Covid- 19 Update (11 Nov, 2021)

 

Important update

First oral antiviral approved in the UK

1. The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved molnupiravir for the treatment of mild to moderate disease in adults with a positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test and who have at least one risk factor for developing severe disease. It is the first oral antiviral medication to be approved for COVID-19. Molnupiravir should be started within 5 days of symptom onset, and is administered as a 5-day course.

FDA authorises Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in children 5 to 11 years of age

1. The US Food and Drug Administration has authorised the use of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in children aged 5 to 11 years. Authorisation was based on an ongoing randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial of approximately 4700 children that reports 90.7% efficacy rate. A specific paediatric formulation of the vaccine is available for this age group due to the lower dose required.

WHO recommends additional vaccine dose in immunocompromised people

1. The World Health Organization recommends that the primary vaccination series for all COVID-19 vaccines should be extended to include an additional dose in moderately to severely immunocompromised people. Heterologous vaccine schedules may be considered in certain circumstances.WHO recommends administering COVID-19 and influenza vaccines togetherThe World Health Organization recommends that coadministration of any dose of a COVID-19 vaccine with an inactivated seasonal influenza vaccine is acceptable, and may be considered during the same visit. WHO recommends using the contralateral limb for injection, when the two vaccines are administered during the same visit, to minimise any perceived risk