With inputs from Dr Monica Vasudev

Trial of Omicron-specific vaccine commences

Trial of an Omicron-specific Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech has begun in 1420 adults. This vaccine would be tested as a three-dose series, administered in doses of 30 µg, in the unvaccinated persons and as a booster dose in persons who have been vaccinated with two doses of primary vaccination with the current Pfizer vaccine. The trial will also test a fourth dose of the current vaccine against a fourth dose of the Omicron-specific vaccine in people who have received three doses of the Pfizer vaccine 3 to 6 months before the start of the trial… (Source: Medscape, Jan. 26, 2022)

Requirement of mechanical ventilation reduces in hospitalized Covid-19 patients treated with remdesivir: CATCO trial

Findings from the Canadian Treatments for COVID-19 (CATCO) trial show that addition of remdesivir (200 mg IV on day 0, followed by 100 mg IV daily) to standard of care reduced the need for mechanical ventilation among 1282 hospitalized Covid-19 patients compared with standard of care alone (8% vs 15%, respectively). There were also more oxygen-free and ventilator-free days in remdesivir treated patients (15.9 and 21.4 days vs 14.2 and 19.5 days, respectively). The CATCO trial is a substudy of the Solidarity conducted by the WHO… (Source: CMAJ, Jan. 19, 2022)

Trial to test molnupiravir in hospitalized patients with Covid-19

Trial investigating the possibility of using molnupiravir, the oral antiviral pill, as treatment for patients hospitalised with Covid-19 will soon start in the UK. The drug would be tested as stand-alone treatment and also in combination with other Covid-19 therapies. It would be administered twice daily for five days in 800 mg dose. At present, molnupiravir is approved for use in patients with mild to moderate Covid-19 infection… (Source: Medscape, Jan. 25, 2022)

Under-60 individuals with comorbidities now eligible for the fourth dose in Israel

Israel has expanded the coverage of the fourth dose of Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine to also include persons under 60 years of age with underlying medical conditions and their caregivers four months after the third dose. At-risk individuals older than 18 years are also now eligible for the fourth dose. Prior to this, the fourth dose had been approved only for persons older than 60 years after a gap of 5 months from the third dose (Source: Medscape, Jan. 27, 2022)

Third dose Covid-19 mRNA vaccine boosts protection against hospitalization

In a study conducted across multiple states in the US during the delta wave and reported in CDC’s latest MMWR, administration of the third dose of Covid-19 mRNA vaccine enhanced the vaccine effectiveness against Covid-related hospitalization from 82% (in 2-dose recipients) to 97% among immunocompetent adults. The third dose was also seen to increase the vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization from 69% (in two-dose recipients) to 88% among immunocompromised persons…(Source: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Jan. 28, 2022)