The arrival of the JN.1 sublineage of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Omicron variant, shows a major antigenic shift from initial variants.¹ As JN.1 evolves, continuous surveillance, vaccination initiatives, and diligent adherence to preventive measures are vital for minimizing its potential impact on global public health.¹ During a recent symposium, Professor Hung, Fan-Ngai Ivan from the University of Hong Kong emphasized the importance of randomized controlled trials and real-world data in evaluating vaccine safety and effectiveness across diverse populations, including children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. He highlighted that the BNT162b2 JN.1-adapted messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine is the only mRNA vaccine with comprehensive data available, reinforcing the necessity of ongoing monitoring of vaccine performance and the potential impact of new variants on public health. His presentation underscored the significant advancements in vaccine development and the essential role of vaccination in reducing severe outcomes from COVID-19.

To manage the large influx of patients during the Omicron surge of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Hospital Authority (HA) expanded the use of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy devices in the general wards of hospitals in Hong Kong.1 In an interview with Omnihealth Practice,

A recent local study published in Nature Cell Biology has revealed transcriptomic and epigenomic dysregulation on the maternal-fetal interface (MFI) caused by maternal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.¹ Jointly conducted by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the Division of Life Science at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), this research was first of its kind in assessing epigenetic alterations for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated pregnancy.¹  

Since early March 2023 when COVID-19 restriction measures in Hong Kong were abated, a resurgence of local cases, caused predominantly by Omicron XBB and its descendant lineages, has been observed.^1,2 Given the enduring threat of COVID-19 infection and long COVID, vaccination remains the key prevention strategy to safeguard public health, particularly the high risk group.  In a recent interview with Omnihealth Practice, Prof. Thomas, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology in SUNY Upstate Medical University, shared his insights on the effectiveness of the new bivalent BNT162b2 vaccine (original/BA.4-5 strains) and the future global vaccination strategies in response to the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

From March 1, 2023, all the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restriction measures have been lifted in Hong Kong including the mask mandate, getting the society back to normal.¹ However, there is a rebound of local COVID-19 cases caused by predominantly XBB, an Omicron sub-variant, and its descend

In a local retrospective cohort study analyzing data during Hong Kong’s omicron BA.2 wave, molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir were found to be effective in reducing the risks of all-cause mortality and disease progression, as well as the need for oxygen therapy among hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and without supplemental oxygen requirement.¹ The study revealed the substantial clinical benefits of oral antivirals, supporting their early use among Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in Hong Kong.1

In a local retrospective cohort study analyzing data during Hong Kong’s omicron BA.2 wave, molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir were found to be effective in reducing the risks of all-cause mortality and disease progression, as well as the need for oxygen therapy among hospitalized patients due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and without supplemental oxygen requirement.¹ The study revealed the substantial clinical benefits of oral antivirals, serving as evidence to support their early use among Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in Hong Kong.¹

B cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), hence immunosuppressive therapy employing B-cell depletion is an important milestone in MS management.¹ Ofatumumab is a fully human B-cell depleting, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody approved in 2020 for treating adults with relapsing MS.² Ofatumumab has been shown to be safe, efficacious and have significant benefits over teriflunomide, a mitochondrial enzyme inhibitor, in relapsing MS patients in the phase 3 ASCLEPIOS I and II trials.¹ However, its long-term safety and efficacy as well as the increased risks associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for MS patients has to be monitored further.⁴ Recently, interim data on the long-term (up to 4 years) safety of ofatumumab in relapsing MS from the ALITHIOS study were presented at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting.³ Additionally, interim analysis from another prospective open-label study, KYRIOS, also evaluated the T- and B-cell responses in COVID-19 vaccinated relapsing MS patients on ofatumumab.⁵