An important update to the COVID-19 vaccine programme

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Vaccines

An important update to the COVID-19 vaccine programme

8 May 2024

By Joan Ingram

Wednesday 8 May 2024, 12:20 AM

Cumulative excess deaths per 100,000 people during COVID-19 – central estimates (red) and confirmed COVID-19 deaths (black) [Image: Our World in Data, CC BY 4.0]

This article examines the new Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccine, including its effectiveness and safety

Key points, SARS-CoV-2 continues to cause hospitalisations and deaths, but at a lower rate than earlier in the pandemic as immunity increases. Comirnaty XBB.1.5, Pract Green w Pale Yellow

COVID-19

References

Andersson NW, Thiesson EM, Hviid A. Adverse events after XBB.1.5-containing COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. JAMA 2024;331(12):1057–59.
Gayed J, Diya O, Lowry FS, et al. Safety and immunogenicity of the monovalent Omicron XBB.1.5-adapted BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine in individuals ≥12 years old: A phase 2/3 trial. Vaccines (Basel) 2024;12(2):118.
Hansen CH, Moustsen-Helms IR, Rasmussen M, et al. Short-term effectiveness of the XBB.1.5 updated COVID-19 vaccine against hospitalisation in Denmark: a national cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis 2024;24(2):e73–74.
Link-Gelles R, Ciesla AA, Mak J, et al. Early estimates of updated 2023-2024 (monovalent XBB.1.5) COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection attributable to co-circulating Omicron variants among immunocompetent adults – Increasing community access to testing program, United States, September 2023–January 2024. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024;73(4):77–83.
Marking U, Bladh O, Aguilera K, et al. Humoral immune responses to the monovalent XBB.1.5-adapted BNT162b2 mRNA booster in Sweden. Lancet Infect Dis 2024;24(2):e80–81.
Markov PV, Ghafari M, Beer M, et al. The evolution of SARS-CoV-2. Nat Rev Microbiol 2023;21(6):361–79.
Therapeutic Goods Administration. COVID-19 vaccine safety report - 02-11-23.
WHO. Statement on the antigen composition of COVID-19 vaccines. 18 May 2023.
WHO. Statement on the antigen composition of COVID-19 vaccines. 13 December 2023.

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