The World Health Organization is now listing four SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) and seven additional variants of interest (VOI) worldwide (www.who.int/en/activities/tracking-SARS-CoV-2-variants/). A VOC is characterized by an increase in transmissibility or virulence, a change in clinical presentation, and/or decreased effectiveness of vaccines or therapeutics. A VOI is a strain that has caused multiple case clusters. Read More
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COVID vaccine interchangeability – what is the evidence?
June 8, 2021The latest recommendation from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is that the second COVID-19 vaccination can be administered with a different vaccine product (NACI, 1 June 2021). Consequently, people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine can be switched to an mRNA vaccine for the second dose. The recommendation was based on concerns about vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) following first and second vaccinations with viral-vector vaccines. Read More
COVID-19 mortality in MS patients: a systematic review
June 1, 2021A systematic review of 87 studies has found that patients with multiple sclerosis have a slightly increased mortality risk from COVID-19, notably those who are older with significant disability and/or comorbidities (Barzegar et al. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm 2021;8:e1001). Read More
Anti-CD20 therapies – Mechanisms of action
May 25, 2021Provides information on CD20, binding epitopes of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (rituximab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, ublituximab) and the effects of anti-CD20 MAbs in multiple sclerosis. Includes slides explaining antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC).
12 slides