VaxPulse: Active Global Vaccine Infodemic Risk Assessment.

Vaccine infodemics, driven by misinformation, disinformation, and inauthentic online behaviours, pose significant threats to global public health. This paper presents our response to this challenge, demonstrating how we developed VaxPulse Vaccine Infodemic Risk Assessment Lifecycle (VIRAL), an AI-powered social listening platform designed to monitor and assess vaccine-related infodemic risks. Leveraging interdisciplinary expertise and international collaborations, VaxPulse VIRAL integrates machine learning methods, including deep learning, active learning, and data augmentation, to provide real-time insights into public sentiments, misinformation trends, and social bot activity.

Enhancing Vaccine Safety Surveillance: Extracting Vaccine Mentions from Emergency Department Triage Notes Using Fine-Tuned Large Language Models.

This study evaluates fine-tuned Llama 3.2 models for extracting vaccine-related information from emergency department triage notes to support near real-time vaccine safety surveillance. Prompt engineering was used to initially create a labeled dataset, which was then confirmed by human annotators.

VaxPulse: Monitoring of Online Public Concerns to Enhance Post-Licensure Vaccine Surveillance.

The recent vaccine-related infodemic has amplified public concerns, highlighting the need for proactive misinformation management. We describe how we enhanced the reporting surveillance system of Victoria's vaccine safety service, SAEFVIC, through the incorporation of new information sources for public sentiment analysis, topics of discussion, and hesitancies about vaccinations online. Using VaxPulse, a multi-step framework, we integrate adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) with sentiment analysis, demonstrating the importance of contextualising public concerns.

Immune Response to COVID-19 Vaccination in Children With Cancer.

Background: Young people undergoing cancer treatment are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. Vaccination is recommended; however, data regarding vaccine response are limited.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted of children and adolescents (aged 5-19 years) with current solid or hematological cancer and life expectancy of at least 1 year, eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.

Validating community concerns of menstrual changes associated with COVID-19 vaccination using a self-controlled case series analysis of real-world data.

Objectives: Stories of menstrual changes occurring post COVID-19 vaccination have abounded, with many affected persons expressing frustration their concerns were not being heard. In an era where misinformation is rampant and can fuel vaccine hesitancy it is imperative to address and validate community concerns. We aimed to investigate evidence of increased menstrual disturbances associated with COVID-19 vaccination.

Surveillance and follow up outcomes of myocarditis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in Australia.

Clinical progression and medium-long term morbidity from myocarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations remains an important but undefined public health concern. We conducted prospective follow-up of individuals with either confirmed or probable myocarditis following monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 or Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccination between 21 April 2021 and 5 July 2022 in Australia. Of 256 individuals who consented to follow up, mostly males following a second dose, 60% (133/221) had ongoing symptoms at 3-6 months and 35% (81/231) at 12-18 months.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of respiratory viral triggers for acute myocardial infarction and stroke.

Respiratory viral infections may trigger acute cardiovascular events. However, relative pathogen-specific associations are poorly understood, limiting optimal preventive recommendations. The aim of this study was to systematically review the association between respiratory viruses with two primary outcomes, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke.

Risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome after COVID-19 vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection: A multinational self-controlled case series study.

Background: The association between Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and certain COVID-19 vaccines is inconclusive. We investigated the risk of GBS after COVID-19 vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: Using a common protocol, we conducted a self-controlled case series study from 1 December 2020 to 9 August 2023 at 20 global sites within the Global Vaccine Data Network™ (GVDN®).

Early-life gut microbiome associates with positive vaccine take and shedding in neonatal schedule of the human neonatal rotavirus vaccine RV3-BB.

Rotavirus vaccines are less effective in high mortality regions. A rotavirus vaccine administered at birth may overcome challenges to vaccine uptake posed by a complex gut microbiome. We investigated the association between the microbiome and vaccine responses following RV3-BB vaccine (G3P[6]) administered in a neonatal schedule (dose 1: 0-5 days), or infant schedule (dose 1: 6-8 weeks) in Indonesia (Phase 2b efficacy study) (n = 478 samples/193 infants) (ACTRN12612001282875) and in Malawi (Immunigenicity study) (n = 355 samples/186 infants) (NCT03483116).

Joint consensus on reducing the burden of invasive meningococcal disease in the Asia-Pacific region.

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) imposes a heavy burden of mortality and life-long sequelae on infected individuals and has devastating impacts on their family members. International data show that meningococcal vaccination programs have reduced IMD incidence and changed the serogroup distribution of the disease. Furthermore, newer data show that although the public health measures in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic temporarily reduced the incidence of IMD, there has been a resurgence in the years since.

Fifteen-minute consultation: a guide to pertussis.

Pertussis (whooping cough) is a bacterial infection caused by the organism It can lead to severe illness and death, especially in neonates and young infants. Pre-vaccination, pertussis was a major contributor to childhood morbidity and mortality. Despite global vaccination programmes, it remains a considerable public health challenge.

Hepatitis B vaccination of preterm infants and risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a cohort study, Australia.

Objective: To determine whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination of extremely preterm infants (defined in our study as < 29 weeks gestation) within 24 hours of birth (birth-dose) increases the risk of developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Methods: Using data from Australia, we conducted a population data linkage study using the Victorian Vaccine Safety Health Link. This platform links state-wide immunization and health outcomes from the Victorian Perinatal Data Collection and the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset.

Cracking the code: an integrated electronic medical record approach to early diagnosis of genetic kidney disease in children with microscopic haematuria.

Background: Microscopic haematuria (MH) is a common incidental finding in childhood that typically resolves spontaneously but, if persistent, can be a sign of underlying genetic kidney disease. Best practice indicates that all MH samples should be followed up to ensure resolution. Repeat sampling often does not occur, and an opportunity to diagnose and manage genetic kidney disease is missed, with substantial resultant preventable morbidity.

Nuvaxovid NVX-CoV2373 vaccine safety profile: real-world data evidence after 100,000 doses, Australia, 2022 to 2023.

IntroductionNuvaxovid became available in Australia from February 2022, a year after the first COVID-19 vaccines. This protein-based vaccine was an alternative for people who had had an adverse event to and/or were hesitant to receive an mRNA or adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccine. Although safety from clinical trials was reassuring, small trial populations, low administration rates and limited post-licensure intelligence meant potential rare adverse events were underinformed.

Systematic Review of Avian Influenza Virus Infection and Outcomes during Pregnancy.

Human cases of avian influenza A(H5N2) and A(H5N1) viruses associated with outbreaks in birds and mammals are increasing globally, raising concerns about the possibility of a future avian influenza pandemic. We conducted a systematic review examining 30 reported cases of avian influenza in pregnant women. We found high mortality rates for mothers (90.

Clinical phenotype of COVID-19 vaccine-associated myocarditis in Victoria, 2021-22: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To describe myocarditis as an adverse event after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, including a detailed description of clinical phenotypes and diagnostic test results and differences by age, sex, and degree of troponin level elevation.

Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Setting, Participants: Cases of suspected myocarditis following the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine in Victoria during 22 February 2021 - 30 September 2022 reported to Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination In the Community (SAEFVIC), with symptom onset within 14 days of vaccination, and deemed to be confirmed myocarditis according to the Brighton Collaboration Criteria.

Protocol for an embedded randomised controlled trial of Early versus Late Stopping of Antibiotics in children with Febrile Neutropenia (ELSA-FN).

In children with cancer, febrile neutropenia (FN) is one of the most common complications of treatment, a leading cause of unplanned and prolonged hospital admission and is the key driver of antibiotic exposure. Co-designed with key stakeholders, 'Early versus Late Stopping of Antibiotics in high-risk FN' (ELSA-FN) is a randomised controlled, non-inferiority trial that compares stopping antibiotics in clinically stable patients after 48 hours with the current standard of care, continuing antibiotics until absolute neutrophil recovery. As an Australian first, we will exploit the potential of electronic medical record (EMR) systems, embedding all key aspects of the trial including screening, consent, randomisation and data collection into standard clinical and EMR workflows.

Comprehensive humoral and cellular immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination in adults with cancer.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted people with cancer. Initial vaccine studies excluded patients with malignancy. Immunocompromised individuals remain vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2, necessitating detailed understanding of vaccine response.

Is neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio an accurate predictor of neonatal sepsis in premature infants?

Background: Sepsis is a significant cause of neonatal mortality. Both clinical and laboratory markers are often non- specific, and a blood culture contaminant may confuse management of the infant. This study aims to use an existing, inexpensive test, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), to predict culture positivity and thus optimise antibiotic management.

Design and evaluation of a visual genomic explainer: a mixed-methods study.

Objective: To design and assess a visual genomic explainer focusing on plain language and engaging imagery. The explainer aimed to support doctors' comprehension of complex genomic concepts and results and act as a resource promoting the integration of genomic testing into mainstream care.

Design: Prospective genomic resource development and questionnaire.

Exploring Large Language Models for Detecting Online Vaccine Reactions.

Social media offers a rich source of real-time health data, including potential vaccine reactions. However, extracting meaningful insights is challenging due to the noisy nature of social media content. This paper explores using large language models (LLMs) and prompt engineering to detect personal mentions of vaccine reactions.