ACIP: The benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the risks
Today Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) released a summary of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP) findings on adverse events related to the three COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use in the United States, Pfizer’s two-dose mRNA vaccines and Moderna, and a single injection vaccine against Johnson & Johnson adenovirus.
Since this spring, ACIP has met three times to discuss associations between vaccines and adverse events, including myocarditis after mRNA vaccines, and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and thrombosis with syndrome. thrombocytopenia (STT) after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
On July 22, ACIP met and concluded that the benefits of all vaccines outweighed the risk of side effects.
The group shared per million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine given to men aged 50 to 64, 1,800 hospitalizations, 480 intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and 140 deaths from COVID-19 could be prevented, against 14 to 17 GBS cases and 1 to 2 TTS cases.
For men aged 18 to 29, 9,600 cases of COVID-19 per million doses of mRNA vaccine could be prevented, and 22 to 27 cases of myocarditis could be expected.
“Based on a comprehensive review of existing data, in the context of the continued transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the United States in July 2021, ACIP concluded that 1) The benefits of vaccinating all age groups recommended with the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine or the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine outweigh the risks of vaccination, including the risks of GBS and TTS after vaccination Janssen COVID-19, or myocarditis after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination; 2) Continuous safety monitoring of serious adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination is essential; and 3) providers and the public should be made aware of this potential harm and the use of COVID-19 vaccines, â€the group concluded.
August 10 MMWR to study
Study finds high number of antimicrobial resistance genes in healthy Vietnamese children and adults
A small genomic study in Vietnam found a large abundance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in the gut microbiomes of healthy adults and children, with very young children having the greatest abundance, researchers reported today. ‘hui in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Hypothesizing that the gut microbiome could be a major reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes in Vietnam, a country with high levels of resistant pathogens, the researchers performed metagenomic shotgun sequencing on 42 fecal samples. of 21 children and 21 adults in Ho Chi Minh City. Participants had no known viral, bacterial, or parasitic gastrointestinal infections, no records of diarrheal episodes in the previous 6 months, and no antimicrobial use in the previous 3 months. Participants were separated into three groups for analysis: 0-23 months, 2-5 years, and adults.
A total of 132 AMR genes were identified, with resistance genes to MLS (macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin) and tetracycline identified in over 95% of samples, and 48 different beta-lactamase genes identified. Several genes associated with highly drug-resistant pathogens, including blahCTX-M gene, have been detected. An overall comparison of the abundance of AMR genes revealed that children in the 0-23 month group had lower microbial diversity but had a greater number of AMR genes compared to other age groups, with a lower microbial diversity. median number of 31 AMR genes, compared to 25 in the 2-5 age group and 21 in adults.
The study authors suggest that children under the age of 2 may have the greatest abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes because they are the most likely to receive antimicrobials when they are sick and the most likely to be. infected with an enteric pathogen.
“Our data highlight the large abundance of AMR genes in the gut microbiome of healthy adults and children, which may play a role in antibiotic resistance in enteric pathogens,” they write. “We need to better understand the mechanisms behind microbial diversity and the selective pressure that keeps the resident genes of AMR within those of LMICs. [low- and middle-income countries]. “
August 10 J Infect Dis abstract
Polish mink present new variant of SARS-CoV-2
Fifteen of 91 minks (17%) on a Polish mink farm have tested positive for a new variant of SARS-CoV-2, according to a Emerging infectious diseases study yesterday.
Researchers sampled all mink slaughtered for skinning on November 17, 2020, at a farm in Pomorskie Voivodeship, northern Poland. None showed respiratory symptoms, according to the owner, but 15 were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2.
Genome analysis via amplicon and Illumina-based nanopore sequencing showed that the infecting variant of SARS-CoV-2 included two mutations in the spike protein (G757 and C1247F), which were only observed simultaneously. in any of the SARS-CoV-2 sequences in the GISAID Database. Analysis suggests that the variant diverged from a common ancestor on September 31, 2020, or evolved on its own after the virus was introduced to the farm on October 4, 2020.
“We believe that a nationwide biomonitoring program should be activated as soon as possible to prevent the fur production sector from being a reservoir for future SARS-CoV-2 fallout on humans.” , write the researchers. They note that since their sampling, a farm worker may have experienced a possible zoonotic overflow of the virus.
Last year, when farmed mink were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 in the Netherlands and Denmark, the two countries slaughtered all farmed mink within their borders, the Denmark by killing up to 17 million. According to the researchers, Poland has around 6.3 million mink in 354 active farms. Animal health experts have said that SARS-CoV-2 in mink farms poses a high risk to humans, who can contract variants of mink and other wildlife.
August 9 Emerg Infect Dis to study
