COVID-19, Vaccines

by David O. Freedman, M.D. last updated 2023-03-20 08:09:20.586060-04:00 © Antimicrobial Therapy, Inc.
COVID-19 Vaccines, Vaccination Schedules

Introduction

  • Last CDC vaccination recommendations update was December 9, 2022 to include bivalent vaccine doses for ages 6 mos - 4 yrs.
  • Official CDC vaccine acronyms: 
    • 1vCOV-mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna), 
    • 2vCOV-mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna)
    • 1vCOV-aPS (Novavax only)
  • Data to February 2023: Additional VE of ~30% against infection 2 mos after bivalent booster (vs previous monovalent booster doses only) against hospitalization from current strains for approximately 3 months.
  • IF >5 yrs of age, only monovalent and not bivalent vaccines for primary series doses if unvaccinated
  • Novavax is monovalent only; not useable for boosters.
    • A monovalent Novavax booster dose may be used in limited situations if  >18 yrs with a complete primary series of any COVID-19 vaccine, have not received any previous booster doses, and are unable or unwilling to receive an mRNA vaccine.  
      • The monovalent Novavax booster dose (only if no previous boosters) must be administered >6 mos after primary series not at >2 mos as with mRNA first boosters.
  • See below and individual vaccine page for vaccine doses, efficacy, adverse effects, and mix and match dosing : see Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen/J&J, Novavax, AstraZeneca
  • Data for and against need for annual vaccination against SARS-CoV still under early study.
    • Switch to bivalent vaccine for all doses imminent.
    • Need for updates to current bivalent formulation remain uncertain.

Indications for Vaccination (US)

  • All US persons age >6 mos should be vaccinated with a 2- or 3-dose primary series and booster regardless of a history of symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, presence of long COVID, or history of a SARS-Cov2 breakthrough infection. 
  • Defer vaccination until recovery from acute episode and discontinuation of isolation.
    • After SARS-CoV-2 infection may consider delaying of next dose by 3 mos from symptom onset or positive test.
  •  For normal hosts:
    • Age >12 yrs: 2 primary monovalent doses (Moderna, Pfizer, or Novavax) followed by 1 bivalent mRNA
      booster dose >2 mos later.
      • A single (no further boosters subsequently) bivalent mRNA booster dose >2 mos from the previous monovalent vaccine dose for recipients of:
        • Primary (monovalent) series only
        • Primary series + 1 booster; or
        • Primary series + 2 boosters 
      • Only bivalent vaccine should be used for boosters after a primary series;
      • No monovalent vaccine boosters at any time; superces previously recommended schedules/intervals
      • CDC up-to-date status: 1) a primary series and receipt of the most recent booster dose recommended by CDC required.
    • Children ages 6–11 yrs: A 2-dose primary monovalent series and a one time single bivalent mRNA booster dose (Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech) >2 mos after completion of primary series or the most recent monovalent booster dose with any vaccine.
    • Children 5 yrs old: Use only Pfizer for bivalent booster after primary series as per 6-11 yrs olds.
    • Ages 6 mos–4 yrs who receive a complete 2-dose monovalent Moderna primary series to receive 1 bivalent Moderna booster >2 mos after completion of primary series.
      • 5 yrs olds may also receive bivalent Pfizer vaccine >2 mos after completion of the Moderna primary series.
    • Ages 6 mos–4 yrs:  monovalent Pfizer vaccine for the first and second doses, followed by 1 bivalent Pfizer vaccine as the 3rd primary dose >8 wks after the second monovalent primary series dose.
      • A bivalent booster dose (4th dose) is now authorized 2 mos after a previous 3-dose monovalent series of Pfizer.
  • CDC schedule for immunocompromised persons (see Immunocompromised, HIV below).

U.S. CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Schedules

COVID19-vaccination-schedule-most-people-02-19-23.png

EMA-approved COVID-19 Vaccines

  • EMA-approved vaccines (non-FDA approved)
    • VidPrevatyn (Sanofi;GSK), monovalent adjuvanted protein vaccine based on the Beta Variant, is EMA approved (>18 yrs) to be given once as boosters for persons given mRNA or adenovirus vaccines.  
      • Wait >4 mos after a previous vaccine dose.
  • Complete list of EMA Approved Covid-19 Vaccines

WHO-approved COVID-19 Vaccines

Efficacy, Duration of Protection

  • Time since most recent COVID-19 vaccine dose is likely more important than cumulative number of doses.
  • With continued viral evolution, after the primary series and the critical first booster, each booster dose stands on its own in inducing high VE against hospitalization for 3-6 mos.
  • Bivalent boosters provide additional moderate increased VE (vs previous monovalent booster doses only) against hospitalization from current strains for approximately 3 months.
  • Against hospitalization
    • Late Omicron era: VE (median d since most recent dose) of monovalent mRNA vaccines against hospitalization in immunocompetent persons >18 yrs is 25% after 2 doses (445d), 34% after 3 doses (229d), and for persons >50 yrs 60% after 4 doses (84d).
    • Absolute VE of 2 or more monovalent doses against hospitalization 19% and 28% for ages 18-64 and >65 respectively
    • Relative VE (versus monovalent booster doses only) of bivalent booster at >7d and 2-4 mos since booster in adults >18 yrs:  52% and 31% respectively
    • VE against omicron BA.4.6, BA.5, BQ.1, and BQ.1.1:  
      • Against severe infection over d 15 to 99 after receipt of one monovalent booster dose, VE was 25.2% (during Q2 2022) and the corresponding VE for one bivalent booster dose was 58.7% (during Q4 of 2022)(N Engl J Med, Jan 25, 2023, online ahead of print).
        • VE equal in >65 yr group vs 12-64 yrs of age.
  • Against symptomatic infection
    • 4 doses of monovalent mRNA vaccine (compared to 3 doses; no 4th dose) has VE drops which drops from ~50% at 2 wks post dose 4 to ~35% at 3 mos.
    • Children <5 yrs VE of ~40% for primary series against symptomatic infection, wanes after 4 mos. Moderna > Pfizer
    • Relative VE (versus monovalent booster) of bivalent booster against symptomatic infection at 4-5 months since booster:  41%, 28%, 21% for age 18-49, 50-64, >65 respectively
  • Meta-analysis on protection by previous infection and hybrid immunity.  Lancet DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02465-5

Choice, Interchangeability

  • The same monovalent vaccine product should be used for all doses of the primary series (Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax).
    • Exceptions:  use bivalent Pfizer vaccine for primary dose 3 in ages 6 mos-4 yrs and use heterologous mRNA if homologous not available or possible.
    • Bivalent Moderna vaccine is not authorized <6 yrs of age but bivalent Pfizer vaccine is authorized >5 yrs old
  • Either homologous or heterologous age-appropriate bivalent mRNA vaccine for the bivalent booster dose except Pfizer only in 5 yr olds. 
  • Novavax is a recombinant protein sub-subunit, adjuvanted vaccine made by conventional production; with mRNA vaccines the recipient's body makes the same SARS-CoV-2 protein after injection of the mRNA
  • Janssen/J&J is a last resort vaccine and is not readily available
  • Pre-Omicron data indicate that the Moderna vaccine has both a VE and durability advantage over the Pfizer vaccine (higher mRNA dose in monovalent doses)

Toxicities

Contraindications

  • See individual vaccine pages
  • Recent exposure to SARS-CoV-2 is not a contraindication or precaution to COVID-19 vaccination.

Precautions

  • See individual vaccine pages
  • Recent SARS-CoV-2 infection may allow consideration of delaying a primary series dose or booster dose by 3 mos
    • Increased interval may improve immune response to vaccination.
  • Administration of an antiviral drug pre- or post-vaccination unlikely to impair response

Adverse Effects

  • See individual vaccine pages for minor adverse effects.
  • Safety similar whether monovalent or bivalent vaccine is used as a 4th dose (2nd booster).
  • Myocarditis: 131 myocarditis cases reported to VAERS after 123 million mRNA booster vaccinations.
    • Risk primarily in adolescent and young adult males
    • No increase in children ages 5–11 yrs following 1st booster
    • Rates are lower following 1st booster dose vs. dose 2 of primary series (and lower following dose 1 vs. dose 2 of primary series)
    • An 8-wks interval between the first and second primary series doses of Moderna, Novavax, and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines may be optimal to reduce myocarditis.
  • No safety signals for ischemic stroke with mRNA vaccines with primary doses or monovalent boosters in US or any other country.
  • One small cluster of ischemic stroke after a bivalent booster in persons >65 at a single reporting site in 1 of several US CDC and Pfizer surveillance networks needs further investigation.  
    • Possible association with concomitant adjuvanted influenza vaccine needs study prior to 2023-24 flu season.

Drug Interactions

  • Influenza (including HD or adjuvanted) and COVID-19 vaccines to be given at the same visit, if eligible.
  • COVID-19 vaccines may be administered without regard to timing of other vaccines.
  • Dose 2 administered no more than 4 d before the minimum (21 or 28 d) interval is valid; however, do not repeat an inadvertent dose administered earlier
  • No minimum interval between COVID-19 vaccination and monkeypox vaccine
  • Consider waiting 4 wks after monkeypox vaccination before COVID-19 vaccination to minimize myocarditis

Special Populations

Pregnancy, Breastfeeding

  • Vaccinate according to standard recommendations if pregnant, breastfeeding, attempting or contemplating conception.
    • Pregnant and recently pregnant persons at increased risk for severe illness and the fetus is at increased risk
  • Benefits outweighs risks of vaccination.
  • Antibodies are transferred to the newborn.
  • No contraindications to breastfeeding.

Immunocompromised, HIV

COVID19-vaccination-schedule-immunocompromised-03-2022.png

  • If possible, COVID-19 vaccines should be administered at least 2 wks before initiation or resumption of immunosuppressive therapies.
  • Persons with HIV not at higher risk of severe disease after completing vaccination.
    • Severe disease risk higher if CD4<350 even with vaccination;  ensure up to date with bivalent boosting. 
  • NCCN recommends against Novavax in active cancer patients unless no choice.
  • Self-attestation to moderately or severely immunocompromised status is acceptable.
  • New immunocompromise after a 2-dose primary series, no additional primary doses;  immunocompromised schedule for the booster dose
  • Revaccinate HCT or CAR-T-cell therapy recipients with an mRNA vaccine or Novavax >3 mos after HCT or CAR-T-cell therapy 
  • Consider revaccination if 1 or more doses of vaccine (primary series and bivalent booster doses) received during short-course treatment with B-cell-depleting therapies (e.g., rituximab, ocrelizumab)  begining at about 6 mos after completion of therapy.
  • Administration of vaccines should not be delayed in patients on ongoing immunosuppressives.
  • Administer vaccine doses approximately 4 wks before the next scheduled therapy for patients on ongoing B-cell-depleting therapies
  • Tixagevimab/cilgavimab (EVUSHELD™) no longer recommended as prophylaxis

Serologic Testing

  • Antibody testing is not recommended to assess for immunity following COVID-19 vaccination or to assess the need for vaccination in an unvaccinated person
  • No correlates of protection are available and assays vary widely
  • +ve IgG only minimally reassuring, -ve IgG unhelpful in patients whose ability to mount a B-cell response is uncertain

Comments

  • Age-appropriate vaccine product and dosage is based on age on the day of vaccination.
    • a move from a younger age group to an older age group during the primary series requires the vaccine product and dosage for the older age group
  • mRNA vaccines do not have a risk of modifying the vaccine recipient’s genetic makeup as mRNA does not enter cell nucleus where host DNA is located.
  • Vaccine pipeline (WHO)
  • See also