Vaccinating the elderly against COVID-19 has reduced the number of critically ill COVID-19 patients in hospitals

The number of infections worldwide has risen dramatically since the outbreak of COVID-19 in December 2019, with the cumulative number of confirmed covid-19 cases and 6,460,493 cumulative deaths worldwide as of September 5, 2022 CET[1].

Efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines

Vaccinating the elderly against COVID-19 has reduced the number of critically ill COVID-19 patients in hospitals

A retrospective study evaluated the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine in patients with severe COVID-19 before and after the epidemic of the Delta variant in Japan[2].

There is a certain proportion of adverse effects in COVID-19 mRNA vaccination, and close post-vaccination monitoring is required

A cross-sectional study described adverse reactions after vaccination of healthcare workers in Tunisian hospitals[3].

Factors such as immunodeficiency and immunosuppression can affect the antibody response to the COVID-19 vaccine, and some immunosuppressed patients remain negative even after intensive vaccination

Vaccinators have different antibody responses to the COVID-19 vaccine, for reasons that are unclear

New advances in COVID-19 drug prevention and treatment

In the real world, remdesivir is effective in reducing mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19

A systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the real-world efficacy of remdesivir (RDV) in patients with COVID-19 inpatient disease [5].

Evusheld is effective in preventing COVID-19 infection and can treat non-severe COVID-19

Evusheld is a combination of two monoclonal antibodies (tixagevimab and cilgavimab) derived from B cells in patients convalescent after SARS-CoV-2 infection, binding to different epitopes of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein in a non-competitive manner, blocking the entry of the SARS-CoV-2 virus into the cell, so as to achieve prevention and treatment [6].

PROVENT is a phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study designed to assess the effectiveness

Another study of its post-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19 (STORM CHASER) showed that Evusheld reduced the risk of symptomatic COVID-19 in people who were PCR negative at baseline, including subjects with some missing data, by 73% compared with placebo [7].

In addition, the results of a Phase III clinical study evaluating the safety and efficacy of Evusheld in the treatment of non-severe COVID-19 patients in adults who did not have severe COVID-19 showed a significant 50.

In summary, the current prevention and treatment of new crown pneumonia has shown many new highlights, which will bring more thinking and insights to clinical experts and bring new hope

Expert profile

Wang Wei

Professor, Chief Physician, PhD/Postdoctoral Supervisor; Director of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University; Member of the Standing Committee of the Respiratory Branch of the Chinese Medical Association; Vice President of Respiratory Physician Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association; Vice President of Sleep Branch of Chinese Geriatrics Association; Vice Chairman of China Grassroots Respiratory Disease Prevention and Control Alliance; Chairman-designate of Liaoning Respiratory Society; Liaoning Province COVID-19 Medical Treatment Expert Group Leader; Distinguished Professor of Liaoning Province; Young Famous Doctor of Liaoning Province; Xingliao Talents Program millions of talents leading talents; Outstanding scientific and technological worker of Liaoning Province; National May Day Labor Medal winner; China's Good Doctor Anti-epidemic Special Figure