3/12—EU countries halt AstraZeneca vaccine over blood clots
COVID: Several European countries halt use of AstraZeneca vaccine
[Media report.] Denmark, Iceland and Norway have stopped administering the shot while Italy has banned the use of a batch of AstraZeneca doses as a precaution after an unconfirmed number of people developed blood clots. It follows reports of "serious cases of blood clots among vaccinated people," a statement read. "It is currently not possible to conclude whether there is a link. We are acting early, it needs to be thoroughly investigated," Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said on Twitter.
Novavax says COVID-19 vaccine has 89.7% efficacy [48.6% in South Africa]
[Media report; see also press release.] Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine has an overall efficacy of 89.7%, according to final results of its phase 3 efficacy trial in the United Kingdom. It has a 96.4% efficacy against the original strain of the COVID-19 virus, but 86.3% when accounting for the B.1.1.7/501Y.V1 variant first found in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, the vaccine has shown 48.6% efficacy in South Africa, where the B1.351 variant is dominant. Efficacy is higher at 55.4% for HIV-negative individuals.
Emergence of a SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern with mutations in spike glycoprotein
Here, we describe a new SARS-CoV-2 lineage (501Y.V2) characterised by eight lineage-defining mutations in the spike protein, including three at important residues in the receptor-binding domain (K417N, E484K and N501Y) that may have functional significance. This lineage was identified in South Africa after the first epidemic wave in a severely affected metropolitan area. It spread rapidly, becoming dominant in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces within weeks. Whilst the full significance of the mutations is yet to be determined, the genomic data, showing the rapid expansion and displacement of other lineages in multiple regions, suggest that this lineage is associated with a selection advantage, most plausibly as a result of increased transmissibility or immune escape
Serological evidence of human infection with SARS-CoV-2: a systematic review and meta-analysis
16 506 studies were identified in the initial search, 2523 were assessed for eligibility after removal of duplicates and inappropriate titles and abstracts, and 404 serological studies (representing tests in 5 168 360 individuals) were included in the meta-analysis. In the 82 studies of higher quality, close contacts (18·0%, 95% CI 15·7–20·3) and high-risk health-care workers (17·1%, 9·9–24·4) had higher seroprevalence than did low-risk health-care workers (4·2%, 1·5–6·9) and the general population (8·0%, 6·8–9·2). Antibody-mediated herd immunity is far from being reached in most settings.
Delayed Large Local Reactions to mRNA-1273 Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 [Moderna]
Here, we report on a series of 12 patients with these reactions, all of which appeared near the injection site after complete resolution of the initial local and systemic symptoms associated with vaccination. Some patients had concurrent systemic adverse effects, and among these patients, 2 had additional skin findings. Most patients received treatment for their symptoms (e.g., with ice and antihistamines). Some patients received glucocorticoids (topical, oral, or both), and 1 patient received antibiotic therapy for presumptive cellulitis. The symptoms resolved a median of 6 days after onset (range, 2 to 11). Given that neither local injection-site reactions nor delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions are contraindications to subsequent vaccination,2 all 12 patients were encouraged to receive the second dose and completed their mRNA-1273 vaccination course.