a symptomatic Omicron case compared to Delta … (Source: Imperial College, Report 49, December 16, 2021)

Omicron may become the dominant strain in Europe early next year 

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has stated that the “Omicron variant of concern (VOC) was likely to overtake Delta within the first two months of 2022”. There is a very high risk of it becoming the dominant strain in Europe because of its high transmissibility, although data is inadequate at this point of time to actually determine the severity of the infection caused by Omicron variant. Stella Kyriakides European Health Commissioner has expressed concern about the slow vaccination rates in countries like Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia, where less than 50% of the population has been immunised….(Medscape, December 16, 2021)

The next-generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccine 

The US Army has developed a spike ferritin nanoparticle vaccine, which is expected to protect from other respiratory viruses and not just SARS-CoV-2. The vaccine uses ferritin as a soccer ball-shaped “platform”. It has 24 “faces” to which are attached the replicas of the spike proteins through which the virus enters the cells. The vaccine would not require special storage as it is stable at varying temperatures. The first trial of the vaccine in humans has been completed and results are being evaluated. According to Gordon Joyce of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, Maryland, the study lead author said, “Presenting multiple copies of spike in an ordered fashion may be the key to inducing a potent and broad immune response.” (Source: Medscape, 

Risk of myocarditis after adenovirus-based Covid-19 vaccine

Nature Medicine has probably published the first report of risk of acute myocarditis with an adenovirus-vector vaccine. The incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for myocarditis 1 to 7 days after the first AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Moderna injections were 1.76, 1.45, and 8.38, respectively, and 23.1 after the second dose of the Moderna vaccine…(Source: Medscape, December 16, 2021)

Compulsory vaccination for healthcare workers in Germany

Healthcare workers at hospitals, doctors offices and nursing homes in Germany are now required by law to get the Covid-19 vaccine. They must prove that they are vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 by mid-March as part of new legislation passed by the parliament on Friday. The new legislation allows closure of bars and restaurants and banning of large gathering events. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, “Its absolutely unacceptable that in establishments where people live, who put their trust in us to protect them, that people are unnecessarily dying because unvaccinated work there." … (Medscape, December 13, 2021)