It’s also important for patients to understand that the ATAGI is considering the timing of booster doses to ensure protection is provided during future outbreak peaks. ‘ High primary COVID-19 vaccine coverage is expected to have the largest impact on protection against severe disease both directly (by direct protection) and indirectly (by prevention of transmission),’ the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) said last month.
ATAGI advice Vaccinating the eligible population is the immediate key priority to convey to patients before booster shots come onto the agenda. According to new research published this month in The Lancet, the Pfizer vaccine is 90% effective against hospitalisation for up to 6 months.
‘This effectiveness is against symptomatic infection, not against hospitalisation or death, which is much higher,’ said Associate Professor Nicholas Wood, Associate Director, National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, in a recent Healthmed lecture. ‘I talk about the fact that we don't have evidence that patients are ending up in hospital they have had their two doses, so that tells us that the immunity is not dropping away.’ From an international standpoint, pharmacists could point out that while recent research in the New England Journal of Medicine on the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines in healthcare workers shows that efficacy reduces after some months, this is in relation to symptomatic infection. Ms Huxhagen also discusses local data on hospitalisations, which are primarily in the unvaccinated. ‘I talk in words like “drops away” rather than “decreasing immunity”,’ she said.
Ms Huxhagen explains that COVID-19 is a global problem, and so far local data has not indicated a reduction in immunity after two COVID-19 vaccine doses. ‘The majority of the people who are asking these questions are frightened, their health literacy is not amazing and they are a little confused by the different reports,’ she said. When explaining that booster doses are not currently recommended in Australia, she makes sure she speaks to patients ‘clearly, calmly, in words they understand’. ‘One elderly gentleman who had two Pfizer through his doctor rang the other day and wanted a booster of Moderna, based on what he had seen in the media about Pfizer waning quicker,’ Ms Huxhagen said. Reports on Pfizer’s waning efficacy is also behind some booster inquiries. ‘One patient wanted a booster shot because he read in the British media that a of combined with AstraZeneca showed improved efficacy,’ Ms Huxhagen told Australian Pharmacist. Since rolling out Spikevax in her Mackay Queensland pharmacy 2 weeks ago, Karalyn Huxhagen FPS has seen an influx of patients wanting to book in for either a Moderna vaccine booster dose, or a second dose of Moderna after receiving a different vaccine. Moderna booster queries on the rise As Spikevax continues to roll out in pharmacies and more countries introduce boosters, patients are increasingly inquiring about extra COVID-19 vaccine doses, pharmacists report. Due to the vaccination boost, restrictions may be lifted earlier than anticipated on 24 October. The state is fast approaching its vaccination target of 70%, with 53% of residents now fully vaccinated. Victoria is leading the Moderna charge, with 71,400 doses administered since its Spikevax rollout began. The Moderna vaccine has continued to dominate, with 25,700 doses administered in the last 24 hours compared to 14,600 of AstraZeneca. After little more than 2 months of administering COVID-19 vaccines, pharmacists have delivered 949,600 doses to patients across Australia. As pharmacists approach a huge COVID-19 vaccination milestone this week, curious patients inquire about boosters.
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