Thin Edge of the Wedge

"[The study showed a small increased risk after vaccination.]" 

"However, these adverse events were dwarfed by the neurological disorders seen after testing positive for Covid."

"Guillain-Barre syndrome, myasthenia-like disease, subarachnoid haemorrhage, encephalitis, and Bell's palsy were all quite common, especially in the first two weeks after testing positive for Sars-Cov-2."

Professor Peter Openshaw, Imperial College London 

 

"There are risks clearly associated with the vaccine but there are more substantial risks associated with infection."

Aziz Sheikh, professor, primary care research and development, University of Edinburgh

 

"The really big message from this is these are very rare neurological events that might be associated with the vaccine."

"But there is overwhelming evidence of the effectiveness of the vaccine against serious illness."

"I also work as a GP and we want to make sure people are taking up the vaccine and booster jabs, and by doing that we will protect the health of the nation in the best way we can."

Professor Julia Hippisley-Cox, University of Oxford, United Kingdom

Rare neurological conditions may occur after Covid vaccination, but the risk is far higher in people who catch Covid, new research suggests.  Getty Images

While Britain used its own home-grown anti- COVID vaccine developed by researchers at Oxford University, the vaccine drew controversy and suspicion right from the word 'go' a year previously when

Europe in particular began to question its safety and efficacy, withdrawing its use altogether finally. A casual onlooker might be forgiven for thinking briefly that this was a bit of pay-back for Britain having the gall to leave the EU through Brexit. But there were legitimate issues seen with the vaccine, as for example its impact on the heart, and blood clots, albeit in rare instances particularly seen in some age groups.

 

Now Oxford University has completed a research project finding that Guillain-Barre syndrome episodes have been linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. They found as well that Guillain-Barre can result as a complication from COVID-19; again in small numbers, but greater than what occurs as a result of inoculation with the vaccine. Guillain-Barre is a condition affecting the nerves, manifesting commonly as numbness and pain in hands and feet.

 

With no connection to the Oxford scientists who had created the vaccine, a group of academics from Oxford conducted some research, finding that for every ten million doses administered in Britain 38 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome surfaced -- in comparison with a non-COVID, non-vaccine baseline. On the other hand, 145 excess cases per ten million people were seen to have occurred, after testing positive for COVID.

Data was extracted from over 30 million people in Britain, used to assess how people's chances of developing adverse neurological complications were, due to the vaccine, or/and the virus. An individual inoculated with AstraZeneca was found to be close to three times likelier to develop Guillain-Barre syndrome two to three weeks following inoculation -- in comparison with never receiving a vaccine dose.

If an individual was infected with COVID, the risk was found to be significantly higher, some five times as likely to develop the condition, within a month of testing positive. According to the research results, 15 to 21 days following the AstraZeneca dose, individuals can be 29 percent more at risk of Bell's palsy than normal. In contrast, within a month of testing positive for COVID, an individual becomes 34 percent more likely to develop Bell's palsy.

The study showed that following the first dose of vaccine, there were:

• 38 extra cases (compared to the baseline risk of getting the condition) of GBS for every 10 million adults having the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine
• 60 extra cases of haemorrhagic stroke (a bleed in the brain) for every 10 million adults having the Pfizer vaccine

For people who had a coronavirus infection on the other hand, there were approximately:

• 145 extra GBS cases per 10 million with a positive test
• 123 extra brain inflammation disorder cases like encephalitis meningitis and myelitis per 10 million people
• 163 extra cases of myasthenia-like disorders (immune conditions affecting the nerves and muscles) per 10 million people

A health worker prepares a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine to be administered to a patient. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Promising Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment

"We knew from our previous research that MAGE-type proteins act like red flags on the surface of cancer cells to attract immune cells that destroy tumours."

"MAGE proteins have an advantage over other cancer antigens as vaccine targets since they are present on a wide range of tumour types. This broadens the potential benefit of this approach to people with many different types of cancer."

"MAGE-type antigens are not present on the surface of normal tissues, which reduces the risk of side-effects caused by the immune system attacking healthy cells."

Benoit Van den Eynde, professor of tumour immunology, University of Oxford

 

Oxford-AstraZeneca's technology in viral vectors has been used as a scaffolding for a new two-dose cancer vaccine whose potential efficacy has convinced researchers at Oxford University that they're on the brink of the potential to "revolutionize cancer treatment". The experimental vaccine, in combination with immunotherapy succeeded in producing a greater reduction in tumour size and lengthened survivability time in mouse models than did immunotherapy on its own. 

Anti-PD-1 immunotherapy represents a treatment demonstrating promise in disarming cancer through removal of the brakes from cancer-fighting anti-tumour T cells, but was found not always to be effective since cancer patients have such cells in low numbers. By generating a strong CD8+T cell response, a vital ingredient for reducing tumours, Oxford's vaccine technology aids in overcoming this problem. Their research study was published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer.

 

This technology was put in use by the Oxford team for the purpose of designing a two-dose cancer vaccine specifically targeting two MAGE-type proteins present on the surface of a great number of cancer cells, according o Technology Networks. The vaccine was successful in increasing levels of tumour-penetrating CD8 & T cells in mouse tumour models, increasing the effectiveness of anti-PD2 immunotherapy. 

 

 

As a result of demonstrations compelling the potential of promising results, the therapy has been cleared to proceed toward a clinical trial involving 80 patients with non-small cell lung cancer in late 2021,

"This new vaccine platform has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment."

"The forthcoming trial in non-small cell lung cancer follows a Phase 2a trial of a similar cancer vaccine in prostate cancer undertaken by the University of Oxford that is showing promising results."

"Our cancer vaccines ... show great potential in enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapy and improving outcomes for patients with cancer."

Adrian Hill, Lakshmi Mittal and Family Professorship of Vaccinology, director, Jenner Institute, University of Oxford

The Case for AstraZeneca

 (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)

"[The COVID-19 immunization  effort is a] race against time. [Canada's vaccine strategy has been to act] on hearsay and not a lot of facts."

"At my last look you guys are 3.6 percent vaccinated with two doses, so just wait for the [B.1.617] variant] to rip through the Canadian population, and then the problems you've had with these very rare [blood] clotting events will look pretty insignificant." 

"My advice is get people two doses, as fast as you can and hunker down. So, for the Canadians to be out thinking about whether they should have a second dose, you know, eating marshmallows around the campfire looks a bit silly to me, frankly."

"I just think this game of waiting around for the perfect solution, while there's a massive pandemic coming in your direction -- that does not look smart to me."

"Unless you've got two doses of mRNA vaccine sitting in a back room, you need to get on and vaccinate people with any one of the four good vaccines."

"All this messing around is going to cost lives. It's a public health decision, it's not some academic game."

Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine, Oxford University

"It would seem to be quite an excellent choice to make and have a second dose with AstraZeneca vaccine, knowing that you had no issues on your first dose ... but we also want to answer a couple of questions."

"One is what is the capacity for an informed consent of individuals who may want to choose to have all mRNA vaccine as a second dose, and we want to make sure that you have that option in front of you when you're going to make that choice."

Dr.David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health

As vaccination numbers across Canada rise, provinces are preparing to start looking ahead, if vaccine targets can be met    CBC

 

The use of AstraZeneca in Canada has been suspended for first doses in the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia, in uncertainty over the vaccine's rare side effect, which causes a rare blood clotting condition. Ontario has not yet decided whether it will offer those who received a first dose of AstraZeneca, to be given the same vaccine as a second dose. Alberta is hedging its bets with plans to reserve its supply of AstraZeneca for second doses. So it's a mixed bag in Canada at a time when those provinces are struggling with both the presence of more infectious variants, and a rising tide of cases.

And then there is the issue of Canada having called upon COVAX stores for its 'share' of vaccines contrary to the real and deep purpose of the vaccine-sharing plan; to distribute vaccines to developing countries resulting from developed countries having pooled contributions to the sharing-and-distribution effort. While it was legitimate for Canada to request its 'share' it's also counter-productive and morally questionable, to the purpose of COVAX; wealthy countries sharing among developing countries.

So Canada received its COVAX 'share' of AstraZeneca and in the current climate of suspicion over the rare vaccine-related blood clotting has put their use on hold. And while they're in freezers, in storage awaiting a decision over their use, Canada is now steadily receiving an ongoing contracted-for vaccine doses from Moderna and Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson. Having extracted its due from the global alliance to distribute doses more widely in countries without the capacity to purchase volumes of their own, some of the AstraZeneca doses will be expiring.

According to Ontario's chief medical officer of health, the province is awaiting the federal government's decision on the issue of mixing and matching vaccines prior to offering second doses to AstraZeneca recipients. The hesitation over the use of AstraZeneca was spurred in early May when the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, tasked with advising the federal government with guidance on vaccine use in Canada, stated it "preferentially recommended" mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna.

Viral vector vaccines like AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson's single shot, were recommended by NACI to be offered to Canadians aged 30 and older should they prefer an earlier vaccine "rather than wait for an mRNA vaccine." Exactly the kind of advice that runs counter to what Dr.Bell advises for optimum population coverage against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. According to Dr.Bell, Oxford University is currently conducting a study on mixing AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines and initial findings reveal that some side effects will result.

"Our experience to date is that it produces pretty severe reactogenicity, so severe that we don't think it's going to be viable. By that I mean, you get your second dose if you flip it over, you'll get really sick, so I would not advise that." Researchers found that mixed vaccine dosing schedules produced more frequent mild-to-moderate reactions after the second "booster" dose, in comparison to standard non-mixed vaccine schedules.

"The results from this study suggest that mixed dose schedules could result in an increase in work absences the day after immunization", advised Matthew Snape, associated professor in pediatrics and vaccinology at Oxford, the chief investigator on the trial.

 

Achieved: The Holy Grail of Malaria Vaccine

"There are about 13 million children born each year in various areas of Africa that could really benefit from the malaria vaccine."

"There are three doses per schedule and a booster dose so 200 million [the number the pharmaceutical manufacturer in India has agreed to produce yearly] is a very good number."

"That's a real technical challenge. The vast majority of vaccines haven't worked because it's very difficult." 

"[However the trial results meant the vaccine was] very deployable [and] has the potential to have a major public health impact."

Adrian Hill, director, Jenner Institute Oxford University

 

"[The results were] very exciting [and showed] unprecedented efficacy levels".

"We look forward to the upcoming 'phase III' trial to demonstrate large-scale safety and efficacy data for a vaccine that is greatly needed in this region."

Halidou Tinto, professor in parasitology, principal trial investigator, Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro, Burkina Faso

Vaccines against malaria have been rolled out before, such as this one in Ghana   Getty Images

 

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that plagues the hot and humid areas of the world from Asia to Africa, the cause of sub-Sahara Africa losing approximately 400,000 people annually. Now, preliminary results of a phase two trial undertaken with 450 children in Burkina Faso indicates that the vaccine produced by scientists at Oxford University's Jenner Institute is 77 percent effective against malaria. The vaccine, called R21, is the first of its kind to rate such a high efficacy rate.

 

An agreement with the Serum Institute of India, one of the world's largest and most productive vaccine manufacturers, assures that they are committed to producing 200 million doses annually as soon as the vaccine has gained official approval. When that happens, the researchers anticipate that the vaccine doses will be available widely, and at low cost, to solve one of the world's most vexing environmental health risks through a vector that has always plagued humanity.

 

The existing anti-malaria vaccine,  of promise, the RTS.S vaccine produced by GlaxoSmithKline, its efficacy rate came out to 50 percent in late-stage trials, the barest minimum to declare it a success. While this vaccine has completed phase three clinical trials it has not yet been fully licensed as a result of safety concerns. It is, however, being administered at the present time in Kenya, Malawi and Ghana, representing part of a World Health Organization-led pilot project. 

Having a second vaccine in circulation would represent an immense assist to efforts geared toward eliminating malaria. Other preventive measures which are moderately effective include bed nets, indoor spraying, and preventive drugs, their use hampered by insufficient funding to ensure these methods are widely available where they are badly needed.

Children aged five to 17 months were given the R21 vaccine in three doses a month apart, with a booster dose a year later, in this latest trial. Three phase-three trials with 4,800 subject-participants for the vaccine are on the cusp of initiation in Africa. Challenge trials where volunteers in the U.K. were given the vaccine, then subjected to bites by malaria-carrying mosquitoes have earlier been completed.

Successful Malaria vaccines have been the goal of researchers for the past century, a goal that  has been difficult to achieve. Partially as a result of the disease being seasonal, where 90 percent of deaths happen three to four months following the rainy season, emphasizing the vital importance of inoculating with vaccines at the precise right opportunity.