Effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and hybrid immunity in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and symptomatic COVID-19 among adults in the United States.

Background: Understanding protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection by vaccine and hybrid immunity is important for informing public health strategies as new variants emerge.

Methods: We analyzed data from three cohort studies spanning September 1, 2022-July 31, 2023, to estimate COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) against SARS-CoV-2 infection and symptomatic COVID-19 among adults with and without prior infection in the United States. Participants collected weekly nasal swabs, irrespective of symptoms, annual blood draws, and completed periodic surveys, which included vaccination status and prior infection history.

PNEUMOCOCCAL SEROTYPE DISTRIBUTION AND COVERAGE OF EXISTING AND PIPELINE PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINES.

Background: (pneumococcus) causes invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and non-invasive acute respiratory infections (ARIs). Three pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) are recommended in the United States with additional products in clinical trials. We aimed to estimate 1) proportions of IPD cases and pneumococcal ARIs caused by serotypes targeted by existing and pipeline PCVs and 2) annual U.

Benefit of early oseltamivir therapy for adults hospitalized with influenza A: an observational study.

Background: clinical guidelines recommend initiation of antiviral therapy as soon as possible for patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected influenza.

Methods: A multicenter US observational sentinel surveillance network prospectively enrolled adults (aged ≥18 years) hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza at 24 hospitals during October 1, 2022-July 21, 2023. A multivariable proportional odds model was used to compare peak pulmonary disease severity (no oxygen support, standard supplemental oxygen, high-flow oxygen/non-invasive ventilation, invasive mechanical ventilation, or death) after the day of hospital admission among patients starting oseltamivir treatment on the day of admission (early) versus those who did not (late or not treated), adjusting for baseline (admission day) severity, age, sex, site, and vaccination status.

In depth sequencing of a serially sampled household cohort reveals the within-host dynamics of Omicron SARS-CoV-2 and rare selection of novel spike variants.

SARS-CoV-2 has undergone repeated and rapid evolution to circumvent host immunity. However, outside of prolonged infections in immunocompromised hosts, within-host positive selection has rarely been detected. The low diversity within-hosts and strong genetic linkage among genomic sites make accurately detecting positive selection difficult.

Asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic influenza virus infections by season --Case-ascertained household transmission studies, United States, 2017-2023.

Asymptomatic influenza virus infection occurs but may vary by factors such as age, vaccination status, or season. We examined the frequency of influenza virus infection and symptoms using data from two case-ascertained household transmission studies (2017-2023) with prospective, systematic collection of respiratory specimens and symptoms. From the 426 influenza virus infected household contacts that met our inclusion criteria, 8% were asymptomatic, 6% had non-respiratory symptoms, 23% had acute respiratory symptoms, and 62% had influenza-like illness symptoms.

Estimated Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccines in Preventing Secondary Infections in Households.

Importance: Influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) is commonly assessed against prevention of illness that requires medical attention. Few studies have evaluated VE against secondary influenza infections.

Objective: To determine the estimated effectiveness of influenza vaccines in preventing secondary infections after influenza was introduced into households.

Opioid analgesic and antidepressant use during pregnancy and the risk of spontaneous preterm birth: A nested case-control study.

Background: Given the high prevalence of both mental health and acute pain conditions during pregnancy, use of antidepressants and analgesic opioids in this period is widespread. Whether single and combined use of these medications is associated with spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) remains unclear.

Objectives: To investigate the association between maternal prescription opioid and antidepressant medication exposures for co-occurring mental health and acute pain management, either alone or in combination, and sPTB.

Assessment and mitigation of bias in influenza and COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness analyses - IVY Network, September 1, 2022-March 30, 2023.

Background: In test-negative studies of vaccine effectiveness (VE), including patients with co-circulating, vaccine-preventable, respiratory pathogens in the control group for the pathogen of interest can introduce a downward bias on VE estimates.

Methods: A multicenter sentinel surveillance network in the US prospectively enrolled adults hospitalized with acute respiratory illness from September 1, 2022-March 31, 2023. We evaluated bias in estimates of VE against influenza-associated and COVID-19-associated hospitalization based on: inclusion vs exclusion of patients with a co-circulating virus among VE controls; observance of VE against the co-circulating virus (rather than the virus of interest), unadjusted and adjusted for vaccination against the virus of interest; and observance of influenza or COVID-19 against a sham outcome of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Effectiveness of Original Monovalent and Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines Against COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization and Severe In-Hospital Outcomes Among Adults in the United States, September 2022-August 2023.

Background: Assessments of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness are needed to monitor the protection provided by updated vaccines against severe COVID-19. We evaluated the effectiveness of original monovalent and bivalent (ancestral strain and Omicron BA.4/5) COVID-19 vaccination against COVID-19-associated hospitalization and severe in-hospital outcomes.

Influenza A virus within-host evolution and positive selection in a densely sampled household cohort over three seasons.

While influenza A virus (IAV) antigenic drift has been documented globally, in experimental animal infections, and in immunocompromised hosts, positive selection has generally not been detected in acute infections. This is likely due to challenges in distinguishing selected rare mutations from sequencing error, a reliance on cross-sectional sampling, and/or the lack of formal tests of selection for individual sites. Here, we sequenced IAV populations from 346 serial, daily nasal swabs from 143 individuals collected over three influenza seasons in a household cohort.

Contextual factors associated with successful alcohol screening and brief intervention implementation and sustainment in adult primary care.

Introduction: Hazardous drinking is a public health problem affecting approximately 20 % of the U.S. primary care population.

Influenza virus shedding and symptoms: Dynamics and implications from a multiseason household transmission study.

Isolation of symptomatic infectious persons can reduce influenza transmission. However, virus shedding that occurs without symptoms will be unaffected by such measures. Identifying effective isolation strategies for influenza requires understanding the interplay between individual virus shedding and symptom presentation.

Estimating the generation time for influenza transmission using household data in the United States.

The generation time, representing the interval between infections in primary and secondary cases, is essential for understanding and predicting the transmission dynamics of seasonal influenza, including the real-time effective reproduction number (Rt). However, comprehensive generation time estimates for seasonal influenza, especially post the 2009 influenza pandemic, are lacking. We estimated the generation time utilizing data from a 7-site case-ascertained household study in the United States over two influenza seasons, 2021/2022 and 2022/2023.

Reduced Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Household Contacts with Recent Vaccination and Past COVID-19 Infection: Results from Two Multi-Site Case-Ascertained Household Transmission Studies.

Households are a primary setting for transmission of SARS-CoV-2. We examined the role of prior SARS-CoV-2 immunity on the risk of infection in household close contacts. Households in the United States with an individual who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during September 2021-May 2023 were enrolled if the index case's illness began ≤6 days prior.

Acceptance of a third COVID-19 vaccine dose, vaccine interchangeability, and clinical trial enrolment among parents of children 12-17 years in Lima, Perú.

Objectives: To characterize factors associated with parental willingness for their children participation in a COVID-19 vaccine trial, use of different COVID-19 vaccines and acceptance of a third vaccine dose.

Methods: Parents of children aged 12-17 years in Lima, Perú were asked to complete an online questionnaire via social networks, from November 9, 2021, to April 23, 2022. We calculated crude and adjusted prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals to compare factors with the mentioned outcomes.

A Phase 3 Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of V116 in Pneumococcal Vaccine-Experienced Adults 50 Years of Age or Older (STRIDE-6).

Background: Pneumococcal diseases cause considerable morbidity and mortality in adults. V116 is an investigational 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) specifically designed to protect adults from pneumococcal serotypes responsible for the majority of residual pneumococcal diseases. This phase 3 study evaluated safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of V116 in pneumococcal vaccine-experienced adults aged ≥50 years.

Asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic influenza virus infections by season -- Case-ascertained household transmission studies, United States, 2017-2023.

Asymptomatic influenza virus infection occurs but may vary by factors such as age, influenza vaccination status, or influenza season. We examined the frequency of influenza virus infection and associated symptoms using data from two case-ascertained household transmission studies (conducted from 2017-2023) with prospective, systematic collection of respiratory specimens and symptoms. From the 426 influenza virus infected household contacts that met our inclusion criteria, 8% were asymptomatic, 6% had non-respiratory symptoms, 23% had acute respiratory symptoms, and 62% had influenza-like illness symptoms.

Pilot Implementation of Guiando Buenas Decisiones, an Evidence-Based Parenting Program for Spanish-Speaking Families, in Pediatric Primary Care in a Large, U.S. Health System: A Qualitative Interview Study.

Adolescent substance use is a significant public health problem in the United States and Hispanic youth engage in substance use services at lower rates than other groups. For this under-served group, prevention services delivered in non-stigmatized, non-specialty care settings may increase access to the services. We describe findings from a feasibility pilot of the implementation of a virtual version of Guiando Buenas Decisiones (GBD), a universal, group-based substance use prevention program for parents.

Association of Symptoms and Viral Culture Positivity for SARS-CoV-2-Tennessee, April-July 2020.

Background: Understanding how symptoms are associated with SARS-CoV-2 culture positivity is important for isolation and transmission control guidelines.

Methods: Individuals acutely infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Tennessee and their household contacts were recruited into a prospective study. All participants self-collected nasal swabs daily for 14 days and completed symptom diaries from the day of illness onset through day 14 postenrollment.