The effect of COVID-19 vaccination and booster on maternal-fetal outcomes: a retrospective multicenter cohort study

BackgroundCOVID-19 infection in pregnant people has previously been shown to increase the risk for poor maternal-fetal outcomes. Despite this, there has been a lag in COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant people due to concerns over the potential effects of the vaccine on maternal-fetal outcomes. Here we examine the impact of COVID-19 vaccination and booster on maternal COVID-19 breakthrough infections and birth outcomes. MethodsThis was a retrospective multicenter cohort study on the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on maternal-fetal outcomes for people that delivered (n=86,833) at Providence St. Joseph Health across Alaska, California, Montana, Oregon, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington from January 26, 2021 through July 11, 2022. Cohorts were defined by vaccination status at time of delivery: unvaccinated (n=48,492), unvaccinated propensity score matched (n=26,790), vaccinated (n=26,792; two doses of mRNA-1273 Moderna or BNT162b2 Pfizer-BioNTech), and/or boosted (n=7,616). The primary outcome was maternal COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 vaccination status at delivery, COVID-19 infection-related health care, preterm birth (PTB), stillbirth, very low birth weight (VLBW), and small for gestational age (SGA) were evaluated as secondary outcomes. FindingsVaccinated pregnant people were significantly less likely to have a maternal COVID-19 infection than unvaccinated matched (p<0.0001) pregnant people. During a maternal COVID-19 infection, vaccinated pregnant people had similar rates of hospitalization (p=0.23), but lower rates of supplemental oxygen (p<0.05) or vasopressor (p<0.05) use than those in an unvaccinated matched cohort. Compared to an unvaccinated matched cohort, vaccinated people had significantly lower stillbirth rate (p<0.01) as well as no difference in rate of PTB (p=0.35), SGA (p=0.79), or rate of VLBW (>1,500 g; 0.31). Vaccinated people who were boosted had significantly lower rates of maternal COVID-19 infections (p<0.0001), COVID-19 related hospitalization (p<0.05), PTB (p<0.05), stillbirth (p<0.01), SGA (p<0.05), and VLBW (p<0.01), compared to vaccinated people that did not receive a third booster dose five months after completing the initial vaccination series. InterpretationCOVID-19 vaccination protects against adverse maternal-fetal outcomes with booster doses conferring additional protection against COVID-19 infection. It is therefore important for pregnant people to have high priority status for vaccination, and for them to stay current with their COVID-19 vaccination schedule. FundingThis study was funded by the National Institute for Child Health & Human Development and the William O. and K. Carole Ellison Foundation.

Time to reinfection and vaccine breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundIt is important to understand how BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, and JNJ-78436735 COVID-19 vaccines, as well as prior infection, protect against breakthrough cases and reinfections. Real world evidence on acquired immunity from vaccines, and from SARS-CoV-2 infection, can help public health decision-makers understand disease dynamics and viral escape to inform resource allocation for curbing the spread of pandemic. MethodsThis retrospective cohort study presents demographic information, survival functions, and probability distributions for 2,627,914 patients who received recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccines, and 63,691 patients who had a prior COVID-19 infection. In addition, patients receiving different vaccines were matched by age, sex, ethnic group, state of residency, and the quarter of the year in 2021 the COVID-19 vaccine was completed, to support survival analysis on pairwise matched cohorts. FindingsEach of the three vaccines and infection-induced immunity all showed a high probability of survival against breakthrough or reinfection cases (mRNA-1273: 0.997, BNT162b2: 0.997, JNJ-78436735: 0.992, previous infection: 0.965 at 180 days). The incidence rate of reinfection among those unvaccinated and previously infected was higher than that of breakthrough among the vaccinated population (reinfection: 0.9%; breakthrough:0.4%). In addition, 280 vaccinated patients died (0.01% all-cause mortality) within 21 days of the last vaccine dose, and 5898 (3.1 %) died within 21 days of a positive COVID-19 test. ConclusionsDespite a gradual decline in vaccine-induced and infection-induced immunity, both acquired immunities were highly effective in preventing breakthrough and reinfection. In addition, for unvaccinated patients with COVID-19, those who did not die within 90 days of their initial infection (9565 deaths, 5.0% all-cause mortality rate), had a comparable asymptotic pattern of breakthrough infection as those who acquired immunity from a vaccine. Overall, the risks associated with COVID-19 infection are far greater than the marginal advantages of immunity acquired by prior infection.

Familial Spinal Muscular Atrophy wigh Autosomal Dominant Inheritance

Familial occurrence of spinal muscular atrophy(SMA) is not infrequent. Various modes of inheritance of the SMA have been reported and autosomal recessive inheritance appears the most frequent mode of transmission. A small number of observations indicate autosomal dominant inheritance with either complete or incomplete penetrance. To date, autosomal dominant SMA with complete penetrance in more than 4 generations has been reported very rarely. It is the Purpose of this report to decribe a family with familial SMA presenting as an autosomal dominant trait with occurrence in 4 subsequent generations. This may be the first report in Korea.

A Case of Pernicious Anemia with Neurologic Involvement

This is a case report of pernicious anemia with neurologic deficits. The patient is a 69 years old male with generalized tingling sense. On examination, slight pale conjunctiva and beefy red tongue are noted. Laboratory stud show megaloblastic anemia with low serum vitamin B12 level, positive Schilling test, gastric achlorhydria and mild gastric atrophy. Neurologic examination reveals cerebral, spinal and peripheral involovement and EEG and EMG study support those things. On parenteral vitamin B12, the hematologic and neurological abnormalities are improved dramatically.

A Case of Cerebral Malaria

Presented a 39 year old man of cerebral malaria and pertinent literature were reviewed briefly. The patient was admitted because of fever and drowsy mental state. On admission, there were mild icteric sclerae and hepatomegaly. Brain C-T scan was normal. The cerebrospinal fluid study showed increased pressure (280 mmH20), and protein content (150 mg/dl) with mild pleocytosis. The EEG revealed diffuse delta waves throughout the head. At the 3rd hospital day, the patient was rapidly deteriorated to comatous state showing marked hyperbilirubinemia, thrombocytopenia and bleeding tendency and expired. Numerous plasmodium falciparum parasites were revealed in the peripheral blood smear.

Chorea as a Clinical Manifestation of Delayed Neurologic Sequelae in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Case Report

No abstract available.