Vaccine News and Research

Latest Vaccine News and Research

Prior COVID and vaccination generate superior hybrid immunity

In a recent article published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, researchers in France performed a long-term longitudinal analysis to demonstrate the benefits of hybrid immunity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), i.e., induced by viral infection followed by vaccination.

21 Mar 2023

Paxlovid is 80% effective when taken within 5 days of severe COVID

In a recent study published in The Lancet’s Infectious Diseases, researchers in the United States evaluated nirmatrelvir–ritonavir treatment effectiveness against hospitalizations and deaths among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outpatients in the United States of America (USA).

21 Mar 2023

The effectiveness of mRNA vaccines during Omicron BA.4/5 predominance

Researchers evaluate vaccine effectiveness for two, three, and four doses of COVID-19 mRNA first-generation vaccines.

21 Mar 2023

Researchers identify the cellular glitches underlying a rare genetic disorder

The cellular glitches underlying a rare genetic disorder called activated PI3K Delta syndrome 2 (APDS2) have been identified by researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. The disorder is caused by genetic variations that disrupt immune cell signaling through a protein called PI3K.

21 Mar 2023

SARS-CoV-2 infection damages the CD8+ T cell response to vaccination

The magnitude and quality of a key immune cell's response to vaccination with two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine were considerably lower in people with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to people without prior infection, a study has found.

20 Mar 2023

UK Government names two leaders to spearhead new Dementia Mission

The UK Government has named two leaders in dementia research to spearhead the ambitious national Mission to tackle dementia, which was launched in memory of the late Dame Barbara Windsor.

20 Mar 2023

New SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB.1.5 variant has high transmissibility and infectivity, study finds

COVID-19 has caused significant global panic after its rapid emergence more than 3 years ago. Although we now have highly effective vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, scientists continue to study emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants in order to safeguard public health and devise global preventive strategies against emerging variants.

20 Mar 2023

XBB/XBB.1.5 subvariant of SARS-CoV-2 shows increased vaccine sensitivity

The study, currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server, indicates that omicron subvariant XBB/XBB.1.5 is more sensitive to vaccine-induced immunity than other co-circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants.

19 Mar 2023

Inadequate sleep associated with lower vaccine-induced humoral immunity

Researchers assess the association between the duration of sleep and humoral responses to vaccination.

19 Mar 2023

Study confirms the benefit of Paxlovid as an early-stage treatment to prevent COVID-19 hospitalization

A Kaiser Permanente study confirms the benefit of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, also known as Paxlovid, as an early-stage treatment to prevent hospitalization for people with mild to moderate COVID-19, regardless of prior immunity or age.

17 Mar 2023

Anti-Omicron antibodies are induced by hypermutation with ancestral BNT162b2 COVID vaccine

Scientists from the Republic of Korea have analyzed B-cell receptor repertoires induced by an mRNA-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine and found that somatic hypermutations in B-cell receptor heavy chain are responsible for broadening its specificity for unexposed antigens.

16 Mar 2023

Ipsilateral vaccination improves response to second dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Researchers examine whether the involvement of the ipsilateral or contralateral lymph nodes affected the immune response during sequential vaccination.

16 Mar 2023

A novel pan-sarbecovirus vaccine candidate neutralizes Omicron BQ.1.1 and XBB subvariants

Researchers provide evidence that a novel vaccine candidate robustly neutralized SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants BQ.1.1 and XBB.

16 Mar 2023

Creating more effective and safe treatments for COVID-19

When approaching a task, members of a team need to work in synergy. Nothing can be accomplished if you're pulling in different directions.

16 Mar 2023

Global maternal Strep B immunization program may save millions of dollars in healthcare costs

A global maternal immunization program for group B Streptococcus - Strep B - would save millions of dollars in healthcare costs by reducing death and disability, a team led by researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has found.

16 Mar 2023

PBD Biotech’s new lyophilized PCR reaction bead offers easy ambient shipping, extends global reach of active TB test

Tuberculosis testing and treatment needs to happen close to the point of infection. PBD Biotech has developed a lyophilized PCR reaction bead for its Actiphage® blood test for active TB.

16 Mar 2023

Efficacy of a single dose of MVA-BN smallpox vaccine against Mpox

A recent The Lancet Infectious Disease study focussed on estimating the effectiveness of a single dose of MVA-BN against Mpox in England. This observational study was conducted following the large-scale vaccination program that immunized the GBMSM group with the MVA-BN vaccine.

15 Mar 2023

Four COVID-19 booster doses most effective way to prevent critical Omicron BA.5

A study published in JAMA Network Open explores the protective efficacy of previous exposure to omicron subvariants and booster vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) omicron BA.5 infection.

15 Mar 2023

Lassa virus vaccine induces rapid protection in an animal model

Scientists have developed a novel Lassa vaccine using a recombinant measles virus and tested its protective efficacy against Lassa fever. A single vaccine dose has been found to induce a rapid and robust immune response in monkeys with pre-existing immunity against the measles virus.

14 Mar 2023

Vaccination protects lupus patients from contracting COVID-19

Researchers determine the risk of COVID-19 and possibility of severe sequelae in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and the general population.

14 Mar 2023