The role of influenza in the era of COVID-19: Can we forget it?

Immunity debt: Hospitals need to be prepared in advance for multiple respiratory diseases that tend to co-occur

As SARS-CoV-2 transitions from a pandemic to an endemic presence, a significant rise in respiratory diseases such as influenza and Mycoplasma pneumonia is challenging healthcare systems weakened by the impact of COVID-19. This commentary examines the global resurgence of respiratory pathogens, heightened by the post-pandemic "immunity debt", through an analysis of WHO surveillance data and national health reports. Findings reveal a substantial increase in respiratory illnesses, notably among children, compounded by a shortage of pediatricians and growing antimicrobial resistance. This underscores the need to improve hospital preparedness, optimize clinical responses, and enhance public health strategies to effectively navigate the impending peak of concurrent respiratory infections.

Influvac Tetra: clinical experience on safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity

INTRODUCTION

This paper summarizes the safety and immunogenicity data of Influvac Tetra across all age groups starting from 6 months of age, obtained during its clinical development program.

AREAS COVERED

The article covers the clinical development program of Influvac Tetra based on five registration studies that included different age groups, different comparators, and participants from Europe and Asia. Safety and immunogenicity were assessed in all studies and in one study, the efficacy of Influvac Tetra was assessed.

EXPERT OPINION

Seasonal influenza is a vaccine-preventable disease that can cause serious complications. Several types of influenza vaccines are available, including egg-based (standard dose, high dose, and adjuvanted), cell-based, and recombinant. The COVID-19 pandemic has stimulated innovation in the development such as mRNA vaccines. However, these vaccines are still in development and the true value still has to be proven. Regardless of the type of vaccine, it is also important to increase overall vaccination coverage. ECDC recommends that EU Member States implement action plans and policies aimed at reaching 75% coverage in at-risk groups and healthcare workers. Even so, vaccine coverage is still far from recommended.

Influenza transmission during COVID-19 measures downscaling in Greece, August 2022: evidence for the need of continuous integrated surveillance of respiratory viruses

After the near absence of influenza and other respiratory viruses during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, an increased activity of mainly influenza A(H3N2) was detected at the beginning of August 2022 in Greece on three islands. Of 33 cases with respiratory symptoms testing negative for SARS-CoV-2 with rapid antigen tests, 24 were positive for influenza: 20 as A(H3N2) subtype and four as A(H1N1)pdm09 subtype. Phylogenetic analysis of selected samples from both subtypes was performed and they fell into clusters within subclades that included the 2022/23 vaccine strains. Our data suggest that influenza can be transmitted even in the presence of another highly infectious pathogen, such as SARS-CoV-2, with a similar transmission mode. We highlight the need for implementing changes in the current influenza surveillance and suggest a move from seasonal to continuous surveillance, especially in areas with a high number of tourists. Year-round surveillance would allow for a timelier start of vaccination campaigns and antiviral drugs procurement processes.

Focusing on development of novel sampling approaches and alternative therapies for COVID-19: Are they still useful in an era after the pandemic?

The different viral characteristics of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 have fundamentally changed people's view concerning COVID-19. Many alternative sampling approaches and therapies have been developed that may be better suited to the Omicron variant, such as a saline gargle to detect SARS-CoV-2 and nasal irrigation with chlorine dioxide. The mechanisms of these methods of sampling and alternative therapies are briefly summarized here. Development of novel alternative sampling/therapeutic approaches for COVID-19 is crucial due to the uncertain future of emerging respiratory viruses, and their efficiency/safety needs to be verified in a post-pandemic era since viral infections of the respiratory tract have a similar route of transmission as SARS-CoV-2.