The time course of antibody production following SARS-CoV-2 infection was analysed using blood samples obtained from antibody screening of patients with known/suspected COVID-19 at Mount Sinai, New York (Wajnberg et al. Science 2020;370:1227-1230). The assay was the Mount Sinai ELISA that characterizes the antibody response to the Spike protein and has high sensitivity and specificity (92.5%, 100%).

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The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has recommended that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine should not be used in adults under age 55 years due to concerns about a rare clotting complication (www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization/national-advisory-committee-on-immunization-naci/rapid-response-recommended-use-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-younger-adults.html). Individuals aged >55 years can still receive the vaccine. NACI previously recommended that the vaccine not be used in individuals aged >65 years due to a lack of evidence. Read More

Summary of epidemiology, testing and mortality rate; Canada and world statistics.

An AstraZeneca press release about the positive interim results from a new phase III trial (NCT04516746) met with controversy when the U.S. Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) issued a press release of its own that challenged the findings. Read More

Several European countries have suspended distribution of the AstraZeneca vaccine following reports of thrombocytopenia and thrombotic complications. To date, there have been 15 cases of deep-vein thrombosis and 22 cases of pulmonary embolism reported with the vaccine in the EU and UK (www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2021/update-on-the-safety-of-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca.html). Read More