WHO consultation on COVID-19 vaccines research – 13 August 2021
Report of consultation is available HERE
In continuation to the scientific discussions on COVID-19 vaccines research, WHO R&D Blueprint organized a consultation on the state of the art and best research methods to evaluate existing, modified and new COVID-19 vaccines.
The objectives of this consultation was to review the available evidence on the efficacy and effectiveness of vaccines being deployed in terms of:
- Emerging variants effect on protection levels
- Duration of protection
- Safety of booster vaccines
- Research to evaluate various delivery strategies
During the consultation, experts debated the methodological strengths and limitations of existing data and the potential designs to generate additional data leading to evidence-based decisions. The AGENDA items were focused on:
- Available randomized and non-randomized data on COVID-19 vaccine efficacy and effectiveness against different variants, and initial assessment of risk of bias and confounding.
- Available randomized and non-randomized data on COVID-19 vaccines' duration of protection and methodological challenges with its interpretation.
- Vaccine developers update about their current progress and plans to generate evidence to inform discussions on the need and pertinence of booster vaccines.
- Opportunities and designs to be considered in the generation of additional data.
Presenters, panel members and invited experts included:
- Global experts on evidence synthesis and critical appraisal of evidence
- Leading researchers on COVID-19 vaccine studies
- Clinical trial and observational study methodologists
- Vaccine developers
Presentations
- Objectives of the meeting
- Overview of current COVID-19 epidemiological situation
- COVID-19 vaccines as an additional tool to control COVID-19 pandemic: a public health research perspective
- Conclusion
Session 1. What do we know and what additional evidence is needed to inform decisions on booster doses?
- Current understanding of mechanisms of vaccine-induced protection
- Animal studies evidence on SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant pathogenesis and host response
- Vaccines and variants: What randomized evidence is available?
- Vaccines and variants: What immunological data is available?
- Vaccines and variants: Methodological issues in using non-randomized studies to estimate vaccine effectiveness
- COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against Delta variant in Ontario, Canada
- Update on the Janssen®(JNJ) Ad26.COV2.S vaccine
Additional evidence on booster doses: developers’ perspective:
Public health and safety perspectives on booster dosing:
- How much safety data are needed to support benefit-risk assessment of booster doses?
- What should a booster dose achieve from the public health perspective and what data is needed?
Session 2. How can research contribute to optimize the use of available doses of COVID-19 vaccines?
- What research is needed to evaluate Adjusted/Fractional doses and regimens in the context of primary vaccination and booster doses?
- What complementary vaccine delivery strategies should be considered (in which context?)
- What research is needed to assess the potential impact of complementary vaccine delivery strategies?
Available COVID-19 Vaccine tools at WHO website