Background: Public reluctance to receive COVID-19 vaccination is associated with safety concerns. By contrast, the seasonal influenza vaccine has been administered for decades with a solid safety record and a high level of public acceptance. We compare the safety profile of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 booster vaccine to that of the seasonal influenza vaccine.
Methods: We study a prospective cohort of 5079 participants in Israel and a retrospective cohort of 250,000 members of MHS selected randomly. We examine reactions to BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 booster and to influenza vaccinations. All prospective cohort participants wore a smartwatch and completed a daily digital questionnaire. We compare pre-vaccination and post-vaccination smartwatch heart-rate data, and a stress measure based on heart-rate variability. We also examine adverse events from electronic health records.
Results: In the prospective cohort, 1905 participants receive the COVID-19 booster vaccine; 899 receive influenza vaccination. Focusing on those who receive both vaccines yields a total of 689 participants in the prospective cohort and 31,297 members in the retrospective cohort. Individuals reporting a more severe reaction after influenza vaccination tend to likewise report a more severe reaction after COVID-19 vaccination. In paired analysis, the increase in both heart rate and stress measure for each participant is higher for COVID-19 than for influenza in the first 2 days after vaccination. No elevated risk of hospitalization due to adverse events is found following either vaccine. Except for Bell's palsy after influenza vaccination, no elevated risk of adverse events is found.
Conclusions: The more pronounced side effects after COVID-19 vaccination may explain the greater concern associated with it. Nevertheless, our comprehensive analysis supports the safety profile of both vaccines.
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11344792 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43856-024-00588-7 | DOI Listing |
Viruses
December 2024
World Health Organization, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland.
Setting up a global SARS-CoV-2 surveillance system requires an understanding of how virus isolation and propagation practices, use of animal or human sera, and different neutralisation assay platforms influence assessment of SARS-CoV-2 antigenicity. In this study, with the contribution of 15 independent laboratories across all WHO regions, we carried out a controlled analysis of neutralisation assay platforms using the first WHO International Standard for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (source: NIBSC). Live virus isolates (source: WHO BioHub or individual labs) or spike plasmids (individual labs) for pseudovirus production were used to perform neutralisation assays using the same serum panels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFViruses
December 2024
Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
This study evaluated influenza A virus (IAV) detection and genetic diversity over time, specifically at the human-swine interface in breeding and nursery farms. Active surveillance was performed monthly in five swine farms in the Midwest United States targeting the employees, the prewean piglets at sow farms, and the same cohort of piglets in downstream nurseries. In addition, information was collected at enrollment for each employee and farm to assess production management practices, IAV vaccination status, diagnostic procedures, and biosecurity.
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December 2024
State Public Health Laboratory, Zapopan 45170, Jalisco, Mexico.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic profoundly disrupted the epidemiology of respiratory viruses, driven primarily by widespread non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as social distancing and masking. This eight-year retrospective study examines the seasonal patterns and incidence of influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and other respiratory viruses across pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic phases in Jalisco, Mexico. Weekly case counts were analyzed using an interrupted time series (ITS) model, segmenting the timeline into these three distinct phases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFViruses
November 2024
Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Pediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been recognized as a highly important cause of morbidity and mortality among children and adults. A cross-sectional study at representative sites in Jordan was undertaken to provide an assessment of the epidemiology and health and economic burdens of RSV and influenza infections in Jordan amongst hospitalized children under 5 years old for the period between 15 November 2022 and 14 April 2023. This study involved 1000 patients with a mean age of 17.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVaccines (Basel)
December 2024
College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Background: Recombinant avian influenza subunit vaccines often require adjuvants to enhance immune responses. This study aims to evaluate the immune-enhancing potential of seven combination adjuvants in specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens.
Methods: SPF chickens were vaccinated with combinations of ISA78VG and adjuvants, including Quil-A, CpG, and monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA).
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