COVID-19 Update #84 for 5/26/2021

COVID-19 Vaccines
 
On 5/19/2021, the FDA approved storage of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at refrigerator temperatures for up to 30 days.
 
Moderna announced that in the 3,732 patient, Phase II/III TeenCOVE trial (NCT04649151), no cases of COVID-19 were reported among adolescents ages 12 to 17 years that received two doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine compared to the placebo group in the adult Phase III COVE study. Efficacy was 93% when measured 14 days after the first dose. The vaccine was well tolerated with no serious adverse events.
 
The World Health Organization announced that COVID-19 vaccines currently approved in the U.S. and Europe are effective against virus variants. This includes the B.1.617 (India), B.1.351 (South Africa), B.1.1.7 (U.K.) and P.1 (Brazil).
 
A review of outcomes in British patients over 70, found vaccine effectiveness after one dose, at 28 to 34 days, to be 61% with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 60% with the Astra Zeneca vaccine. The vaccines provided approximately 80% protection against hospital admission. Effectiveness after a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was estimated at 90% in patients 80 and older. No estimate was provided for effectiveness after a second dose of the Astra Zeneca vaccine.
 
COVID-19 Anti-inflammatories
 
In the 28-day, 4,116 patient, Phase III, DISCOVERY trial (NCT04381936), adding tocilizumab to usual care resulted in 31% mortality compared to 35% with usual care alone in hospitalized adults with COVID-19 with oxygen saturation < 92% or requiring oxygen therapy and C-reactive protein of 75 mg/L or >. Corticosteroids were used in 82% of the study population.