Safety of Simultaneous Administration of Bivalent mRNA COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccines in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

INTRODUCTION: Bivalent mRNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines may be simultaneously administered with other recommended vaccines, including seasonal influenza vaccines. However, few studies have evaluated the safety of co-administration of bivalent mRNA COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to describe reports to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) after co-administration of bivalent mRNA COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines. METHODS: We searched the VAERS database for reports of adverse events (AEs) following co-administration of bivalent mRNA COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines during the period of September 1, 2022-March 31, 2023. We assessed the characteristics of these reports and described the most frequently reported AEs. Clinicians reviewed available medical records for reports of serious AEs and adverse events of special interest (AESI). RESULTS: During the period of 1 September 2022 through 31 March 2023, VAERS received 3689 reports of AEs following co-administration of bivalent mRNA COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines. The median age of vaccinees was 59 years (interquartile range 39, 70 years); 342 reports (9.3%) were classified as serious. The most common AEs among non-serious reports were severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection (785, 23.5%), cough (592, 17.7%), and fatigue (568, 17.0%). The most common AEs among serious reports were Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (88, 25.7%), dyspnea (81, 23.7%), and condition aggravated (55, 16.1%). DISCUSSION: Reports of AEs following co-administration of bivalent mRNA COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines did not reveal any unusual or unexpected patterns of AEs. Increased reporting of certain events (e.g., COVID-19) was expected due to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting requirements. CDC and FDA will continue to monitor the safety of co-administration of mRNA COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines.

Safety of co-administration of mRNA COVID-19 and seasonal inactivated influenza vaccines in the vaccine adverse event reporting system (VAERS) during July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 vaccines may be co-administered with other recommended vaccines, including seasonal influenza vaccines. However, few studies have evaluated the safety of co-administration of mRNA COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines. OBJECTIVE: To describe reports to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) after co-administration of mRNA COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines. METHODS: We searched the VAERS database for reports of adverse events (AEs) following co-administration of mRNA COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines and following a first booster dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine alone, during July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022. We assessed the characteristics of these reports and described the most frequently reported MedDRA preferred terms (PTs). Clinicians reviewed available medical records for serious reports and reports of adverse events of special interest (AESI) and categorized the main diagnosis by system organ class. RESULTS: From July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, VAERS received 2,449 reports of adverse events following co-administration of mRNA COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines. Median age of vaccinees was 48 years (IQR: 31, 66); 387 (15.8%) were classified as serious. Most reports (1,713; 69.3%) described co-administration of a first booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine with seasonal influenza vaccine. The most common AEs among non-serious reports were injection site reactions (193; 14.5%), headache (181; 13.6%), and pain (171; 12.8%). The most common AEs among reports classified as serious were dyspnea (38; 14.9%), COVID-19 infection (32; 12.6%), and chest pain (27; 10.6%). DISCUSSION: This review of reports to VAERS following co-administration of mRNA COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines did not reveal any unusual or unexpected patterns of AEs. Increased reporting of certain events (e.g., COVID-19 disease) was expected. CDC will continue to monitor the safety of co-administration of mRNA COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines, including co-administration involving bivalent mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccines that have been recommended for people ages ≥ 6 months in the United States.

Implementation of simulation-based learning in a physician assistant curriculum.

PURPOSE: This article describes the implementation of high-fidelity simulation into the physical diagnosis courses in a Physician Assistant Studies Program and notes the outcomes. METHODS: Six scenarios were developed based on a variety of clinical settings and presentations to complement the didactic education in the physical diagnosis course. Thirty-nine first-year students participated in the simulation labs in addition to the course. Students were given a pre- and post-course survey regarding their confidence in evaluating/treating a patient, identifying medical equipment, interpreting physiologic information, responding to changes in a patient's status, and their interest in practicing in acute care. Students were also surveyed following each scenario to assess whether the training was sufficiently realistic, comprehensive, and useful in their training. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated increased confidence levels in all skills assessed at the end of the course as compared to the beginning. Additionally, students strongly agreed that the simulation training was sufficiently realistic, comprehensive, and useful to their training. Interestingly, there appeared to be a decreased interest in practicing in acute care, perhaps due to new/additional exposure to this practice setting.

Holistic admissions process: an initiative to support diversity in medical education.

In accordance with the call from multiple academic medicine bodies and professional medical societies, the physician assistant studies program at a small northeastern university implemented a holistic admissions process in 2008 with the intent of increasing diversity in the classroom. This manuscript outlines the processes that occurred and the results that ensued after adoption of a holistic admissions process.

Evaluation of multiple variables predicting the likelihood of passage and failure of PANCE.

PURPOSE: A significant positive correlation between the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) and the PAEA Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge Rating and Assessment Tool (PACKRAT) has been found in previous studies. This study's goal was to improve prediction of PANCE failure using other predictive measures, alone and in combination, with the PACKRAT. METHODS: Correlation and discriminate and regression analyses were conducted on 3 years of data (2007-2009) collected from Chatham University PA Studies graduates, with convergent results. RESULTS: Significant positive correlations between the PANCE and each of the assessment measures were found (in order of significance): (1) the PACKRAT exam; (2) a summative multiple choice question exam given near the end of the clinical (second) year; (3) average multiple-choice-question-exam results from the didactic (first) year; (4) prerequisite preadmission GPA; and (5) overall preadmission GPA. Discriminant analyses revealed the combined solution of PACKRAT, SUMM, and MCQ to most accurately differentiate between the "pass" versus "fail" groups on the PANCE. Most importantly, regression analyses revealed the combined solution of SUMM and MCQ to most accurately predict PANCE performance at the low end of the scale. CONCLUSION: This research suggests that all assessment measures tested can provide helpful estimates of PANCE performance; however the combined SUMM and MCQ solution provided the most reliable and accurate prediction of PANCE performance for "high risk" students. Other physician assistant programs could develop analyses of their internal testing assessments to identify students at risk of PANCE failure and allocate institutional and program resources to improve rates of PANCE passage.