Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine less effective against infection for kids 5 to 11, study suggests

The vaccine’s efficacy against infection among those children declined to 12 per cent at the end of January from 68 per cent in mid-December compared to kids who did not get vaccinated, according the study, which has not yet been peer reviewed.
Two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was protective against severe disease in children aged five to 11 during the recent Omicron variant surge, but quickly lost most of its ability to prevent infection in the age group, according to a study by New York State researchers.

“These results highlight the potential need to study alternative vaccine dosing for children and the continued importance layered protections, including mask wearing, to prevent infection and transmission,” the researchers said.

“It’s not surprising that protection against mild illness would wane, We know that Omicron is somewhat immune evasive for protection against mild illness. The goal of the vaccine is to protect against severe illness — to keep children out of the hospital.”

Possible case of deer-to human Covid infection identified in Canada
Researchers say its unlikely that the variant found in deer could bypass vaccines, but urge better monitoring of Covid in animals

Canadian researchers believe they have found the first-ever instance of a deer passing the coronavirus to a human, warning that broader surveillance of wildlife is needed to prevent further mutations from developing and spreading undetected.

In a paper published last week, but not yet peer reviewed, scientists say at least one case of Covid-19 in humans can be traced to a strain of the virus found in hunted deer.
Biologists have previously found white tail deer populations infected with Covid in northeastern regions of the United States, as well as central provinces of Canada. While deer aren’t typically seen as a species that can easily pass on the virus to humans, experts had nonetheless speculated that transmission was possible.

Researchers say its unlikely that the variant found in deer could bypass vaccines, but urge better monitoring of Covid in animals.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has concluded that a precautionary approach of separating the time between administering COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 vaccines is now no longer necessary and recommends that COVID-19 vaccines may be given concomitantly with (i.e. same day), or any time before or after, non-COVID-19 vaccines (including live, non-live, adjuvanted, or unadjuvanted).

If more than one type of vaccine is administered at a single visit, they should be administered at different injection sites using separate injection equipment.

Novavax has received approval for Canada’s first protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine called Nuvaxovid. Nuvaxovid (COVID-19 vaccine, recombinant protein, adjuvanted) is indicated for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 in individuals 18 years of age or older. It will be an option for people unable or unwilling to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Action: Nuvaxovid is composed of SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike (S) protein nanoparticles. A saponin-based Matrix-M adjuvant is added to enhance the magnitude of the S protein-specific immune response. Note that Nuvaxovid will be the first vaccine in Canada to contain the Matrix-M adjuvant and is NOT a mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Dosage: The manufacturer’s recommended dosage is two 0.5 mL doses, administered intramuscularly three weeks apart. However, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends an interval of eight weeks between the first and second doses, as this schedule is expected to provide a more robust and durable immune response and higher vaccine effectiveness.

Health Canada has not approved Nuvaxovid for use as a booster. However, NACI states that Nuvaxovid may be offered (off-label) as a booster dose to people who are not able to receive an mRNA vaccine, regardless of which COVID-19 vaccines were received in the primary series.

Booster doses for youth aged 12 to 17

Effective immediately, youth aged 12 to 17 can receive their third (booster) dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Ottawa Public Health vaccination clinics. Drop-ins are welcome at all the clinics. Please visit the Ottawa Public Health webpage for clinic locations and hours. Please consult our website regularly as clinic hours are subject to change.

If preferred, booster appointments can be booked, starting Friday, February 18, online through the provincial booking system or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900. Boosters for this age group are also available at some pharmacies administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Individuals must be 12 years old on the day they receive the vaccine and six months (168 days) must have passed since their second dose. A longer interval like this between doses results in a stronger immune response and is expected to also be longer lasting. This age group will receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Booster doses for people aged 12 and older previously infected with COVID-19

Vaccination continues to be the strongest protection against COVID-19, even for those with a prior COVID-19 infection. While infection alone may provide some protection, vaccination following infection is expected to strengthen the immune response and to provide a more robust and longer-lasting protection against COVID-19.

Ontario will further ease public health measures, including, but not limited to:

Increasing social gathering limits to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
Increasing organized public event limits to 50 people indoors, with no limit outdoors.
Removing capacity limits in the following indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to:

Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities
Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms
Cinemas.

Meeting and event spaces, including conference centres or convention centres
Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments.

Indoor areas of settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
Allowing 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity at sports arenas.
Allowing 50 percent of the usual seating capacity for concert venues and theatres.
Increasing indoor capacity limits to 25 per cent in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs, restaurants where there is dancing, as well as bathhouses and sex clubs.

Increasing capacity limits for indoor weddings, funerals or religious services, rites, or ceremonies to the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance. Capacity limits are removed if the location opts-in to use proof of vaccination or if the service, rite, or ceremony is occurring outdoors.