Four doses of mRNA vaccine benefit people living with HIV receiving anti-retroviral therapy
A CITF-funded study published in AIDS, demonstrated that fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses, irrespective of whether they are monovalent or bivalent, benefit people living with HIV (PLWH) who receive anti-retroviral therapies (ART), including those who have already experienced a SARS-CoV-2 infection.
More than three-quarters of Canadian blood donors had infection-acquired antibodies in the first weeks of the new year: Canadian Blood Services
Despite all donors having vaccine-related antibodies, seroprevalence data from Canadian Blood Services suggested that 76.2% of donors had infection-acquired antibodies by mid-January 2023.
Third dose of vaccine enhances antibody response, particularly among older adults
A CITF-funded study now published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases by Drs. Marc Romney (University of British Columbia), Zabrina Brumme and Mark Brockman (Simon Fraser University), demonstrated that a third dose of an mRNA vaccine significantly enhanced the magnitude and durability of antibody responses.
Pregnant individuals more reticent to get vaccinated in 2021
Despite the fact that pregnant individuals were prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination in late April 2021, a CITF-funded study, published in Vaccine, showed that COVID-19 vaccine coverage with at least one dose among pregnant individuals (71.2%) remained lower than in the general population of reproductive-age females (88%) at the end of 2021.
Unvaccinated healthcare workers in contact with infected patients have increased risk of COVID-19
A CITF-funded study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine looked at the risk of infection among healthcare workers (HCW). It found that unvaccinated HCW who came into direct contact with patients with COVID-19 on a ward designated for care of infected patients, or who handled objects used by infected patients were at elevated risk.
Poorer mental health reported in patients with acute SARS-CoV-2 infections needing visits to emergency departments
In a CITF-funded study published in Public Health, Dr. Corinne Hohl (University of British Columbia) revealed that SARS-CoV-2–positive patients who presented to emergency departments reported similar physical health conditions 30 days after discharge, but substantially worse mental health after 30 days compared to their SARS-CoV-2-negative counterparts.
Third vaccine doses have different efficacy against Omicron subvariants depending on a person’s infection history
A partially CITF-funded study published in Cell Reports demonstrated that people infected with SARS-CoV-2, whether before or after vaccination, have better antibody responses than vaccinated individuals who were never infected (SARS-CoV-2 naïve).
Vaccination during pregnancy effective at protecting infants
In a study published in BMJ, CITF-funded researchers Drs. Kumanan Wilson (University of Ottawa), Jeffrey Kwong (University of Toronto), and Deshayne Fell (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute) revealed that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is effective at protecting the newborns from SARS-CoV-2 infections and hospitalizations, particularly during the first two months of life.
Infection-acquired seroprevalence continued to increase in younger Canadians in December: Canadian Blood Services
Canadian Blood Services data suggest that 73.5% of donors had infection-acquired antibodies by the end of 2022. This was slightly higher than the 71% estimated at the end of November.