[MCOH-EH] Question about international COVID vaccines

[Swift, Melanie D., M.D., M.P.H.]

Here's the link to the WHO Emergency Use Listing: https://extranet.who.int/pqweb/sites/default/files/documents/Status_COVID_VAX_02July2021.pdf

According to CDC if the vaccine has been added to the EUL ("finalized" on this document) then no further vaccination should be necessary. Note the following facets of this EUL:

  *   The assessments of international vaccines will change over time. They just added Sinopharm/BIBP to this list in early May. Prior to that we would have told people who received Sinopharm that they should get one of the FDA EUA vaccines; but now we wouldn't.

  *   They are adding the individual manufacturer, not just a platform or brand. So for instance, AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in Japan or Australia is not yet listed but that made in Europe or Korea is. The Sinopharm that is made by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products has completed the process and is on the list, but the one made by Wuhan Institute of Biological Products has not. Much like the FDA, it's not just that the recipe/platform works, they are verifying the production standards and practices at the manufacturing facilities. This is really difficult because vaccination records do not get that specific.
  *   The listing process may not always appear to make sense with clinical trial data. Sputnik V has not completed the listing process, but the vaccine had high efficacy in their phase 3 trial. Again, like the FDA process, they have to consider more than the clinical trial data, like the integrity of the manufacturing process, so there may be factors that we aren't aware of that can hold up approval.

Melanie

Melanie Swift, MD, MPH
(she/her)
Practice Chair, Division of Preventive, Occupational, and Aerospace Medicine
Medical Director, Mayo Clinic Physician Health Center<https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/preventive-occupational-aerospace-medicine/physician-health-center/referrals>
Associate Medical Director, Occupational Health Service
Co-Chair, COVID Vaccine Allocation and Delivery
_______________________________
Mayo Clinic
200 First Street SW
Rochester, MN 55905

From: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net> On Behalf Of Radke, Laura L. M.D.
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2021 5:33 PM
To: 'mcoh-eh at mylist.net' <mcoh-eh at mylist.net>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [MCOH-EH] Question about international COVID vaccines

Our medical school has raised some questions about international COVID vaccines related to visiting researchers, housestaff, students and others who may have been immunized in a foreign country, now coming to the US to work/train/etc.  Curious to see how others may be handling the following situations:


  1.  Do you have a list of foreign vaccines (not FDA-approved) which are felt to be acceptable for full COVID vaccination?
  2.  Will you accept proof of vaccination from a foreign country?
  3.  If so, what type of documentation is required?
  4.  What if the documentation is in a foreign language?  English translation required?  By whom?

While COVID vaccine is currently not mandatory at our institutions, we are keeping track of who has been vaccinated in our EMR and feel this is likely to come up in the near future.

Thank you for your input!

Laura L Radke, MD
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine
Medical Director, F&MCW Occupational Health Services
Phone: 262-253-8197 | Fax: 262-253-5152 Cell Phone: 414-530-0723
E-mail: laura.radke at froedtert.com<mailto:laura.radke at froedtert.com>
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Workforce Health / North Hills Health Center Building B First Floor
W129 N7055 Northfield Dr.
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051


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