Meta-analyses on Pediatric Infections and Vaccines

Post-licensure safety monitoring of quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine using the national adverse event following immunization surveillance system from Zhejiang province, 2018-2020

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the reporting rate of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine (4vHPV) and to compare the reporting rate of AEFI following 4vHPV with those following other vaccines.

METHODS

Review and describe the AEFI reported to national adverse event following immunization surveillance system (NAEFISS) in Zhejiang province from 2018 to 2020. Reporting rates of AEFI were calculated by age, city, severity of AEFI, categories of AEFI, and reaction categories. The data mining algorithm used in this study was reporting odds ratio (ROR). A value of ROR‑1.96SE >1 (standard error [SE]) was considered as positive signal.

RESULTS

NAEFISS received 238 reports after receipt of 4vHPV and 899,282 doses of 4vHPV were administered during the study period, with a crude reporting rate of 2.7/10000 doses. Fever/redness/induration (101 reports) was the most common event reported (1.12/10000 doses). Two cases of anaphylactic shock, three cases of Guillain Barre Syndrome and two cases of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis were reported. ROR showed positive signals for seizure (ROR‑1.96SE: 2.1), syncope (ROR‑1.96SE: 1.3), allergic rash (ROR‑1.96SE: 1.6) and headache (ROR‑1.96SE: 2.1).

CONCLUSION

The present analysis did not identify new/unexpected safety concerns. Further epidemiological studies are required to systematically validate the data provided by NAEFISS.

Postlicensure surveillance of human papillomavirus vaccine using the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, 2006-2017

Background:

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has licensed three HPV (Human papilloma virus) vaccines. The centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) and advisory committee on immunization practices (ACIP) recommends routine HPV vaccination at age 11 or 12 years. This study aimed to summarize and characterize adverse events following HPV vaccination reported to VAERS database from July 2006 to May 2017.

Methods:

A systematic data mining was performed in the VAERS database for reports associated with HPV vaccine. Clinically relevant Vaccine Event Combinations (VEC) were identified in the VAERS database following HPV vaccination. A VEC was considered for analysis only if a minimum of hundred reports were present in database for the given Adverse Event (AE). The data mining algorithm used in this study was reporting odds ratio. A value of ROR-1.96SE >1 was considered as positive signal.

Results:

VAERS received 49444 reports after receipt of HPV vaccine during the study period. Out of 49444, 2307 unique reactions were identified. A total of 177 death reports and 3526 non death serious reactions were reported to VAERS. ROR showed positive signals for abdominal pain, syncope, dizziness, convulsion, abortion spontaneous, alopecia, amenorrhea, anogenital warts, cervical dysplasia, anaemia, dyskinesia, migrane, blood pressure decreased, fall, head injury, loss of consciousness, pallor, presyncope, seizures.

Conclusion:

The present analysis did not identify any new/unexpected safety concern and was consistent with the safety data from prelicensure trials. Further epidemiological studies are required to systematically validate the data provided by VAERS.

Hepatitis B vaccine alone or with hepatitis B immunoglobulin in neonates of HBsAg+/HBeAg- mothers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

The cost-effectiveness of augmenting immunization against hepatitis B infection with hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) remains controversial, particularly for the subpopulation of babies of HBsAg+/HBeAg- mothers that are considered as low-infective. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccine alone compared with vaccine plus HBIG for the immunization of babies of HBsAg+/HBeAg- mothers.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases to identify studies comparing the effectiveness of combined immunization (vaccine plus HBIG) with vaccine alone in neonates of HBsAg+/HBeAg- mothers. A systematic review and meta-analysis of eligible studies was performed.

RESULTS

A total of nine eligible studies were identified (four randomized controlled trials). No difference was found regarding the primary outcome of our meta-analysis, namely occurrence of hepatitis B infection, between neonates who received vaccine only, compared with those who received both vaccine and HBIG (four studies, 3426 patients, OR=0.82, 95% CI=0.41-1.64). This finding was consistent with regards to seroprotection rate (four studies, 1323 patients, OR=1.24, 95% CI=0.97-1.58). Safety data were not reported in the included studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The available limited published evidence suggests that vaccine alone seems to be equally effective to the combination of HBIG and hepatitis B vaccine for neonates of HBsAg+/HBeAg- mothers in preventing infection. Further studies are needed in order to clarify the potential benefit of combined immunization to this specific subgroup of patients.

Novel anti-HIV-1 NNRTIs based on a pyrazolo[4,3-d]isoxazole backbone scaffold: design, synthesis and insights into the molecular basis of action

Design and synthesis of novel anti-HIV-1 NNRTIs based on a pyrazolo[4,3-d]isoxazole backbone scaffold.

A case of immune thrombocytopenic purpura after influenza vaccination: consequence or coincidence?

The researchers describe the case of a earlier healthy 3-year-old boy, who developed immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) 26 days after immunization with the second dose of seasonal influenza vaccine. He recovered quickly and uneventfully within 2 days after receiving a single dose of intravenous immunoglobulin. Review of the medical literature showed that symptomatic thrombocytopenia occurs in a substantial number of children and adults who require hospitalization for complicated natural influenza infection, particularly avian influenza. In contrast, it is exceptionally rare after influenza immunization, as only few case reports describe such an association in adults but not in children. As the risk of thrombocytopenia after natural influenza seems to be much higher than after immunization, annual influenza vaccination is advised for patients with personal history of ITP who at risk of influenza-related complications owing to underlying medical problems.