Adverse events following immunization of elderly with COVID-19 inactivated virus vaccine (CoronaVac) in Southeastern Brazil: an active surveillance study

ABSTRACT Healthcare workers, the elderly and other vulnerable populations were the first to receive COVID-19 vaccines in public health programs. There were few vaccine safety data available on the elderly. This observational study aimed to evaluate the inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac) safety in the elderly, at the beginning of the vaccination program, in Sao Paulo city, Brazil. The elderly people that received CoronaVac at the Reference Center for Special Immunobiologicals (CRIE) or at home, administered by the Interdisciplinary Home Care Team (NADI) of the Hospital das Clinicas were invited to participate in this phase 4 observational study. The vaccination schedule included two CoronaVac doses 28 days apart. The information on solicited and unsolicited adverse events following immunization were collected by phone calls on days 4 and 8 after each vaccine dose. We enrolled 158 adults aged 65 to 101 years (mean of 84.1 years); 63.9% were females and 95.6% had chronic conditions, 21.5% had moderate or severe impairment in daily living activities; 34.2% were pre-frail and 19.6% were frail. We were able to contact 95.6% and 91.6% of the vaccinated people, after the first and second doses, respectively; 31.8% and 23.4% of the contacted participants reported some adverse events (AE) following the first and second doses, respectively. Pain at the injection site, fatigue, myalgia and headaches were the most frequent solicited AE. Most AE were mild to moderate. There were eight severe adverse events, but none of them were considered related to the vaccine. The CoronaVac was safe and well tolerated by these adults of advanced age with frailty and comorbidities.

Low tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine coverage among healthcare workers in a quaternary university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil: need for continuous surveillance and implementation of active strategies

Abstract Introduction: Vaccination with tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) has been recommended for healthcare workers (HCWs) by Brazilian Ministry of Health since November 2014. Objective: To describe the strategies implemented to improve Tdap uptake, cumulative vaccine coverage after each intervention, variables associated to Tdap vaccination, and reasons for non-vaccination among HCWs of the main building of a quaternary hospital attached to the Sao Paulo University Medical School. Methods: A list of HCWs eligible for pertussis vaccination was generated. From April to December 2015, the following interventions were implemented: note on intern journal reminding the importance of pertussis vaccination; email to the head nurses strengthening vaccine recommendations; lectures on pertussis and Tdap for physicians of Obstetrics and Neonatology Clinics; on-site vaccination by mobile teams at the Obstetrics, Neonatology, and Anesthesiology Clinics. Vaccine coverage was accessed at the end of each month. Multivariate Poisson regression model with a robust error variance was used to evaluate variables associated with Tdap vaccination. Reasons for non-vaccination were evaluated from January to May 2017 through phone calls for HCWs who had not received Tdap. Results: The study included 456 HCWs. After the interventions, Tdap coverage raised from 2.8% to 41.2%. In the multivariate analysis, occupation (physician), working place (obstetrics or anesthesiology) and influenza vaccination in 2015 were independently associated to Tdap vaccination. The main reason for non-vaccination was unawareness of Tdap recommendations. Conclusions: Tdap uptake among HCWs was low in our hospital. Providing vaccination at convenient places/times for HCW seems to be the most efficient strategy to increase vaccine uptake.

Prevalence and titers of yellow fever virus neutralizing antibodies in previously vaccinated adults

ABSTRACT Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends one single dose of the Yellow Fever (YF) vaccine based on studies of antibody persistency in healthy adults. We assessed the prevalence and titers of YF virus neutralizing antibodies in previously vaccinated persons aged ≥ 60 years, in comparison to younger adults. We also evaluated the correlation between antibody titers and the time since vaccination among participants who received one vaccine dose, and the seropositivity among participants vaccinated prior to or within the past 10 years. Methods: previously vaccinated healthy persons aged ≥ 18 years were included. YF virus neutralizing antibody titers were determined by means of the 50% Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test. Results: 46 persons aged ≥ 60 years and 48 persons aged 18 to 59 years were enrolled. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of YF virus neutralizing antibodies between the two groups (p = 0.263). However, titers were significantly lower in the elderly (p = 0.022). There was no correlation between YF virus neutralizing antibody titers and the time since vaccination. There was no significant difference in seropositivity among participants vaccinated prior to or within the past 10 years. Conclusions: the clinical relevance of the observed difference in YF virus neutralizing antibody titers between the two groups is not clear.

Spontaneous reporting of adverse events following pandemic influenza A (H1N1) immunization in a reference center in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Introduction This paper describes adverse events (AEs) temporally associated to the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccine observed in a reference center in São Paulo, Brazil, during a 2010 mass vaccination campaign. Methods A retrospective study involving persons who sought medical care for AEs following influenza vaccination. Data were retrieved from medical records, vaccine AE notification forms, and a computerized system for immunobiological registration. Results Sixty-six vaccinees sought medical care for AEs after immunization. The most frequent AEs were fever, headache, myalgia, and pain at the injection site. No serious AEs were reported. Conclusions Few vaccinees spontaneously reported AEs to influenza A (H1N1) vaccine at this center. .

Campaign, counseling and compliance with influenza vaccine among older persons

OBJECTIVES: Population aging raises concerns regarding the increases in the rates of morbidity and mortality that result from influenza and its complications. Although vaccination is the most important tool for preventing influenza, vaccination program among high-risk groups has not reached its predetermined aims in several settings. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of clinical and demographic factors on vaccine compliance among the elderly in a setting that includes a well-established annual national influenza vaccination campaign. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 134 elderly patients who were regularly followed in an academic medical institution and who were evaluated for their influenza vaccination uptake within the last five years; in addition, the demographic and clinical characteristics and the reasons for compliance or noncompliance with the vaccination program were investigated. RESULTS: In total, 67.1 percent of the participants received the seasonal influenza vaccine in 2009. Within this vaccinationcompliant group, the most common reason for vaccine uptake was the annual nationwide campaign (52.2 percent; 95 percent CI: 41.4-62.9 percent); compared to the noncompliant group, a higher percentage of compliant patients had been advised by their physician to take the vaccine (58.9 percent vs. 34.1 percent; p,0.01). CONCLUSION: The education of patients and health care professionals along with the implementation of immunization campaigns should be evaluated and considered by health authorities as essential for increasing the success rate of influenza vaccination compliance among the elderly.

Avaliação da correlação entre o dióxido de carbono expirado e o débito cardíaco em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca com circulação extracorpórea / Correlation between end-tidal carbon dioxide levels and cardiac output during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: O CO2 expirado (P ET CO2) reflete, além da ventilação pulmonar (eliminação), a produção de dióxido de carbono (metabolismo) e o fluxo sangüíneo pulmonar (circulação). Quando o metabolismo e a ventilação são constantes, o CO2 expirado reflete o fluxo sangüíneo pulmonar e, desta forma, o débito cardíaco (DC). Este estudo tem como objetivo a avaliação da correlação entre o dióxido de carbono expirado (P ET CO2) e o débito cardíaco em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca com circulação extracorpórea (CEC). MÉTODO: Foram estudados 25 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica com CEC. Após a intubação traqueal iniciou-se a monitorização da P ET CO2. A determinação do débito cardíaco (DC) foi feita por método de termodiluição com o uso de cateter de Swan-Ganz e a PaCO2 foi avaliada através de gasometria arterial. Os parâmetros do estudo foram avaliados em quatro momentos: logo após a indução da anestesia geral; antes da circulação extracorpórea, ao término da circulação extracorpórea e ao final da cirurgia. RESULTADOS: O teste estatístico não demonstrou uma correlação entre o CO2 expirado e o DC, assim como o gradiente de dióxido de carbono arterial e expirado (Ga-eCO2) e o DC. Foi encontrada correlação entre a variação dos valores da P ET CO2, Ga-eCO2 e DC em relação ao basal antes da CEC com perda da correlação após a CEC até o final da cirurgia. CONCLUSÕES: Neste estudo, onde se avaliam pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca com CEC, as alterações de relação ventilação/perfusão ocorridas ao longo do procedimento são, provavelmente, os fatores determinantes da diminuição da correlação entre o débito cardíaco e o valor de dióxido de carbono expirado.

Tratamento da dor em pediatria / The treatment of pain in pediatrics

Varias evidencias sugerem que alem do aspecto humanistico, o tratamento da dor em pediatria previne numerosas complicacoes de ordem, fisica, e psicocomportamental. A avaliacao adequada...