GNN monthly update: January 23

Dear all,

Compliments of the season! Here is the first update of 2023.

Reminder:

If you would like to advertise the work of your NITAG through these monthly update, you can contact me with your recommendation.
If your NITAG would like to become a GNN member, please send me an email with the contact details of the chair and the secretariat.
If NITAG members would like to virtually attend SAGE meetings, you can contact myself and Saliha Beaumont This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be added to the participants’ list..

COVID-19:

NIAC (Irish NITAG) has updated their recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination of children aged 6 months to 4 years to reflect the dose interval of the Comirnaty. Full recommendation is available here.
Brazil NITAG recommends Covid-19 vaccination of children between six months and two years old with comorbidities and a booster dose for children between 5 and 11 years of age.
NACI (Canadian NITAG) issued guidance on COVID-19 vaccine booster doses: Initial considerations for 2023, available here. NACI continues to recommend COVID-19 booster doses as follows: o At least one booster dose should be offered to all adults 18 years of age and over and adolescents 12 to 17 years of age who are at increased risk of severe illness. (Strong NACI recommendation) • This recommendation predates guidance issued in the fall of 2022. The individuals identified above who have not yet received any booster dose should receive one. o All adults 65 years of age and older and individuals 5 to 64 years of age who are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should have received a booster dose since the start of fall 2022. For individuals who have not yet received a fall 2022 booster, it should be offered, as per the recommended interval. (Strong NACI recommendation) o Individuals 5 to 64 years of age without risk factors for severe illness from COVID-19 may have been offered a booster dose since the start of fall 2022. Individuals who have not yet received a fall 2022 booster may still be offered one, as per the recommended interval. (Discretionary NACI recommendation) o Bivalent Omicron-containing mRNA COVID-19 vaccines continue to be the preferred booster products for all individuals 5 years of age and over.

PCV:

NACI recommends that PNEU-C-15 vaccine may be used interchangeably with PNEU-C-13 vaccine in children less than 18 years of age. A pneumococcal vaccine series may be started or completed with either vaccine. Advance copy available on request.

Influenza:

NACI issued the statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2023–2024. New or Updated Information include:
Use of seasonal influenza vaccine in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Administration of COVID-19 vaccines may occur concurrently with (i.e., same day), or at any time before or after seasonal influenza immunization for those aged 6 months and older as of December 2022.
Updated recommendations on the use of mammalian cell culture-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine (IIV4-cc): NACI recommends that Flucelvax Quad may be considered among the quadrivalent influenza vaccines offered to adults and children 6 months of age and older.
Updated recommendations on the use of egg-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine (IIV4-SD): NACI recommends that Influvac Tetra may be considered among the standard dose inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccines offered to individuals three years of age and older. At this time, NACI concludes that there is insufficient evidence for recommending vaccination with Influvac Tetra in children younger than 3 years of age.

DPT:

Colombian NITAG recommends to change the DPT booster to pentavalent at 18 months of age.

Polio:

El Salvador NITAG recommends to continue the second booster at the age of 4 years with bOPV despite the introduction of Hexavalent vaccine as a first booster at the age of 15 months.

MMR:

Colombian NITAG recommends to change the MMR booster from 5 years to 18 months based on the recommendation of the International Measles - Rubella Commission.
El Salvador NITAG recommends not to administer MMR vaccine simultaneously with varicella vaccine because of increased risks of AEFIs.

SAGE:

The October meeting report has been published: Meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, October 2022: conclusions and recommendations (who.int)

WHO:

WHO is seeking external advisors for the Technical Advisory Group – Market Information for Access to Vaccines (TAG-MI4A). The call for experts can be found here: Call for Experts: Technical Advisory Group on Market Information for Access to Vaccines (TAG-MI4A) (who.int) . Applications are due February 12^th, 2023.

MI4A is a peer platform that leverages vaccine purchase data collected from countries and provides it publicly to inform product choice, conduct financial planning, optimize budgets, enhance procurement and strengthen national and regional capacity for improved access to vaccines. The data is also analyzed globally to enhance understanding of vaccine market dynamics and work towards universal access in service to the Immunization Agenda 2030. Vaccine manufacturers also participate by sharing information on their late-stage pipeline and available supply, as well as by engaging in dialogue to inform investment decisions. More information on MI4A can be found here Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (who.int)

Partners:

A paper published today inThe Lancet Infectious Diseases presents a systematic review of the level of immunity derived from COVID-19 infection, and from a mix of infection and vaccination known as ‘hybrid immunity.’ The analysis shows that hybrid immunity provides higher protection, demonstrating the advantages of vaccination even after people have had COVID-19. Based on data from 26 studies, the analysis shows that protection against severe disease and hospitalization remains high 12 months after developing hybrid immunity or having an infection, when compared to unvaccinated and uninfected individuals. One year after developing hybrid immunity, a person had at least a 95% lower chance of getting severe COVID-19 or needing hospitalization, while those who were infected a year ago but not vaccinated had a 75% lower chance of the same. Protection against reinfection was lower than that against severe disease, though still substantial. Those with hybrid immunity had a 42% lower chance of being reinfected one year later. Those who had been infected before, had a 25% lower chance of the same. These findings are the product of a joint collaboration between World Health Organization, theUnity StudiesandSeroTracker. Read the article:https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(22)00801-5/fulltext

GNN:

CHANGE OF DATE: The face-to-face GNN meeting is now scheduled for June 14-16^th 2023 in Amman, Jordan. The meeting will be hybrid to allow remote participation.

As we are building the agenda, we welcome ideas from NITAG members. Feel free to share them with us. The draft agenda can be consulted on request.

Best wishes to all!

Louise