Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a vaccine cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another vaccine and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
The safety of VIMKUNYA was evaluated in two clinical trials [Study 1 (NCT05072080) and Study 2 (NCT05349617)], both conducted in the United States, in which a total of 3,667 participants 12 years of age and older received a single dose of VIMKUNYA or placebo [formulation buffer containing 218 mM sucrose, 10 mM potassium phosphate, 25 mM sodium citrate, pH 7.0 (see Description (11)].
Study 1 was a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial. Individuals aged 12 through 64 years were randomized in a 6:1 ratio, stratified by age stratum (12-17, 18-45, and 46-64 years of age), to receive a single dose of VIMKUNYA (n=2,794) or placebo (n=464).
Among the overall 3,258 participants randomized in Study 1, the median age was 38 years [with 254 (8%) participants 12 through 17 years of age, 1906 (58%) participants 18 through 45 years of age, and 1098 (34%) participants 46 through 64 years of age]; 51.2% were female; 73.2% were White, 19.1% Black or African American, 2.9% Asian, 1.0% American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.3% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 2.6% multiple racial groups; and 17.7% were of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.
Study 2 was a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial. Individuals aged 65 years and older were randomized in a 1:1 ratio, stratified by age stratum (65-74 and ≥75 years of age), to receive a single dose of VIMKUNYA (n=206) or placebo (n=207).
Among the overall 413 participants enrolled in Study 2, the median age was 70 years, and 58.6% were female; 83.3% were White, 11.9% Black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.5% American Indian or Alaska Native, 2.2% multiple racial groups; and 44.3% were of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.
In Studies 1 and 2, solicited adverse reactions were collected via electronic diary from the vaccination day through 7 days post-vaccination (an 8-day period). Unsolicited adverse events were monitored for 28 days post-vaccination. Serious adverse events were monitored through 6 months post-vaccination. New onset or worsening arthralgia that was medically attended was monitored through 6 months post-vaccination.
Solicited Adverse Reactions
The percentage of participants in Study 1 reporting solicited local (injection site) and systemic adverse reactions is shown in Table 1. In Study 1, the median day of onset was Day 1 for local reactions (Day 1 was the day of vaccination) and Day 2 for systemic reactions following administration of VIMKUNYA. Local and systemic adverse reactions resolved with a median duration of 1 day.
Table 1. Percentages of Participants with Solicited Local and Systemic Adverse Reactions Through 7 Days After Vaccination (Study 1a, 12 through 64 years of age) Note: Solicited adverse reactions were collected from the vaccination day through 7 days post-vaccination (an 8-day period). Percentages are based on the number of participants in the Study 1 safety population with at least one diary observation for a given symptom for a given day. a NCT05072080 b Severity=mild, moderate, severe intensity. Absence of rows for severe reactions indicates that no reactions of this severity were reported in either group. c Defined as mild (no interference with activity), moderate (repeated use of non-narcotic pain reliever >24 hours or interference with activity), severe (any use of narcotic pain reliever or prevents daily activity). d Defined as mild (no interference with activity), moderate (some interference with activity), severe (prevents daily activity). e Defined as mild (no interference with activity or 1 – 2 episodes/24 hours), moderate (some interference with activity or >2 episodes/24 hours), severe (prevents daily activity, requires outpatient intravenous hydration). f The denominator for injection site pain, redness, swelling, arthralgia, chills, fatigue, myalgia, and nausea is 2,764 for VIMKUNYA and 458 for placebo. g The denominator for fever is 2,760 for VIMKUNYA and 457 for placebo. h The denominator for headache is 2,765 for VIMKUNYA and 458 for placebo. |
Adverse Reaction | VIMKUNYA N=2790 % | Placebo N=464 % |
Solicited Local (Injection Site) Adverse Reactionsb | | |
Pain (any)c,f | 23.7 | 10.7 |
Pain (severe) | 0.1 | 0 |
Redness/Erythema (≥25 mm)f | 0.5 | 0 |
Redness/Erythema (>100 mm) | <0.1 | 0 |
Swelling (≥25 mm)f | 0.4 | 0 |
Solicited Systemic Adverse Reactionsb | | |
Fatigue (any)d,f | 19.9 | 17.0 |
Fatigue (severe) | 0.7 | 0.2 |
Headache (any)c,h | 18.0 | 16.6 |
Headache (severe) | 0.3 | 0.4 |
Myalgia/Muscle Pain (any)d,f | 17.6 | 9.6 |
Myalgia/Muscle Pain (severe) | 0.4 | 0.4 |
Chills (any)d,f | 8.6 | 3.3 |
Chills (severe) | 0.1 | 0 |
Arthralgia/Joint Pain (any)d,f | 7.7 | 7.2 |
Arthralgia/Joint Pain (severe) | 0.3 | 0.2 |
Nausea (any)e,f | 7.5 | 6.6 |
Nausea (severe) | 0.4 | 0 |
Fever (≥38.0°C or ≥100.4°F)g | 0.9 | 0.2 |
Fever (≥39.0°C or ≥102.1°F) | 0.2 | 0 |
In Study 1, solicited adverse reactions were reported by 94 (44.1%) participants12 through 17 years of age, 676 (41.8%) participants 18 through 45 years of age, and 289 (31.0%) participants 46 through 64 years of age in the VIMKUNYA group.
The percentage of participants in Study 2 reporting solicited local and systemic adverse reactions is shown in Table 2. In Study 2, the median day of onset was Day 2 for both local and systemic reactions (Day 1 was the day of vaccination) following administration of VIMKUNYA. Local adverse reactions resolved with a median duration of 1 day and systemic adverse reactions resolved with a median duration of 2 days.
Table 2. Percentages of Participants with Solicited Local and Systemic Adverse Reactions Through 7 Days After Vaccination (Study 2a, 65 years of age and greater) Note: Solicited adverse reactions were collected from the vaccination day through 7 days post-vaccination (an 8-day period). N=Number of participants in the Study 2 safety population with at least one diary observation for a given symptom for a given day. a NCT05349617 b Severity=mild, moderate, severe intensity. Absence of rows for severe reactions indicates that no reactions of this severity were reported in either group. c Defined as mild (no interference with activity), moderate (repeated use of non-narcotic pain reliever > 24 hours or interference with activity), severe (any use of narcotic pain reliever or prevents daily activity). d Defined as mild (no interference with activity), moderate (some interference with activity), severe (prevents daily activity). e Defined as mild (no interference with activity or 1 – 2 episodes/24 hours), moderate (some interference with activity or >2 episodes/24 hours), severe (prevents daily activity, requires outpatient intravenous hydration). |
Adverse Reaction | VIMKUNYA N=205 % | Placebo N=200 % |
Solicited Local (Injection Site) Adverse Reactionsb | | |
Pain (any)c | 5.4 | 1.5 |
Redness/Erythema (≥25 mm) | 0 | 0.5 |
Swelling (≥25 mm) | 0 | 0 |
Solicited Systemic Adverse Reactionsb | | |
Myalgia/Muscle Pain (any)d | 6.3 | 6.5 |
Fatigue (any)d | 6.3 | 6.0 |
Fatigue (severe) | 0.5 | 0 |
Headache (any)c | 4.4 | 7.5 |
Headache (severe) | 0.5 | 0 |
Arthralgia/Joint Pain (any)d | 2.9 | 4.0 |
Chills (any)d | 2.9 | 3.0 |
Nausea (any)e | 2.9 | 1.5 |
Fever (≥38.0°C or ≥100.4°F) | 0 | 1.0 |
Unsolicited Adverse Events
In Study 1, unsolicited adverse events that occurred within 28 days following vaccination were reported in 15.5% of 2,790 participants who received VIMKUNYA and 12.7% of 464 participants who received placebo. There was one report of severe dehydration considered related to VIMKUNYA.
In Study 2, unsolicited adverse events that occurred within 28 days following vaccination were reported in 12.6% of 206 participants who received VIMKUNYA and 15.5% of 207 participants who received placebo. There were no severe unsolicited adverse events considered related to VIMKUNYA.
Medically Attended New Onset or Worsening Arthralgia
In Study 1, 3 (0.1%) participants in the VIMKUNYA group (n=2,790) and 1 (0.2%) participant in the placebo group (n=464) reported new onset or worsening arthralgia that was medically attended and considered possibly or probably related to VIMKUNYA (beginning 2, 14 and 84 days post-vaccination, respectively) or possibly related to placebo (beginning 1 day post-vaccination); none of these reactions were reported as serious or severe (defined as those that prevented daily activity and/or required medical intervention).
In Study 2, there were no participants in the VIMKUNYA or placebo groups with new onset or worsening arthralgia that was medically attended and considered at least possibly related to the study intervention.