COVID-19 WEEKLY EVIDENCE UPDATES

On this page you'll find our latest weekly Covid Evidence Update.  You can also access our previous bulletins on Recovery (health, social and economic), ICU Follow-up & Long-term Effects/Long Covid and Mental Health Impacts. 

COVID-19 EVIDENCE UPDATE, 15 December 2021

Guidelines:

COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing COVID-19
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2021.
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng191
In October, NICE added new recommendations on casirivimab and imdevimab. New data on the use of heparins (from the REMAP-CAP trial results) does not change the current recommendations.
Freely available online

COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing COVID-19
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2021.
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng191
In November, NICE added a new recommendation on ivermectin.
Freely available online

COVID-19: management of staff and exposed patients and residents in health and social care settings
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA); 2021.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-management-of-exposed-healthcare-workers-and-patients-in-hospital-settings/
Guidance on the management of staff, patients and residents who have been exposed to COVID-19.
Freely available online

COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA); 2021.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-the-green-book-chapter-14a/
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination information for public health professionals.
Freely available online

Supply of vaccines under Mutual Aid
Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS); 2021.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/supply-of-vaccines-under-mutual-aid/
This article discusses key points for vaccination site Lead Pharmacists to consider when supplying vaccines under Mutual Aid, which is only allowed in exceptional circumstances and in accordance with the NHSEI policy.
Freely available online

Updates to the College's Amber phase COVID-19 guidance
College of Optometrists; 2021.
https://www.college-optometrists.org/news/2021/november/updates-to-the-colleges-amber-phase-covid-19-guid
This update includes recommendations for managing the risk of seasonal respiratory infections, including COVID-19. The College's position remains that practices should continue to open for routine services, while prioritising patients on a needs and symptoms-led basis. Remote consultations should take place when appropriate, to minimise patient contact.
Freely available online

Consensus statements on COVID-19
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA); 2021
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consensus-statements-on-covid-19/
Updated 10 December 2021: UKHSA has added the EMRG's consensus statement for 24 November 2021 to its website.
Freely available online

Dealing with delivery issues associated with the COVID-19 vaccines and consumables
Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS); 2021.
https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/delivery-enquiries-relating-to-covid-19-vaccine/
Specific supply chain routes have been set up for both vaccine, and equipment and consumables. Dedicated service desks handle issues and are the first contact point for delays or issues with deliveries of the vaccine, consumables, deliverables or equipment.]
Freely available online

COVID-19 vaccination programme
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA); 2021.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/covid-19-vaccination-programme/
08 December 2021: Added UK vaccine response to the Omicron variant: JCVI advice and link to updated COVID-19 vaccination training slide set.
Freely available online

National protocol for Comirnaty® COVID-19 mRNA vaccine
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA); 2021.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-protocol-for-comirnaty-covid-19-mrna-vaccine/
This protocol is for the administration of Comirnaty® COVID-19 mRNA vaccine to individuals in accordance with the national COVID-19 vaccination programme (Updated 09 December 2021: Added version 04.00 – details of changes on page 4/ Updated JCVI link on page 11)
Freely available online

National protocol for Spikevax (formerly COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna)
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA); 2021.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-protocol-for-covid-19-vaccine-moderna
This protocol is for the administration of Spikevax (formerly COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna) by appropriately-trained persons. National protocol for Spikevax v03.00 is valid from 9 December 2021 to 31 March 2022 (Updated 09 December 2021: Added version 03.00 – details of changes on page 3)
Freely available online

Evidence-based Summaries:

What you need to know about the new Omicron COVID-19 variant
World Health Organization (WHO); 2021.
https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/news/news/2021/12/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-omicron-covid-19-variant
On 26 November, WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) designated the B.1.1.529 variant, first reported by South Africa 2 days earlier, as a variant of concern, named Omicron. Omicron is a variant of concern because it has dozens of mutations that can affect the way it behaves. Due to this mutation profile, it needs to be further investigated for its potential impacts.
Freely available online

COVID-19 lockdowns and school closures: what's the impact on youth mental health?
The Mental Elf; 2021.
https://www.nationalelfservice.net/populations-and-settings/schools/covid-19-lockdowns-school-closures-youth-mental-health/
Douglas Badenoch appraises a recent cross-sectional survey study, which looks at COVID-19 partial school closures and mental health problems.
Freely available online

Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: variant risk assessments
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA); 2021.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/investigation-of-sars-cov-2-variants-of-concern-variant-risk-assessments/
Risk assessment dated 09 December for Omicron variant added.
Freely available online

Systematic Review/Meta-analysis:

Myocarditis and Pericarditis Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Rapid Review
SPOR Evidence Alliance; 2021
https://sporevidencealliance.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/SPOREA-COVIDEND_Myo-and-Pericarditis-after-Covid-19-Vaccines-Final-11132021.pdf
This rapid review includes evidence available from a search conducted on Oct 6 but with grey literature
as late as Oct 21, 2021. The research questions were as follows: 1. What is the incidence of myocarditis and pericarditis following COVID-19 vaccination, and does the incidence vary by patient and vaccine factors. 2. What are the characteristics and short-term clinical course in patients with myocarditis and pericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination?
Freely available online

Original Research:

Nutrition therapy for long COVID
Nguyen-Hoang A. British Journal of Nursing 2021;30(21):S28-S29.
A clinical definition of long COVID has been released by the World Health Organization (WHO) (2021) in response to a global surge in patients suffering with long COVID, where symptoms are continuing 3 months and beyond. Up to 3 in 10 post-COVID-19 patients are suffering with long COVID symptoms, which are reported to include fatigue, poor memory and concentration, smell and taste impairment, and lack of appetite.
Available with an ​NHS OpenAthens password for eligible users

Reports:

UK vaccine response to the Omicron variant: JCVI advice
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2021
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-vaccine-response-to-the-omicron-variant-jcvi-advice/
Advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in response to the emergence of the Omicron variant. This statement sets out the JCVI’s advice on extending the UK COVID-19 vaccination programme to offer booster doses to adults aged 18 to 39 years, and second doses to children and young people aged 12 to 15 years.
Freely available online

Vivaldi 3: coronavirus (COVID-19) antibody and cellular immune response in care homes study report
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA); 2021.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vivaldi-3-coronavirus-covid-19-antibody-and-cellular-immune-response-in-care-homes-study-report/
The Vivaldi 3 study, conducted by the University of Birmingham in collaboration with University College London, is an integral part of the Vivaldi project which was set up in June 2020 to investigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission, infection outcomes and immunity in residents and staff in care homes in England.
Freely available online

Statistics:



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News:

What is avian flu?
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA); 2021
https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/
In recent weeks, a number of cases of avian influenza, or ‘bird flu’ as it’s commonly known, have been confirmed across England, Scotland, and Wales. This blog explains what Avian flu is and how the situation is being managed.
Freely available online

Unvaccinated mothers urge pregnant women to get jabbed
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA); 2021.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/unvaccinated-mothers-urge-pregnant-women-to-get-jabbed
Powerful new video shows their experiences of severe COVID-19 during pregnancy.
Freely available online

COVID-19 vaccines and medicines: updates for December 2021
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA); 2021.
https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/covid-19-vaccines-and-medicines-updates-for-december-2021
Drug Safety Update. Recent information relating to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines that has been published since the November 2021 issue of Drug Safety Update, up to 3 December 2021.
​Freely available online

Opinion:

Self-care, social norms and anomie during COVID-19: from contestation of the greater good to building future. normative resilience in the UK 
Powell R A. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 2021;75(10):925.
Self-care has been, and continues to be, critical to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. The concept of anomie—an uprooting, dissolution or absence of established moral values, guiding standards, or social mores, creating normlessness—cannot be overlooked when planning an integrated social response. The dominant narrative of personal self-care must be supplemented with a collectivist approach that addresses structural inequalities for the future.
Available with an NHS OpenAthens password for eligible users

Before I Die: death positivity and the community nursing contribution. [Abstract]
Murphy S. British Journal of Community Nursing 2021;26(12):588-590.
Check for full-text availability
Key points: Before I Die: Worcestershire is part of the wider death-positive movement, working to break the culture of silence around death and dying; Before I Die: Worcestershire works both creatively and practically in the community, triggering artistic response to themes of mortality and offering practical guidance on the legal and financial aspects of death and dying; Community nurses can positively contribute to similar initiatives in their local area.