Temporal relationship of myocarditis and pericarditis following COVID-19 vaccination: A pragmatic approach

Asymptomatic Chronic Large Pericardial Effusions: To Drain or to Observe?

Pericardial effusions, especially large ones, have traditionally been regarded with concern by clinicians due to the sometimes unpredictable development of life-threatening cardiac tamponade. In the European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on pericardial diseases, the simplified algorithm for pericardial effusion triage and management recommends pericardial drainage in cases of cardiac tamponade and/or suspicion of bacterial or neoplastic etiology. In the presence of acute pericarditis, empiric anti-inflammatory treatment should be given, while when a specific indication known to be associated with pericardial effusion is found, then treatment of the underlying cause is indicated. Notably, the most challenging subgroup of patients includes those with large, asymptomatic, C-reactive-protein-negative, idiopathic effusions. In the latter subjects, pericardial drainage is proposed in cases of chronic effusions (lasting more than three months). However, this recommendation is based on scant data stemming from small-sized non-randomized studies. Nevertheless, recent evidence in a larger cohort of patients pointed out that a watchful waiting strategy is a safe option in terms of complication-free survival. This review summarizes the contemporary evidence on this challenging topic and provides recommendations for tailoring individual patient treatments.

Pharmacovigilance in Vaccines: Importance, Main Aspects, Perspectives, and Challenges-A Narrative Review

Pharmacovigilance plays a central role in safeguarding public health by continuously monitoring the safety of vaccines, being critical in a climate of vaccine hesitancy, where public trust is paramount. Pharmacovigilance strategies employed to gather information on adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) include pre-registration data, media reports, clinical trials, and societal reporting. Early detection of AEFIs during clinical trials is crucial for thorough safety analysis and preventing serious reactions once vaccines are deployed. This review highlights the importance of societal reporting, encompassing contributions from community members, healthcare workers, and pharmaceutical companies. Technological advancements such as quick response (QR) codes can facilitate prompt AEFI reporting. While vaccines are demonstrably safe, the possibility of adverse events necessitates continuous post-marketing surveillance. However, underreporting remains a challenge, underscoring the critical role of public engagement in pharmacovigilance. This narrative review comprehensively examines and synthesizes key aspects of virus vaccine pharmacovigilance, with special considerations for specific population groups. We explore applicable legislation, the spectrum of AEFIs associated with major vaccines, and the unique challenges and perspectives surrounding pharmacovigilance in this domain.

Vaccines for the Elderly and Vaccination Programs in Europe and the United States

The share of the elderly population is growing worldwide as life expectancy increases. Immunosenescence and comorbidities increase infectious diseases' morbidity and mortality in older adults. Here, we aimed to summarize the latest findings on vaccines for the elderly against herpes zoster, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19, and pneumococcal disease and to examine vaccine recommendation differences for this age group in Europe and the United States. PubMed was searched using the keywords "elders" and "vaccine" alongside the disease/pathogen in question and paraphrased or synonymous terms. Vaccine recommendations were also sought in the European and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention databases. Improved vaccines, tailored for the elderly, mainly by using novel adjuvants or by increasing antigen concentration, are now available. Significant differences exist between immunization policies, especially between European countries, in terms of the recipient's age, number of doses, vaccination schedule, and implementation (mandatory or recommended). Understanding the factors that influence the immune response to vaccination in the elderly may help to design vaccines that offer long-term protection for this vulnerable age group. A consensus-based strategy in Europe could help to fill the gaps in immunization policy in the elderly, particularly regarding vaccination against RSV and pneumococcus.

Comparison of reporting rates of arthritis and arthralgia following AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Janssen vaccine administration against SARS-CoV-2 in 2021: analysis of European pharmacovigilance large-scale data

This study aimed to investigate the reporting rates of arthritis and arthralgia following the administration of four vaccines against SARS-CoV-2: Pfizer-BioNTech (Tozinameran), Moderna (CX-024414), AstraZeneca (Chadox1 NCOV-19), and Janssen (AD26.COV2.S) in 2021. We used data from the EudraVigilance database, specifically analyzing spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions (ADRs) from the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) region. Age-group-specific reporting rates were calculated by dividing the number of arthralgia and arthritis reports per 1,000,000 vaccine doses administered per age group. Reporting rates were compared using a rate ratio among the four vaccines, using the AstraZeneca vaccine as a comparator. The AstraZeneca vaccine was associated with the highest rate of arthralgia across all age groups. Arthritis reporting rates were significantly lower, with the AstraZeneca vaccine having the highest rates in most age groups, except the 60-69 and 80+ groups, where the Janssen and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines demonstrated higher reporting rates, respectively. The distribution of arthritis rates did not follow the arthralgia pattern, being higher in the 50-79 age group. This study is the first spontaneous reporting system analysis of arthritis reporting rates post-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination at a European level, revealing a higher reporting of suspected musculoskeletal adverse reactions after AstraZeneca vaccination. The findings underscore the need to consider commonly reported events like arthralgia in risk-benefit assessments prior to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Given the high prevalence of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases and vaccine hesitancy in this population, our results could influence vaccine choice and acceptance.

Incidence and Nature of Short-Term Adverse Events following COVID-19 Second Boosters: Insights from Taiwan's Universal Vaccination Strategy

This study evaluates the incidence and characteristics of adverse events (AEs) following the second COVID-19 booster dose, leveraging Taiwan's distinctive approach of extending booster vaccinations to all citizens, unlike the targeted high-risk group strategies in other countries. Utilizing data from Taipei Veterans General Hospital's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) from 27 October 2022 to 19 January 2023, this research examines AEs in 441 out of 1711 booster recipients, considering factors like age, vaccine brands, and booster combinations. The findings revealed incidence rates (IRs) of 25.6% (95% CI: 21.1-30.8) after the first booster and 24.9% (95% CI: 20.5-30.0) after the second, mostly non-serious, with those having AEs post-first booster being five times more likely to report them again (incidence rate ratio, 5.02, p < 0.001). Significantly, switching from the mRNA1273 vaccine to another brand reduced AE risk by 18%. This study underscores that AEs are more repetitive than cumulative with additional booster doses, advocating for personalized vaccination strategies based on individual medical histories and previous vaccine reactions. These insights are valuable for healthcare providers in discussing potential AEs with patients, thereby improving vaccine compliance and public trust, and for policymakers in planning future booster vaccination strategies.

Immune-mediated diseases after vaccinations with AZD1222, BNT-162b2, &/or mRNA-1273: An observational investigation of 78 patients

BACKGROUND

Immune-mediated diseases (IMDs) after nucleic acid-based vaccines have been sporadically reported since their introduction during the worldwide COVID-19 crisis. Confirming their cause-effect association remains challenging. We analysed the effects of AZD1222 (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19), BNT-162b2, and/or mRNA-1273 on the development &/or deterioration of IMDs in terms of the time of clinical onsets of IMDs after exposure to these vaccines.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 78 in-patients in Taipei Veterans General Hospital, who presented with IMDs within 120 days after receiving AZD1222, BNT-162b2, &/or mRNA-1273 vaccinations in Taiwan from May 2021 to April 2022. The duration from inoculation to development of IMD was analysed by two-tailed Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) test for goodness of fit.

RESULTS

The average time to new IMDs or flare-up of the diseases following vaccinations was 36 ± 26 days for all 91 events in these 78 patients. The onset time of IMDs after vaccinations was not haphazard as analysed by two-tailed K-S test for overall 91 events (40 new and 51 deteriorating episodes, p < 0.001). The IMDs presenting as non-connective tissue diseases (non-CTDs) have a shorter duration of incubation after vaccinations than those of CTDs (<14.7 days, 95 % confidence interval [CI], 3.0 to 26.4, p = 0.014). Furthermore, systemic vasculitis and type 2 inflammatory diseases were observed exclusively in those receiving AZD1222.

CONCLUSION

AZD1222, BNT-162b2, or mRNA-1273 influence the activities of IMDs in ways yet to be explored. High index of suspicion to IMDs after nucleic acid-based vaccine inoculation against COVID-19 may be important for primary care physicians.

Adverse events of acute nephrotoxicity reported to EudraVigilance and VAERS after COVID-19 vaccination

OBJECTIVES

The present study aimed to estimate the reporting rates (RRs) of acute kidney injury (AKI) and renal failure (RF) after COVID-19 vaccination in the European Economic Area (EEA) and the United States.

METHODS

We retrieved and analyzed pharmacovigilance data on suspected AKI and RF cases and fatalities post COVID-19 vaccination with licensed vaccines reported to EudraVigilance and VAERS between week 52/2020 and week 52/2022 or week 1/2023, respectively. Reporting rates with 95% confidence intervals were estimated per million administered vaccine doses.

RESULTS

In total, 4,244 AKI and 1,557 RF suspected cases were notified to EudraVigilance (1,692 AKI/971 RF) and VAERS (2,552 AKI/586 RF) during the study period following the administration of >1.6 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses (EEA: 970,934,453/US: 666,511,603). The overall RRs were 3.03 (95 % CI: 2.94-3.12) for AKI and 1.11 (95 % CI: 1.06-1.17) for RF per million administered vaccine doses. Indices for statistically significant increased risks were found in subjects, especially males, ≥65 years compared to 18-64 years old (AKI: OR = 7.23, 95 % CI: 6.63-7.88, p = 0.000, and RF: OR = 4.74, 95 % CI: 3.99-5.63, p < 0.001). AKI reporting rates were higher in the US, while RF reporting rates were higher in Europe. Both potential side effects were elevated following vectored rather than mRNA vaccines, with the highest reporting rates post AD26.COV2.S vaccination in the US (AKI: RR = 12.24, 95 % CI: 10.66-13.81; RF: RR = 3.17, 95 % CI: 2.36-3.97). There were 1,312 deaths possibly associated with AKI (RR = 0.94, 95 % CI: 0.89-0.99) and 460 deaths possibly associated with RF (RR = 0.33, 95 % CI: 0.30-0.36) per million vaccine doses. Fatalities were lower in Europe than in the US (AKI: OR = 0.25, 95 % CI: 0.22-0.28, p < 0.001; RF: OR = 0.82, 95 % CI: 0.69-0.99, p = 0.036).

CONCLUSIONS

AKI and RF may be observed rarely following vaccination against COVID-19. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings and uncover the underlying pathophysiological mechanism.

Acute myopericarditis and left shoulder capsulitis following second dose of mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Moderna vaccination

Vaccination against mRNA SARS-CoV-2 has been administered on a very large scale and various side effects have been described. The increased risk of myopericarditis is known, and only a few cases of shoulder capsulitis have been reported after vaccination. These two pathologies have never been reported in the same patient after vaccination. Our article presents the history of a man in his 40s who presented with myopericarditis a few days after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 with mRNA(Messenger RNA) Moderna® vaccine and who at the same time developed shoulder capsulitis. His cardiovascular symptoms resolved rapidly, and his shoulder symptoms improved/resolved within 1 year. This case should make physicians aware of the possibility of several concomitant side effects following vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.

Short term outcome of myocarditis and pericarditis following COVID-19 vaccines: a cardiac magnetic resonance imaging study

To evaluate clinical and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) short-term follow-up (FU) in patients with vaccine-associated myocarditis, pericarditis or myo-pericarditis (VAMP) following COVID-19 vaccination. We retrospectively analyzed 44 patients (2 women, mean age: 31.7 ± 15.1 years) with clinical and CMR manifestations of VAMP, recruited from 13 large tertiary national centers. Inclusion criteria were troponin raise, interval between the last vaccination dose and onset of symptoms < 25 days and symptoms-to-CMR < 20 days. 29/44 patients underwent a short-term FU-CMR with a median time of 3.3 months. Ventricular volumes and CMR findings of cardiac injury were collected in all exams. Mean interval between the last vaccination dose and the onset of symptoms was 6.2 ± 5.6 days. 30/44 patients received a vaccination with Comirnaty, 12/44 with Spikevax, 1/44 with Vaxzevria and 1/44 with Janssen (18 after the first dose of vaccine, 20 after the second and 6 after the "booster" dose). Chest pain was the most frequent symptom (41/44), followed by fever (29/44), myalgia (17/44), dyspnea (13/44) and palpitations (11/44). At baseline, left ventricular ejection fraction (LV-EF) was reduced in 7 patients; wall motion abnormalities have been detected in 10. Myocardial edema was found in 35 (79.5%) and LGE in 40 (90.9%) patients. Clinical FU revealed symptoms persistence in 8/44 patients. At FU-CMR, LV-EF was reduced only in 2 patients, myocardial edema was present in 8/29 patients and LGE in 26/29. VAMPs appear to have a mild clinical presentation, with self-limiting course and resolution of CMR signs of active inflammation at short-term follow-up in most of the cases.

Incidence, Risk, and Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfections in Children and Adolescents Between March 2020 and July 2022 in Serbia

IMPORTANCE

During the COVID-19 pandemic, children and adolescents were massively infected worldwide. In 2022, reinfections became a main feature of the endemic phase of SARS-CoV-2, so it is important to understand the epidemiology and clinical impact of reinfections.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the incidence, risk, and severity of pediatric SARS-CoV-2 reinfection.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This retrospective cohort study used epidemiologic data of documented SARS-CoV-2 infections from the surveillance database of the Institute for Public Health of Vojvodina. A total of 32 524 children and adolescents from Vojvodina, Serbia, with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 6, 2020, and April 30, 2022, were followed up for reinfection until July 31, 2022.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Incidence rates of documented SARS-CoV-2 reinfection per 1000 person-months, estimated risk of documented reinfection 90 days or more after laboratory confirmation of primary infection, reinfection severity, hospitalizations, and deaths.

RESULTS

The study cohort included 32 524 children and adolescents with COVID-19 (mean [SD] age, 11.2 [4.9] years; 15 953 [49.1%] male), including 964 children (3.0%) who experienced documented reinfection. The incidence rate of documented reinfections was 3.2 (95% CI, 3.0-3.4) cases per 1000 person-months and was highest in adolescents aged 12 to 17 years (3.4; 95% CI, 3.2-3.7). Most reinfections (905 [93.9%]) were recorded in 2022. The cumulative reinfection risk was 1.3% at 6 months, 1.9% at 9 months, 4.0% at 12 months, 6.7% at 15 months, 7.2% at 18 months, and 7.9% after 21 months. Pediatric COVID-19 cases were generally mild. The proportion of severe clinical forms decreased from 14 (1.4%) in initial episodes to 3 (0.3%) in reinfections. Reinfected children were approximately 5 times less likely to have severe disease during reinfection compared with initial infection (McNemar odds ratio, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.0-0.8). Pediatric reinfections rarely led to hospitalization (0.5% vs 1.3% during primary infections), and none resulted in death.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This cohort study found that the SARS-CoV-2 reinfection risk remained substantially lower for children and adolescents compared with adults as of July 2022. Pediatric infections were mild, and reinfections were even milder than primary infections.

Acute myocarditis following a third dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in adults

Introduction

Myocarditis has been reported following the second dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. Whether administration of additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines further increases the risk of myocarditis is unknown.

Methods

We included individuals who received one to three doses of BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 mRNA vaccine between 12/14/2020 and 2/18/2022. Myocarditis within 21 days of vaccine administration was identified using electronic medical records. Incidence rate ratios were calculated by comparing the observed incidence with the expected incidence from the same population during a 365-day baseline period.

Results

Of 3,076,660 KPSC members who received at least one dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, 2,916,739 (94.5%) received at least two doses, and 1,146,254 (47.0%) received three doses. The incidence rate ratio for myocarditis was 0.86 (95% CI 0.31–1.93) for the first dose, 4.22 (95% CI 2.63–6.53) for the second dose, and 2.61 (1.13–5.29) for the third dose. Most myocarditis cases following the second and third dose occurred within seven days of vaccination.

Conclusion

Myocarditis was a rare event observed after the second or third dose of vaccination. Most cases presented within seven days of vaccination. The incidence of myocarditis following the third dose was not significantly higher than that observed after the second dose.