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PloS One 2022Beliefs that the risks from a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the risks from getting COVID-19 and concerns that the vaccine development process was rushed and lacking rigor... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
PURPOSE
Beliefs that the risks from a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the risks from getting COVID-19 and concerns that the vaccine development process was rushed and lacking rigor have been identified as important drivers of hesitancy and refusal to get a COVID-19 vaccine. We tested whether messages designed to address these beliefs and concerns might promote intentions to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
METHOD
We conducted an online survey fielded between March 8-23, 2021 with US Veteran (n = 688) and non-Veteran (n = 387) respondents. In a between-subjects experiment, respondents were randomly assigned to a control group (with no message) or to read one of two intervention messages: 1. a fact-box styled message comparing the risks of getting COVID-19 compared to the vaccine, and 2. a timeline styled message describing the development process of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.
RESULTS
Most respondents (60%) wanted a COVID-19 vaccine. However, 17% expressed hesitancy and 23% did not want to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The fact-box styled message and the timeline message did not significantly improve vaccination intentions, F(2,358) = 0.86, p = .425, [Formula: see text] = .005, or reduce the time respondents wanted to wait before getting vaccinated, F(2,306) = 0.79, p = .453, [Formula: see text] = .005, compared to no messages.
DISCUSSION
In this experimental study, we did not find that providing messages about vaccine risks and the development process had an impact on respondents' vaccine intentions. Further research is needed to identify how to effectively address concerns about the risks associated with COVID-19 vaccines and the development process and to understand additional factors that influence vaccine intentions.
Topics: COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccines; Health Communication; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Intention; Vaccination; Vaccination Hesitancy; Vaccine Development; Vaccines
PubMed: 35930557
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272426 -
Journal of Medical Virology Mar 2022Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is associated with a severe respiratory disease in China, that rapidly spread across continents. Since the beginning of... (Review)
Review
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is associated with a severe respiratory disease in China, that rapidly spread across continents. Since the beginning of the pandemic, available data suggested the asymptomatic transmission and patients were treated with specific drugs with efficacy and safety data not always satisfactory. The aim of this review is to describe the vaccines developed by three companies, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and University of Oxford/AstraZeneca, in terms of both technological and pharmaceutical formulation, safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity. A critical analysis of Phases 1, 2, and 3 clinical trial results available was conducted, comparing the three vaccine candidates, underlining their similarities and differences. All candidates showed consistent efficacy and tolerability; although some differences can be noted, such as their technological formulation, temperature storage, which will be related to logistics and costs. Further studies will be necessary to evaluate long-term effects and to assess the vaccine safety and efficacy in the general population.
Topics: COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccines; Humans; SARS-CoV-2; Technology; Vaccine Development
PubMed: 34713912
DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27425 -
Vaccine Oct 2017
Topics: Biomedical Research; Congresses as Topic; Humans; Vaccine Potency; Vaccines
PubMed: 28826749
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.08.032 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is the most prevalent tick-borne viral disease affecting humans. The disease is life-threatening in many regions of the developing... (Review)
Review
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is the most prevalent tick-borne viral disease affecting humans. The disease is life-threatening in many regions of the developing world, including Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Southern Europe. In line with the rapidly increasing disease prevalence, various vaccine strategies are under development. Despite a large number of potential vaccine candidates, there are no approved vaccines as of yet. This paper presents a detailed comparative analysis of current efforts to develop vaccines against CCHFV, limitations associated with current efforts, and future research directions.
Topics: Humans; Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo; Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean; Africa; Asia; Vaccine Development
PubMed: 37753088
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1238882 -
Clinical Infectious Diseases : An... Aug 2022Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have significantly reduced pneumococcal disease, but disease from non-PCV serotypes remains. The safety, tolerability, and... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have significantly reduced pneumococcal disease, but disease from non-PCV serotypes remains. The safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a 20-valent PCV (PCV20) were evaluated.
METHODS
This pivotal phase 3, randomized, double-blind study enrolled adults into 3 age groups (≥60, 50-59, and 18-49 years) at US and Swedish sites. Participants were randomized to receive 1 PCV20 or 13-valent PCV (PCV13) dose. After 1 month, participants aged ≥60 years also received 1 dose of saline or 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). Safety assessments included local reactions, systemic events, adverse events, serious adverse events, and newly diagnosed chronic medical conditions. Opsonophagocytic activity geometric mean titers 1 month after PCV20 were compared with 13 matched serotypes after PCV13 and 7 additional serotypes after PPSV23 in participants aged ≥60 years; noninferiority was declared if the lower bound of the 2-sided 95% confidence interval for the opsonophagocytic activity geometric mean titer ratio (ratio of PCV20/saline to PCV13/PPSV23 group) was >0.5. PCV20-elicited immune responses in younger participants were also bridged to those in 60-64-year-olds.
RESULTS
The severity and frequency of prompted local reactions and systemic events were similar after PCV20 or PCV13; no safety concerns were identified. Primary immunogenicity objectives were met, with immune responses after PCV20 noninferior to 13 matched serotypes after PCV13 and to 6 additional PPSV23 serotypes in participants aged ≥60 years; serotype 8 missed the statistical noninferiority criterion. PCV20 induced robust responses to all 20 vaccine serotypes across age groups.
CONCLUSIONS
PCV20 was safe and well tolerated, with immunogenicity comparable to that of PCV13 or PPSV23. PCV20 is anticipated to expand protection against pneumococcal disease in adults.
CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION
NCT03760146.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antibodies, Bacterial; Double-Blind Method; Humans; Immunogenicity, Vaccine; Pneumococcal Infections; Pneumococcal Vaccines; Saline Solution; Serogroup; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Vaccines, Conjugate
PubMed: 34940806
DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab990 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2022
Topics: Humans; Immunologic Memory; Lung Diseases, Fungal; Mycoses; Vaccine Development
PubMed: 35572566
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.880037 -
ACS Applied Bio Materials Mar 2022This review discusses peptide epitopes used as antigens in the development of vaccines in clinical trials as well as future vaccine candidates. It covers peptides used... (Review)
Review
This review discusses peptide epitopes used as antigens in the development of vaccines in clinical trials as well as future vaccine candidates. It covers peptides used in potential immunotherapies for infectious diseases including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, hepatitis B and C, HIV, malaria, and others. In addition, peptides for cancer vaccines that target examples of overexpressed proteins are summarized, including human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), mucin 1 (MUC1), folate receptor, and others. The uses of peptides to target cancers caused by infective agents, for example, cervical cancer caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), are also discussed. This review also provides an overview of model peptide epitopes used to stimulate non-specific immune responses, and of self-adjuvanting peptides, as well as the influence of other adjuvants on peptide formulations. As highlighted in this review, several peptide immunotherapies are in advanced clinical trials as vaccines, and there is great potential for future therapies due the specificity of the response that can be achieved using peptide epitopes.
Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Animals; Antigens; Cancer Vaccines; Communicable Disease Control; Humans; Neoplasms; Peptides; Vaccine Development; Vaccines, Subunit
PubMed: 35195008
DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c01238 -
Microbial Pathogenesis Jul 2023The monkeypox virus (MPOX) is an uncommon zoonotic illness brought on by an orthopoxvirus (OPXV). MPOX can occur with symptoms similar to smallpox. Since April 25, 2023,... (Review)
Review
The monkeypox virus (MPOX) is an uncommon zoonotic illness brought on by an orthopoxvirus (OPXV). MPOX can occur with symptoms similar to smallpox. Since April 25, 2023, 110 nations have reported 87,113 confirmed cases and 111 fatalities. Moreover, the outspread prevalence of MPOX in Africa and a current outbreak of MPOX in the U.S. have made it clear that naturally occurring zoonotic OPXV infections remain a public health concern. Existing vaccines, though they provide cross-protection to MPOX, are not specific for the causative virus, and their effectiveness in the light of the current multi-country outbreak is still to be verified. Furthermore, as a sequel of the eradication and cessation of smallpox vaccination for four decades, MPOX found a possibility to re-emerge, but with distinct characteristics. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggested that nations use affordable MPOX vaccines within a framework of coordinated clinical effectiveness and safety evaluations. Vaccines administered in the smallpox control program and conferred immunity against MPOX. Currently, vaccines approved by WHO for use against MPOX are replicating (ACAM2000), low replicating (LC16m8), and non-replicating (MVA-BN). Although vaccines are accessible, investigations have demonstrated that smallpox vaccination is approximately 85% efficient in inhibiting MPOX. In addition, developing new vaccine methods against MPOX can help prevent this infection. To recognize the most efficient vaccine, it is essential to assess effects, including reactogenicity, safety, cytotoxicity effect, and vaccine-associated side effects, especially for high-risk and vulnerable people. Recently, several orthopoxvirus vaccines have been produced and are being evaluated. Hence, this review aims to provide an overview of the efforts dedicated to several types of vaccine candidates with different strategies for MPOX, including inactivated, live-attenuated, virus-like particles (VLPs), recombinant protein, nucleic acid, and nanoparticle-based vaccines, which are being developed and launched.
Topics: Humans; Mpox (monkeypox); Smallpox; Vaccinia virus; Vaccination; Vaccine Development
PubMed: 37201635
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106156 -
Tropical Medicine & International... Apr 2023The advent and use of antimicrobials have played a key role in treating potentially life-threatening infectious diseases, improving health, and saving the lives of... (Review)
Review
The advent and use of antimicrobials have played a key role in treating potentially life-threatening infectious diseases, improving health, and saving the lives of millions of people worldwide. However, the emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens has been a significant health challenge that has compromised the ability to prevent and treat a wide range of infectious diseases that were once treatable. Vaccines offer potential as a promising alternative to fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) infectious diseases. Vaccine technologies include reverse vaccinology, structural biology methods, nucleic acid (DNA and mRNA) vaccines, generalised modules for membrane antigens, bioconjugates/glycoconjugates, nanomaterials and several other emerging technological advances that are offering a potential breakthrough in the development of efficient vaccines against pathogens. This review covers the opportunities and advancements in vaccine discovery and development targeting bacterial pathogens. We reflect on the impact of the already-developed vaccines targeting bacterial pathogens and the potential of those currently under different stages of preclinical and clinical trials. More importantly, we critically and comprehensively analyse the challenges while highlighting the key indices for future vaccine prospects. Finally, the issues and concerns of AMR for low-income countries (sub-Saharan Africa) and the challenges with vaccine integration, discovery and development in this region are critically evaluated.
Topics: Humans; Vaccines; Bacteria; Antigens; Vaccine Development
PubMed: 36861882
DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13865 -
Vaccine Mar 2023This scoping review summarizes a key aspect of vaccinomics by collating known associations between heterogeneity in human genetics and vaccine immunogenicity and safety. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
This scoping review summarizes a key aspect of vaccinomics by collating known associations between heterogeneity in human genetics and vaccine immunogenicity and safety.
METHODS
We searched PubMed for articles in English using terms covering vaccines routinely recommended to the general US population, their effects, and genetics/genomics. Included studies were controlled and demonstrated statistically significant associations with vaccine immunogenicity or safety. Studies of Pandemrix®, an influenza vaccine previously used in Europe, were also included, due to its widely publicized genetically mediated association with narcolepsy.
FINDINGS
Of the 2,300 articles manually screened, 214 were included for data extraction. Six included articles examined genetic influences on vaccine safety; the rest examined vaccine immunogenicity. Hepatitis B vaccine immunogenicity was reported in 92 articles and associated with 277 genetic determinants across 117 genes. Thirty-three articles identified 291 genetic determinants across 118 genes associated with measles vaccine immunogenicity, 22 articles identified 311 genetic determinants across 110 genes associated with rubella vaccine immunogenicity, and 25 articles identified 48 genetic determinants across 34 genes associated with influenza vaccine immunogenicity. Other vaccines had fewer than 10 studies each identifying genetic determinants of their immunogenicity. Genetic associations were reported with 4 adverse events following influenza vaccination (narcolepsy, GBS, GCA/PMR, high temperature) and 2 adverse events following measles vaccination (fever, febrile seizure).
CONCLUSION
This scoping review identified numerous genetic associations with vaccine immunogenicity and several genetic associations with vaccine safety. Most associations were only reported in one study. This illustrates both the potential of and need for investment in vaccinomics. Current research in this field is focused on systems and genetic-based studies designed to identify risk signatures for serious vaccine reactions or diminished vaccine immunogenicity. Such research could bolster our ability to develop safer and more effective vaccines.
Topics: Humans; Influenza, Human; Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; Rubella; Measles; Fever; Immunogenicity, Vaccine; Antibodies, Viral
PubMed: 36803903
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.02.009