Just released: Pretty remarkable 1-year durability data for Novavax 2-dose primary series. Though there is some expected waning, there was >65% efficacy at 1y (mRNA options typically wane to this level by ~4-5 months). Also fewer waning differences by age. sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
To illustrate age stratified data, I took NVX data from the Japan paper and compared w/ a BNT paper from Norway. For BNT, nAbs & IgG largely back to baseline levels in older individuals by 5m, but remain at protective level at 1y w/ NVX, and more similar to young ages throughout.
Long-term durability is challenging to assess due to hybrid immunity, mutations, etc. More long-term durability studies are needed. But this adds to evidence from other observational data and animal models re: NVX durability
As anticipated, COVID levels are rising nationally with a late summer wave.
Wastewater detection rising quickly.
Early increases in hospitalization rates (those lag infections and viral detection).
I would expect rates to continue accelerating as kids go back to school.
Rates are variable by region. For example Texas is matching the highest levels in the last two years. Some areas remain at low levels. Check your state cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID1…
Emergency department rates (early clinical indicator) remain relatively low, but there are substantial increases nationally
The cardiovascular impacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been well described since the beginning of the pandemic.
Risk of outcomes like heart attack are higher for months or years after infection. nih.gov/news-events/ne… nature.com/articles/s4159…
Vaccination halves the risk of cardiovascular outcomes when infected. Vaccines are even more protective if you include prevention of infection (roughly halves the risk of infection vs reference population of mostly infection acquired immunity) jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/…
Excellent durability up to one year following Novavax booster doses shown in a new study from Japan.
Correlates of protection estimate 66% throughout the first year following first booster, and 88% throughout second year after 2nd booster.
Link to study:
Slight limitation that antibody patterns suggest some people likely had asymptomatic infections that were not captured. However, I'll note that the asymptomatic infection scenario (avoiding moderate/severe disease) is also a good outcome.sciencedirect.com/science/articl…
Lastly, correlates of protection have a degree of uncertainty. However, the data for NVX are quite good on this front nature.com/articles/s4146…
Long COVID doesn't just pose threat to personal wellbeing, it impacts families, communities, and the national economy.
Recent estimates show it’s sidelined millions of workers, cost trillions in lost productivity, and is quietly reshaping the U.S. labor market and economy.
A recent nationwide study found:
- 35 million U.S. adults (1 in 7) have had long COVID symptoms
- 30 million are working-age
- 24 million face mental health or financial strain
Interesting new study comparing individuals with ME/CFS, Long COVID, and healthy controls using MRI spectroscopy, cognitive tests, and metabolites.
ME/CFS patients had higher lactate in pgACC & dACC, hinting at mitochondrial dysfunction & anaerobic metabolism. Long COVID patients showed lower total choline in dACC, possibly tied to clotting & brain fog. nature.com/articles/s4138…
Cognition: In ME/CFS, higher lactate correlated with worse verbal fluency. In Long COVID, lower choline linked to poorer executive function. No significant differences in muscle metabolites.
The Novavax COVID-19 platform results in lower relative levels of IgG4 compared with mRNA.
IgG4 is additionally linked with lower neutralizing antibody & Fc effector functions.
Lower levels of immune imprinting also seen with NVX, highlighting further benefits of the platform.
Link to study:
"Overall, IgG4 levels were notably higher (>150x) in participants primed by mRNA vaccines (8567.1 ng/mL) compared with those primed by the rS protein–based vaccine (48.7 ng/mL)."journalofinfection.com/article/S0163-…
And link to my prior thoughts on the pre-print:
In short, the Novavax vaccine drives a robust immune response, with higher IgG3 antibodies compared w/ mRNA vaccines. IgG3 is key for potent neutralization & Fc-effector functions like phagocytosis