March 12, 2021 | A single shot of vaccines could be sufficient for previously-infected individuals, according to Mount Sinai research. A collection of real-world data from Mass General Brigham staff give insight into vaccine reactions. And pollen and COVID-19? What does the correlation mean?

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In a letter to the editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers from Mount Sinai suggest that a single shot of one of the currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines may be sufficient to provide immunity to individuals who have previously been infected by the virus, thus eliminating the need for a second dose and helping to stretch severely limited vaccine supplies. The researchers used the existing longitudinal PARIS (Protection Associated with Rapid Immunity to SARS-CoV-2) study to explore antibody responses in 110 study participants with or without documented preexisting SARS-CoV-2 immunity. Repeated sampling after the first dose indicates that the majority of seronegative participants had variable and relatively low SARS-CoV-2 IgG responses within 9 to 12 days after vaccination, they write. However, participants with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at baseline before the first vaccine injection rapidly developed uniform, high antibody titers within days after vaccination. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMc2101667

Researchers studied Mass General Brigham (MGB) employees who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for 3 days after vaccination, looking for real-world data on allergic reaction to the vaccines. 52,805 employees completed at least one symptom survey after their vaccination through email, text message, phone, or smartphone application links. Acute allergic reaction symptoms solicited included itching, rash, hives, swelling, and/or respiratory symptoms. The team reported that 98% of employees did not have any symptoms of an allergic reaction after receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The remaining 2% reported some allergic symptoms; however, severe reactions consistent with anaphylaxis occurred at a rate of 2.47 per 10 000 vaccinations. All individuals with anaphylaxis cases recovered without shock or endotracheal intubation. The results were published in JAMA. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2021.3976

Increased pollen concentrations correlate with higher SARS-CoV-2 infection rates, so researchers from the Technical University of Munich tested for relationships between SARS-CoV-2 infection rates and pollen concentrations, along with humidity, temperature, population density, and lockdown effects. Drawing data from 130 sites in 31 countries and across five continents, the team reports that pollen, sometimes in synergy with humidity and temperature, explained, on average, 44% of the infection rate variability. As a result of their findings, they encourage high-risk individuals to wear particle filter masks during high springtime pollen concentrations. They published their results in PNAS. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2019034118