Covid-19 Vaccine Strategy
Science and Technical Advisory Group
M
inutes – Wednesday 21 October 2020
(Confidential)
Date & time
10:00 to 11:00AM, Wednesday 21 October
Attendees
Ian Town (Chair)
Justine Daw
David Murdoch (Deputy Chair)
Emily Robinson
Ian Frazer
Simon Rae
Graeme Jarvis
Jonathan Lane
Peter McIntyre
Chriselle Braganza
Nikki Moreland
Frances Heslop
Helen Petousis-Harris
John Taylor
Apologies
Matire Harwood
Sue Crengle
Nikki Turner
Item for discussion
Led by
Administration
1.
Apologies
Ian Town
Matire Harwood, Sue Crengle, Nikki Turner
2.
STAG Conflicts of Interest
Ian Town
The updated COI register was noted, with any COIs not listed to be declared.
STAG member biographies have now been uploaded to MBIE’s COVID-19 Vaccine
Strategy webpage. All STAG members have now signed Deeds of Confidentiality.
3.
Review of minutes from last STAG meeting
Ian Town
The minutes from the meeting on 7 October 2020 were approved.
4.
Matters arising
Justine Daw
Justine Daw provided an update on matters arising from the previous meeting:
-
Taskforce Project Leads are meeting this week to review the current list of
vaccine candidates, as ranked against the APA Assessment Framework. This
will also add any expected COVAX candidates as well as other candidates not
yet included (e.g. the Gamaleya vaccine).
-
We expect potential COVAX candidates to be presented to New Zealand from
2 November onwards, and will schedule diary holds shortly thereafter for the
Science Review Panel. Project lead Glenys Karran will provide a progress
update to the STAG on the COVAX Facility in mid-November.
1
-
A populated Science Summary mock-up is on the agenda (Item 7)
-
Project Lead Karl Ferguson will provide the STAG with a further update in
early November on the Communications and Engagement project.
5. Review of rol ing monthly planner
Ian Town
There are now eight target vaccine candidates under consideration through the
APA process. Justine Daw noted that the candidate numbers do not necessarily
reflect the order in which they will be presented to the Science Review Panel.
Action: The table summarising APA candidate progress through the Science
Review Panel process will be included on future STAG agendas.
Updates
6.
Update on Vaccine Portfolio
Simon Rae
Simon Rae (Project Lead, Policy and Strategy) joined the STAG meeting to provide
an update on the vaccine portfolio strategy. An emerging view of the portfolio of
APA and COVAX candidates (names withheld) was presented. Comments from the
STAG included:
The Taskforce’s broad thinking was that we now have enough APAs with a
good range of candidates and delivery windows, but that there is work to be
done to ensure we have the right coverage for various sub-groups and
vulnerable populations.
Delivery timeframes will present challenges – there will be a lot of variability
in the timing of vaccine availability.
There is work to be done in the Engagement/Communications pillar around
vaccine readiness, and monitoring the mood of different demographics in
terms of acceptability. Some perceptions (i.e. immune response v the illness
itself) around vaccines can be difficult to shift.
Planning to support immunisation roll-out is in train, including in terms of
equipment (needles, fridges, freezers etc.)
Most vaccines that New Zealand ends up using will likely already have been
used on a larger-scale internationally. The Taskforce will need to think about
how we can use information in our immunisation planning and roll-out.
Whether the Taskforce was looking at, or plan to look at, qualitative research
(particularly on reactogenicity) among certain groups. It was acknowledged
as an important aspect, although we have yet to consider this in-depth.
7.
Populated ‘Science Summary’ template
Justine Daw
A populated Science Summary template was presented for the Pfizer candidate for
feedback. Justine Daw noted that the templates for each purchased candidate will
be updated approximately monthly, as new information comes to light, and
reviewed by Pippa Scott before being date-stamped and circulated to the STAG.
Discussion included:
2
As well as capturing up-to-date information (including hyper-links to inclusion
data), the summaries will highlight particular issues/aspects for each
candidate that will need close attention as trials and immunisation planning
progress.
The value in having this sort of summary information presented in this
format, regularly updated and clearly date-stamped to show a current view of
each candidate that we have purchased (i.e. when a vaccine was
approved/authorised for use).
The STAG highlighted that the safety data remains critical (particularly when
considering implications for population diversity), and that the patient
numbers and duration of the safety data should be recorded, as well as what
standardised safety standards trials were adhering to (if any).
Immunogenicity results should be separated from safety and efficacy data.
Information on manufacturing scalability was important.
Discussion
8.
Vaccine monitoring and trials in New Zealand
Ian Town/
-
A COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Surveillance Strategy for New Zealand:
Helen
Framework Proposal for discussion and associated papers
Petousis-
-
MRFF / PICO proposal
Harris
-
WHO Circular Letter - COVID-19: Call for Countries to Participate in the
Global WHO SOLIDARITY Protocol for COVID-19 Vaccines trials
The STAG discussed the papers above, including the Framework Proposal for
Vaccine Safety Surveillance in New Zealand.
Discussion included:
The need for NZ to effectively monitor rare adverse events, as well as long
term effects, on a systematic basis (ie. beyond information collected on
hospitalisation currently).
That the Australia post-licensure study would be good to do, but was not
essential.
That tools such as KiwiVax (drawing on the Australian SmartVax model) could
well be adapted to meet national needs [noting this was being trialled in Nikki
Turner’s practice].
That Medsafe was also planning on reviewing the app for hospitalisation data,
and this was another pathway to ensuring an effective national system.
That app-based tools could serve as an important part of public outreach and
engagement activities in support of the Taskforce objectives, particularly in
terms of building public confidence.
Action: The Chair to follow up with Medsafe (Chris James) to follow up on the
cell-phone app proposal as discuss with CARM.
The Chair to also discuss offline with Dr Petousis-Harris on how best to
advance thinking on vaccine monitoring and trials in New Zealand.
3
9.
Questions for STAG comment
Justine Daw
Q:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of an inactivated vaccine
platform? What are the key aspects to note when considering the
potential fit of this platform within a vaccine portfolio?
A:
A key point to consider is the logistics of inactivated vaccines, and the
difficulties in access/scale-up for manufacturing capability (e.g. the PC3
requirements). Comments from the sector are welcomed (to follow).
10.
Meeting close
Ian Town
4