Immunosuppression;

What’s the evidence that immunocompromised patients need a 3rd booster mRNA Covid vaccine shot?

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

At this time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation for a booster shot of an mRNA vaccine in patients with moderate to severe immunocompromised state (1,2) is based primarily on the concern for waning immunity following the initial series—including a decline in neutralizing antibodies— in this patient population, and the finding that at least some immunocompromised patients may have a significant improvement in certain laboratory measurements of immunity following their booster shot. 

Although there are no randomized-controlled trials of the efficacy of the 3rd shot in protecting against Covid-19 in immunocompromised patients, the recent surge in the highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants in many parts of the world (including the U.S.)  as well as immunocompromised patient population accounting for nearly one-half of all breakthrough Covid-19 cases requiring hospitalization (1) make it urgent to adopt these recommendations. 

A randomized trial involving 120 solid organ transplant patients (median age 67 y) found higher neutralizing antibody levels and SARS CoV-2 specific T-cell counts after the mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccine booster dose compared to placebo (3).

In another study involving 101 solid organ transplant patients, of 59 subjects who were seronegative before the 3rd dose, 44% became seropositive 4 weeks after the 3rd vaccine dose ( BNT162b2-Pfizer vaccine administered 2 months after the second dose). Patients who did not have an antibody response were older, had higher degree of immunosuppression and had a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate than those with antibody response (4).

A “spectacular increase” in anti-spike antibodies with levels close to the general population has also been reported among hemodialysis patients receiving a third dose of Pfizer mRNA vaccine (5). 

Until further data from larger studies become available,  these studies support administration of a 3rd dose booster mRNA vaccine in moderate to severely immunosuppressed individuals.

Bonus Pearl: Did you know that although immunocompromised patients have significantly worse influenza outcome, the data on the impact of immunocompromised status on the outcome of Covid-19 is less clear with published evidence that both supports and refutes this association (6)?  

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References

  1. CDC. Data and clinical considerations for additional doses in immunocompromised people: ACIP Meeting, July 22, 2021. ACIP Data and Clinical Considerations for Additional Doses in Immunocompromised People (cdc.gov)
  2. CDC. Interim clinical considerations for use of Covid-19 vaccines currently authorized in the United States. August 13, 2021. Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines | CDC
  3. Hall VG, Ferreira VH, Ku T, et al. Randomized trial of a third dose of mRNA-1273 vaccine recipients. N Engl J Med 2021, Aug 11. Randomized Trial of a Third Dose of mRNA-1273 Vaccine in Transplant Recipients | NEJM
  4. Kamar N, Abravanel F, Marion O. Three doses of an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine in solid-organ transplant recipient. N Engl J Med 2021, Aug 12.Three Doses of an mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine in Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients | NEJM
  5. Frantzen L, Thibeaut S, Moussi-Frances J, et al. Covid-19 vaccination in haemodialysis patients: Good things come in threes… Neph Dial Transplant, 20 July 2023. COVID-19 Vaccination in Haemodialysis Patients: Good things come in threes… – PubMed (nih.gov)
  6. Parisi C. An opportunity to better understand the impact of coronavirus on immunocompromised patients. J Infect Dis 2021;224:372-3. Opportunity to Better Understand the Impact of Coronaviruses on Immunocompromised Patients | The Journal of Infectious Diseases | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

Disclosures: The listed questions and answers are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of Mercy-St. Louis, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Catalyst, Harvard University, their affiliate healthcare centers, or its contributors. Although every effort has been made to provide accurate information, the author is far from being perfect. The reader is urged to verify the content of the material with other sources as deemed appropriate and exercise clinical judgment in the interpretation and application of the information provided herein. No responsibility for an adverse outcome or guarantees for a favorable clinical result is assumed by the author. Thank you!

What’s the evidence that immunocompromised patients need a 3rd booster mRNA Covid vaccine shot?

Is Covid-19 vaccine effective in immunocompromised patients?

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , , , , Leave a comment

The short answer is that we don’t have any solid data on the performance of Covid-19 among immunocompromised (IC) patients at this time because the large trials used to clear the available vaccines for FDA Emergency Use Authorization essentially excluded IC subjects (1,2). 

However, despite a potentially blunted response, the immunogenicity of the Covid-19 vaccine may be sufficient to reduce the risk of serious disease. The CDC and the American Society of Clinical Oncologists support Covid-19 vaccination of IC patients as long as there are no contraindications and patients are counseled about the uncertainty in vaccine efficacy and safety in this particular population (3,4).

 For patients undergoing treatment for cancer, the ASCO believes that Covid-19 vaccine may be offered in the absence of any contraindications.  To reduce the risk of Covid-19 while retaining vaccine efficacy, it recommends that the vaccine be given between cycles of therapy and after “appropriate waiting periods” for those receiving stem cell transplants and immunoglobulin therapy (4).

Previous experience with pneumococcal and influenza vaccine in IC patients have reported frequent suboptimal immunological response (2). Concomitant treatment with infliximab or other immunomodulatory drugs have had a negative impact on seroconversion after influenza vaccination. Similarly, in patients with Crohn’s on immunosuppressives, immune response to polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine has been blunted (2). 

Nevertheless, the benefits of vaccination may still outweigh any risks of adverse events in this population. In fact, the CDC routine vaccination schedule for adults includes immunocompromised patients (5).  

At this time, given the seriousness of the Covid-19 pandemic and higher risk of severe disease among many IC patients, offering Covid-19 vaccine to these patients (with aforementioned caveats) seems prudent. 

 

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References

  1. Kumar A, Quraishi MN, Segal JP, et al. Covid-19 vaccinations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Lancet 2020;4:965-6. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langas/article/PIIS2468-1253(20)30295-8/fulltext
  2. Polack FP, Thomas SJ, Ktichin N, et al. Safety and efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine. N Engl J Med 2020;383:2603-15. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2034577
  3. Interim clinical considerations for use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the United States. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/clinical-considerations.html. Accessed Feb 14, 2021.
  4. American Society of Clinical Oncologists. Covid-19 vaccine and patients with cancer.. https://www.asco.org/asco-coronavirus-resources/covid-19-patient-care-information/covid-19-vaccine-patients-cancer Accessed Feb 14, 2021
  5. CDC. Immunization schedules. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/adult.html Accessed Feb 14, 2021.  

Disclosures: The listed questions and answers are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of Mercy healthcare centers, or its contributors. Although every effort has been made to provide accurate information, the author is far from being perfect. The reader is urged to verify the content of the material with other sources as deemed appropriate and exercise clinical judgment in the interpretation and application of the information provided herein. No responsibility for an adverse outcome or guarantees for a favorable clinical result is assumed by the author. Thank you!

Is Covid-19 vaccine effective in immunocompromised patients?

Key clinical pearls on the management of patients suspected of or diagnosed with Covid-19 in the outpatient setting

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Here are some key points to remember when managing patients with Covid-19 symptoms in the outpatient setting.  These points are primarily based on the CDC guidelines and the current literature. They may be particularly useful to primary care providers (PCP) who do not have ready access to Covid-19 test kits or radiographic imaging in the diagnosis of patients suspected of or diagnosed with Covid-19.

  • Isolation precautions. 1,6-7 Minimize chances of exposure by placing a facemask on the patient and placing them in an examination room with the door closed. Use standard and transmission-based precautions including contact and airborne protocols when caring for the patient. Put on an isolation gown and N95 filtering facepiece respirator or higher. Use a facemask if a respirator is not available. Put on face shield or goggles if available. Adhere to strict hand hygiene practices with the use of alcohol-based hand rub with greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol before and after all patient contact. If there is no access to alcohol-based hand sanitizers, the CDC recommends hand washing with soap and water as the next best practice.

 

  • Risk Factors.2-3 Older patients and patients with severe underlying medical conditions seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from Covid-19 illness. Known risk factors for severe Covid-19 include age over 60 years, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and immunosuppression.

 

  • Symptoms.2,4,8,9 Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death. These symptoms may appear after a 2- to 14-day incubation period.
    • Fever at any time 88-99%
    • Cough 59-79%
    • Dyspnea 19-55%
    • Fatigue 23-70%
    • Myalgias 15%-44%
    • Sputum production 23-34%
    • Nausea or vomiting 4%-10%
    • Diarrhea 3%-10%
    • Headache 6%-14%
    • Sore throat 14%
    • Rhinorrhea/nasal congestion (4.8%)
    • Anosmia (undocumented percentage)

 

  • Treatment for mild illness.5 Most patients have mild illness and are able to recover at home. Counsel patients suspected to have Covid-19 to begin a home quarantine staying in one room away from other people as much as possible. Patients should drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated and rest. Over the counter medicines may help with symptoms. There is controversy regarding the safety of NSAIDs in Covid-19 (See related P4P pearl). Generally, symptoms last a few days and  patients get better after a week. There is no official guidance from the CDC or other reliable sources on how often a PCP should check in with a patient confirmed with Covid-19 and in quarantine. Please use good judgement and utilize telehealth capabilities via phone call, video call, etc… if possible.

 

  • Treatment for severe illness.3 Patients should be transferred immediately to the nearest hospital. If there is no transfer service available, a family member with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) precautions, should drive patient to nearest hospital for critical care services.

 

  • Ending home isolation. 5
    • Without testing: Patients can stop isolation without access to a test result after 3 things have happened. 1) No fever for at least 72 hours. This is 3 full days of no fever and without the use of medication that reduces fever; 2) Respiratory symptoms have improved.; and 3) At least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
    • With testing. 5 Home isolation may be ended after all of the following 3 criteria have been met: 1) No fever for at least 72 hours. This is 3 full days of no fever and without the use of medication that reduces fever; 2) Respiratory symptoms have improved; and 3) Negative results from at least 2 consecutive nasopharyngeal swab specimens collected more than 24 hours apart.

To all the healthcare providers out there, please be safe and stay healthy!

 

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Contributed by Erica Barnett, Harvard Medical Student, Boston, MA.

 

References:

  1. CDC. Evaluating and Testing Persons for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/clinical-criteria.html
  2. CDC. Symptoms and Testing. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/index.html
  3. World Health Organization. Operational Considerations for case management for COVID-19 in health facility and community. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331492/WHO-2019-nCoV-HCF_operations-2020.1-eng.pdf
  4. Partners in Health. Resource Guide 1: Testing, Tracing, community management. https://www.pih.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/PIH_Guide_COVID_Part_I_Testing_Tracing_Community_Managment_3_28.pdf
  5. CDC. Caring for someone at home. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/care-for-someone.html
  6. CDC. Using PPE. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/using-ppe.html
  7. CDC. Hand Washing. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/hand-hygiene.html
  8. Harvard Health Publishing. COVID-19 Basics. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-basics
  9. Guan W, Ni Z, Hu Y, et al. Clinical characteristics of Coronavirus disease 2019 in China. N Engl J Med 2020, March 6. DOI:10.1056/NEJM022002032 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32109013

 

Disclosures: The listed questions and answers are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Catalyst, Harvard University, its affiliate academic healthcare centers, or its contributors. Although every effort has been made to provide accurate information, the author is far from being perfect. The reader is urged to verify the content of the material with other sources as deemed appropriate and exercise clinical judgment in the interpretation and application of the information provided herein. No responsibility for an adverse outcome or guarantees for a favorable clinical result is assumed by the author. Thank you!

Key clinical pearls on the management of patients suspected of or diagnosed with Covid-19 in the outpatient setting