Safety and efficacy of Sinopharm vaccine (BBIBP-CorV) in elderly population of Faisalabad district of Pakistan.

INTRODUCTION: The first case of novel SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) in Pakistan was detected on 26 February 2020. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies have been tried to lessen the mortality and morbidity burden. Various vaccines have been approved. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan gave emergency approval for Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV) COVID-19 vaccine in December 2021. The phase 3 trial of BBIBP-CorV included only 612 participants aged 60 years and above. The primary aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of BBIBPP-CorV (Sinopharm) vaccine within the Pakistani adult population aged 60 or above. The study was carried out in the Faisalabad district of Pakistan. METHODS: A test negative case-control study design was used to assess safety and efficacy of BBIBP-CorV in individuals aged 60 and above against symptomatic infection, hospitalisations and mortality due to SARS-CoV-2 among vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. ORs were calculated using logistic regression model at 95% CI. ORs were used to calculate the vaccine efficacy (VE) by using the following formula.VE= (1-OR) ×100. RESULTS: 3426 individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 were PCR tested between 5 May 2021 and 31 July 2021. The results showed that Sinopharm vaccine 14 days after the second dose was efficient in reducing the risk of symptomatic COVID-19 infection, hospitalisations and mortality by 94.3%, 60.5% and 98.6%, respectively, among vaccinated individuals with a significant p value of 0.001. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that BBIBP-CorV vaccine is highly effective in preventing infection, hospitalisations and mortality due to COVID-19.

Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Leading to Raised Intracranial Pressure Hydrocephalus in a Patient with Aqueduct Stenosis.

We present the case of a patient with severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and hypoventilation syndrome who had hydrocephalus and acquired aqueduct stenosis. A link between these conditions in our patient is postulated. We discuss the mechanisms through which this might have occurred and the potential problems which might arise in applying non-invasive ventilation to a patient with hydrocephalus. LEARNING POINTS: Patients with severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and hypoventilation require AVAPS-AE ventilation to deal with obstructive and central events which may occur.Arterial blood gas analysis and MRI of the brain are indicated in the assessment of patients with severe OSA.Hydrocephalus may develop in patients with severe OSA if there is a structural brain abnormality but may resolve with OSA treatment.