Journal Article > ReviewFull Text
E Clinical Medicine. 1 May 2023; Volume 59; 101965.; DOI:10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.101965
Shoham S, Batista C, Ben Amor Y, Ergonul O, Hassanain M, et al.
E Clinical Medicine. 1 May 2023; Volume 59; 101965.; DOI:10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.101965
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted immunocompromised patients. This diverse group is at increased risk for impaired vaccine responses, progression to severe disease, prolonged hospitalizations and deaths. At particular risk are people with deficiencies in lymphocyte number or function such as transplant recipients and those with hematologic malignancies. Such patients' immune responses to vaccination and infection are frequently impaired leaving them more vulnerable to prolonged high viral loads and severe complications of COVID-19. Those in turn, have implications for disease progression and persistence, development of immune escape variants and transmission of infection. Data to guide vaccination and treatment approaches in immunocompromised people are generally lacking and extrapolated from other populations. The large clinical trials leading to authorisation and approval of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and therapeutics included very few immunocompromised participants. While experience is accumulating, studies focused on the special circumstances of immunocompromised patients are needed to inform prevention and treatment approaches.
Journal Article > CommentaryFull Text
BMJ Glob Health. 1 April 2022; Volume 7 (Issue 4); e009010.; DOI:10.1136/bmjgh-2022-009010
Lazarus JV, Abdool Karim SS, van Selm L, Doran J, Batista C, et al.
BMJ Glob Health. 1 April 2022; Volume 7 (Issue 4); e009010.; DOI:10.1136/bmjgh-2022-009010
SUMMARY BOX
-- There has been open and closed vial COVID-19 vaccine wastage in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries, with wastage rates of up to 30%.
-- Plans to monitor, forecast and ultimately reduce vaccine wastage are urgently needed in every country.
-- Open vial wastage should be reduced by strategies increasing overall vaccination rates, such as overbooking appointments and appointment-free vaccination, as well as through technologies maximising the number of doses being extracted from the vial.
-- Closed vial wastage should be reduced by timely, well-organised surplus donations and reallocations, as well as supporting effective supply chain management in recipient countries.
-- There has been open and closed vial COVID-19 vaccine wastage in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries, with wastage rates of up to 30%.
-- Plans to monitor, forecast and ultimately reduce vaccine wastage are urgently needed in every country.
-- Open vial wastage should be reduced by strategies increasing overall vaccination rates, such as overbooking appointments and appointment-free vaccination, as well as through technologies maximising the number of doses being extracted from the vial.
-- Closed vial wastage should be reduced by timely, well-organised surplus donations and reallocations, as well as supporting effective supply chain management in recipient countries.
Journal Article > CommentaryFull Text
E Clinical Medicine. 1 January 2022; Volume 43; 101230.; DOI:10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.101230
Batista C, Hotez PJ, Ben Amor Y, Kim JH, Kaslow D, et al.
E Clinical Medicine. 1 January 2022; Volume 43; 101230.; DOI:10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.101230