Vaccine News and Research

Latest Vaccine News and Research

Tier 3 interventions needed to contain SARS-CoV-2 transmission, especially with emergence of variants

Studies have shown that non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as social distancing and partial lockdowns effectively contain severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission. However, because of these measures' huge economic and social cost, the UK introduced a less socially disruptive tier system. This system was aimed at providing a consistent set of control measures with geographic flexibility.

1 Mar 2021

New vaccination strategy could eliminate the bacteria that cause UTIs

Anyone who has ever developed a urinary tract infection (UTI) knows that it can be painful, pesky and persistent. UTIs have a high recurrence rate and primarily afflict women -- as many as 50% of women will experience at least one UTI during their lifetime.

1 Mar 2021

High level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy found among Black Americans

Black Americans have a high level of vaccine hesitancy and mistrust of COVID-19 vaccines, including among Black health care workers, according to a new RAND Corporation survey.

1 Mar 2021

A backbone free energy study of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

A recent study by scientist Robert Penner at the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques in France utilizes free energy calculations to predict effective antiviral targets that are highly conserved, surface-accessible for interaction, and resistant to mutation.

1 Mar 2021

Researchers evaluate surrogate large-scale SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance test

A team of international scientists has recently evaluated a surrogate virus neutralization test for severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and observed that it is highly efficacious for detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies in serum samples. According to the scientists, the test can be effectively used for population-level serosurveillance and evaluation of vaccine efficacy. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

1 Mar 2021

Single-dose of BNT162b2 vaccine may not be protective without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new study by researchers at Imperial College London, UK, discusses the effect of a vaccine dose, specifically the BNT162b2 candidate (also known as the ‘Pfizer-BioNTech’ vaccine), on neutralizing antibody titers in individuals who have already been infected with the virus.

1 Mar 2021

One in seven people in England show SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, finds study

The REal-time Assessment of Community Transmission-2 (REACT-2) program completed its fifth round of community surveys in the days between January 26 and February 8, 2021. The findings appear in a new article in the BMJ on February 25, 2021, showing that natural infection and vaccination together account for around 14% seropositivity rates in England at present.

1 Mar 2021

Black churches fill a unique role in combating vaccine fears

In the hospital with covid-19 in December, Lavina Wafer tired of the tubes in her nose and wondered impatiently why she couldn't be discharged. A phone call with her pastor helped her understand that the tube was piping in lifesaving oxygen, which had to be slowly tapered to protect her.

1 Mar 2021

Connecticut is doling out vaccines based strictly on age. It’s simpler, but is it fair?

With Covid vaccines expected to remain scarce into early spring, Connecticut has scrapped its complicated plans to prioritize immunizations for people under 65 with certain chronic conditions and front-line workers. Instead, the state will primarily base eligibility on age.

1 Mar 2021

Could SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests before first vaccine dose help increase coverage and protection?

A new study by scientists in the UK raises the very useful hypothesis that natural infection may help spread the vaccine thinner without loss of efficacy.

1 Mar 2021

FDA issues EUA for third COVID-19 vaccine

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the third vaccine for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

1 Mar 2021

Pfizer-BioNTech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine effective for wide range of Covid-19–related outcomes

The Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine was shown to be 95% effective in preventing severe COVID-19 infection in clinical trials. However, given that the acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to spread and evolve into several concerning variants, it remained unknown how the vaccine would respond in a real-life setting.

1 Mar 2021

COVID-19 CG tracks local SARS-CoV-2 mutations by geographical location

Genomic surveillance of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has varied across countries. England's increased coronavirus sequencing helped it uncover the B.1.1.7 variant last fall. In contrast, countries such as the United States have reported little sequencing data.

28 Feb 2021

New SARS-CoV-2 B.1.526 variant emerges in New York

New York has the first case of a new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant called B.1.526, picked up by genomic surveillance research from Columbia University. The findings come after reports of other variants have been reported worldwide — B.1.1.7 in the United Kingdom, B.1.351 in South Africa, and P.1/P.2 in Brazil.

28 Feb 2021

FDA to finalize the issuance of emergency use authorization for vaccine distribution

Following today's positive advisory committee meeting outcome regarding the Janssen Biotech Inc. COVID-19 Vaccine, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has informed the sponsor that it will rapidly work toward finalization and issuance of an emergency use authorization.

27 Feb 2021

FDA undertakes new action in its ongoing response effort to COVID-19 pandemic

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the following actions taken in its ongoing response effort to the COVID-19 pandemic:

27 Feb 2021

KHN’s ‘What the health?’: Staffing up at HHS

More than a month into President Joe Biden’s term, nominees to fill some of the top posts at the Department of Health and Human Services are finally getting confirmation hearings in the Senate, starting with the nominee for secretary, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

26 Feb 2021

Neanderthal-derived protein may protect against COVID-19 susceptibility and severity

Researchers at the Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital have discovered that increased levels of the protein OAS1 are associated with reduced mortality and less severe disease requiring ventilation among patients with COVID-19.

26 Feb 2021

South African SARS-CoV-2 variant partly resistant to neutralization by mRNA vaccine, says study

A new study deals with the clinical and virological effects of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, especially as they affect vaccine efficacy.

26 Feb 2021

Repurposed drugs show antiviral SARS-CoV-2 E channel blocking activity, finds study

A new study by researchers at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel reports the discovery of a promising group of E channel inhibitors with significant antiviral activity. This could be developed into new treatment agents for this often-deadly virus.

26 Feb 2021

Vaccine News and Research

Latest Vaccine News and Research

Tier 3 interventions needed to contain SARS-CoV-2 transmission, especially with emergence of variants

New vaccination strategy could eliminate the bacteria that cause UTIs

High level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy found among Black Americans

A backbone free energy study of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

Researchers evaluate surrogate large-scale SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance test

Single-dose of BNT162b2 vaccine may not be protective without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection

One in seven people in England show SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, finds study

Black churches fill a unique role in combating vaccine fears

Connecticut is doling out vaccines based strictly on age. It’s simpler, but is it fair?

Could SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests before first vaccine dose help increase coverage and protection?

FDA issues EUA for third COVID-19 vaccine

Pfizer-BioNTech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine effective for wide range of Covid-19–related outcomes

COVID-19 CG tracks local SARS-CoV-2 mutations by geographical location

New SARS-CoV-2 B.1.526 variant emerges in New York

FDA to finalize the issuance of emergency use authorization for vaccine distribution

FDA undertakes new action in its ongoing response effort to COVID-19 pandemic

KHN’s ‘What the health?’: Staffing up at HHS

Neanderthal-derived protein may protect against COVID-19 susceptibility and severity

South African SARS-CoV-2 variant partly resistant to neutralization by mRNA vaccine, says study

Repurposed drugs show antiviral SARS-CoV-2 E channel blocking activity, finds study

Event guide: 3rd mRNA Process Development & Manufacturing Europe eBook

Unveiling Hidden Potential: Organoids for Disease Modeling in Neuroscience Research

How GLP‑1 Agonists Are Shaping the Future of Obesity Treatment With Dr Bryony Henderson

Flow chemistry, AI, and NMR: A next-gen approach to scalable API production

Vaccine News and Research

Latest Vaccine News and Research

Event guide: 3rd mRNA Process Development & Manufacturing Europe eBook

Unveiling Hidden Potential: Organoids for Disease Modeling in Neuroscience Research

How GLP‑1 Agonists Are Shaping the Future of Obesity Treatment With Dr Bryony Henderson

Flow chemistry, AI, and NMR: A next-gen approach to scalable API production

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