Project description:IntroductionThe BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccines are the main vaccines that have been used for mass vaccination in Japan. Information on adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines in the Japanese population is limited.MethodsWe conducted an online survey on self-reported adverse reactions in individuals who had received two doses of the BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 vaccine. The incidence of adverse events after each dose of vaccine was investigated. Propensity score matching was used to compare the incidence of adverse reactions after the second dose of the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccines.ResultsAfter the first and second doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine, and the first and second doses of the mRNA-1273 vaccine, 890, 853, 6401, and 3965 individuals, respectively, provided complete responses. Systemic reactions, including fever, fatigue, headache, muscle/joint pain, and nausea were significantly more common in females, individuals aged <50 years, and after the second dose. The incidence of injection site pain did not differ significantly according to the dose. The incidence of delayed injection site reactions after the first dose of mRNA-1273 vaccine was 3.9% and 0.8% among females and males, respectively, and 10.6% among females aged 40-69 years. Local and systemic reactions after the second dose, including fever, fatigue, headache, muscle/joint pain, nausea, and skin rash were more common in individuals who had received the mRNA-1273 vaccine.ConclusionsAdverse reactions were more frequently reported in females, younger individuals, and after the mRNA-1273 vaccine.
Project description:The aim of this study was to assess adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, comparing the BNT162b2 or the mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccines and the presence and seriousness of a previous COVID-19 infection. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of vaccinated healthcare workers at a tertiary hospital in Barcelona (Spain). Thirty-eight percent of vaccine recipients responded to the questionnaire. We compared the prevalence of adverse reactions by vaccine type and history of COVID-19 infections. A total of 2373 respondents had received the BNT162b2 vaccine, and 506 the mRNA-1273 vaccine. The prevalence of at least one adverse reaction with doses 1 and 2 was 41% and 70%, respectively, in the BNT162b2 group, and 60% and 92% in the mRNA-1273 group (p < 0.001). The BNT162b2 group reported less prevalence of all adverse reactions. Need for medical leave was significantly more frequent among the mRNA-1273 group (12% versus 4.6% p < 0.001). Interestingly, respondents with a history of allergies or chronic illnesses did not report more adverse reactions. The frequency of adverse reactions with dose 2 was 96% (95% CI 88-100%) for those with a history of COVID-19 related hospitalization, and 86% (95% CI 83-89%) for those with mild or moderate symptomatic COVID-19, significantly higher than for participants with no history of COVID-19 infections (67%, 95% CI 65-69%). Our results could help inform vaccine recipients of the probability of their having adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines.
Project description:BackgroundHomo sapiens have experienced admixture many times in the last few thousand years. To examine how admixture affects local adaptation, we investigated genomes of modern Polynesians, who are shaped through admixture between Austronesian-speaking people from Southeast Asia (Asian-related ancestors) and indigenous people in Near Oceania (Papuan-related ancestors).MethodsIn this study local ancestry was estimated across the genome in Polynesians (23 Tongan subjects) to find the candidate regions of admixture-enabled selection contributed by Papuan-related ancestors.ResultsThe mean proportion of Papuan-related ancestry across the Polynesian genome was estimated as 24.6% (SD = 8.63%), and two genomic regions, the extended major histocompatibility complex (xMHC) region on chromosome 6 and the ATP-binding cassette transporter sub-family C member 11 (ABCC11) gene on chromosome 16, showed proportions of Papuan-related ancestry more than 5 SD greater than the mean (> 67.8%). The coalescent simulation under the assumption of selective neutrality suggested that such signals of Papuan-related ancestry enrichment were caused by positive selection after admixture (false discovery rate = 0.045). The ABCC11 harbors a nonsynonymous SNP, rs17822931, which affects apocrine secretory cell function. The approximate Bayesian computation indicated that, in Polynesian ancestors, a strong positive selection (s = 0.0217) acted on the ancestral allele of rs17822931 derived from Papuan-related ancestors.ConclusionsOur results suggest that admixture with Papuan-related ancestors contributed to the rapid local adaptation of Polynesian ancestors. Considering frequent admixture events in human evolution history, the acceleration of local adaptation through admixture should be a common event in humans.
Project description:BackgroundInfluenza viruses are constantly evolving through antigenic drift, which makes vaccines potentially ill-matched to circulating strains due to the time between strain selection and distribution. mRNA technology could improve vaccine effectiveness (VE) by reducing this time. Significant private and public investments would be required to accommodate accelerated vaccine development and approval. Hence, it is important to understand the potential impact of mRNA technology on influenza hospitalizations and mortality.MethodsWe developed an age-stratified dynamic model of influenza transmission to evaluate the potential impact of increased VE (increased protection against either infection or only hospitalization) on hospitalizations and mortality in the United States. We assume that mRNA technology allows for delaying the time to strain choice, which might increase efficacy, but it does not reduce the time needed for distribution and administration, which might reduce availability. To assess this tradeoff, we evaluated two scenarios where strain choice was delayed until late summer resulting in a more effective vaccine available to (1) all age groups by October, or (2) adults 65 years and older starting in August.ResultsIf not available until October, the vaccine would need a minimum of 95% effectiveness against infection to see a decrease in hospitalizations and deaths in all age groups. When delayed until November, even a 100% effective vaccine had no significant impact. For the elderly, the minimum required VE (against infection) was 50% to reduce hospitalizations and deaths. Moreover, a vaccine with 80% VE against infection available in August for the 65 + age group was better than a 95% effective vaccine available in October for all ages.ConclusionsAs the majority of influenza-associated hospitalizations and deaths are in adults 65 years and older, a combination policy targeting higher VE and coverage for this age group in the short term would be the most efficacious.
Project description:The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently authorized the two messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 for emergency use against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing the COVID-19 coronavirus disease. BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccines were developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, respectively, in 2020. The United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, Mexico, United States, Singapore, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and European Union began their vaccination programs with the BNT162b2 vaccine, while the United States and Canada also started the mRNA-1273 vaccination program in mid December 2020. On 28th December 2020, studies reported severe allergic reactions in people who received the BNT162b2, and few people who received the mRNA-1273 vaccine. Authors of the letter thus attempt to explore possible causes of anaphylaxis following COVID-19 vaccination.
Project description:BackgroundPopulations of indigenous persons are frequently associated with pronounced disparities in rates of tuberculosis (TB) disease compared to co-occurring nonindigenous populations.MethodsUsing data from the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System on TB cases in U.S.-born patients reported in the United States during 2009-2019, we calculated incidence rate ratios and risk ratios for TB risk factors to compare cases in American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN) and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (NHPI) TB patients to cases in White TB patients.ResultsAnnual TB incidence rates among AIAN and NHPI TB patients were on average ≥10 times higher than among White TB patients. Compared to White TB patients, AIAN and NHPI TB patients were 1.91 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35-2.71) and 3.39 (CI: 1.44-5.74) times more likely to have renal disease or failure, 1.33 (CI: 1.16-1.53) and 1.63 (CI: 1.20-2.20) times more likely to have diabetes mellitus, and 0.66 (CI: 0.44-0.99) and 0.19 (CI: 0-0.59) times less likely to be HIV positive, respectively. AIAN TB patients were 1.84 (CI: 1.69-2.00) and 1.48 (CI: 1.27-1.71) times more likely to report using excess alcohol and experiencing homelessness, respectively.ConclusionTB among U.S. indigenous persons is associated with persistent and concerning health disparities.