1
|
Gandjour A. Evaluating the Usefulness of Population-Wide COVID-19 Testing in the Omicron Era: Insights from a German Model. DAS GESUNDHEITSWESEN 2024. [PMID: 39047785 DOI: 10.1055/a-2328-4165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, which has become dominant worldwide since late 2021, presents a unique challenge due to its high rate of asymptomatic transmission. This study evaluates the efficacy and value of population-wide testing, including self-testing, in the context of COVID-19, particularly under the Omicron variant, using data from Germany. METHODS A decision-analytical model and secondary data was used for assessing the impact of systematic screening and testing for COVID-19. Various scenarios were taken into consideration including seasonal patterns of COVID-19 transmission and the potential for annual waves. The model assessed the clinical benefits of testing against the backdrop of vaccine effectiveness, transmission rates, and the potential to prevent severe clinical events, including death, ICU admission, and long COVID syndrome. RESULTS The study found that the value of mass testing and self-testing for private use was highly contingent on the transmission rate and the scenario of COVID-19 waves (seasonal vs. continuous). For winter waves, a very high incidence rate was required to justify testing, while for continuous waves, testing could be valuable for those in contact with individuals in their last decade of life. The analysis highlighted the limitations of mass testing when community transmission rates were low and the potential value of testing in high-risk contacts or amidst new outbreaks. DISCUSSION The findings suggest that the resumption of testing during winter waves is unlikely to provide significant clinical benefits given the current understanding of Omicron's transmission and immunity waning. This study underscores the need for a nuanced approach to COVID-19 testing policies, considering both the epidemiological context and the practical implications of testing strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Afschin Gandjour
- Frankfurt School of Finance & Management gGmbH Economics Department, Frankfurt, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Burton JK, McMinn M, Vaughan JE, Nightingale G, Fleuriot J, Guthrie B. Analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on Scotland's care-homes from March 2020 to October 2021: national linked data cohort analysis. Age Ageing 2024; 53:afae015. [PMID: 38342752 PMCID: PMC10859243 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afae015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on long-term care residents remains of wide interest, but most analyses focus on the initial wave of infections. OBJECTIVE To examine change over time in: (i) The size, duration, classification and pattern of care-home outbreaks of COVID-19 and associated mortality and (ii) characteristics associated with an outbreak. DESIGN Retrospective observational cohort study using routinely-collected data. SETTING All adult care-homes in Scotland (1,092 homes, 41,299 places). METHODS Analysis was undertaken at care-home level, over three periods. Period (P)1 01/03/2020-31/08/2020; P2 01/09/2020-31/05/2021 and P3 01/06/2021-31/10/2021. Outcomes were the presence and characteristics of outbreaks and mortality within the care-home. Cluster analysis was used to compare the pattern of outbreaks. Logistic regression examined care-home characteristics associated with outbreaks. RESULTS In total 296 (27.1%) care-homes had one outbreak, 220 (20.1%) had two, 91 (8.3%) had three, and 68 (6.2%) had four or more. There were 1,313 outbreaks involving residents: 431 outbreaks in P1, 559 in P2 and 323 in P3. The COVID-19 mortality rate per 1,000 beds fell from 45.8 in P1, to 29.3 in P2, and 3.5 in P3. Larger care-homes were much more likely to have an outbreak, but associations between size and outbreaks were weaker in later periods. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 mitigation measures appear to have been beneficial, although the impact on residents remained severe until early 2021. Care-home residents, staff, relatives and providers are critical groups for consideration and involvement in future pandemic planning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Kirsty Burton
- Academic Geriatric Medicine, School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, GlasgowG31 2ER, UK
| | - Megan McMinn
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow G2 6QE, UK
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
| | - James E Vaughan
- School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AB, UK
| | - Glenna Nightingale
- Nursing Studies, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AB, UK
| | - Jacques Fleuriot
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
- Advanced Care Research Centre, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
| | - Bruce Guthrie
- Advanced Care Research Centre, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Stirrup O, Krutikov M, Azmi B, Monakhov I, Hayward A, Copas A, Shallcross L. COVID-19-related mortality and hospital admissions in the VIVALDI study cohort: October 2020 to March 2023. J Hosp Infect 2024; 143:105-112. [PMID: 37949372 PMCID: PMC10927615 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2023.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term-care facilities (LTCFs) were heavily affected by COVID-19 early in the pandemic, but the impact of the virus has reduced over time with vaccination campaigns and build-up of immunity from prior infection. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the mortality and hospital admissions associated with SARS-CoV-2 in LTCFs in England over the course of the VIVALDI study, from October 2020 to March 2023. METHODS We included residents aged ≥65 years from participating LTCFs who had available follow-up time within the analysis period. We calculated incidence rates (IRs) of COVID-19-linked mortality and hospital admissions per calendar quarter, along with infection fatality ratios (IFRs, within 28 days) and infection hospitalization ratios (IHRs, within 14 days) following positive SARS-CoV-2 test. RESULTS A total of 26,286 residents were included, with at least one positive test for SARS-CoV-2 in 8513 (32.4%). The IR of COVID-19-related mortality peaked in the first quarter (Q1) of 2021 at 0.47 per 1000 person-days (1 kpd) (around a third of all deaths), in comparison with 0.10 per 1 kpd for Q1 2023 which had a similar IR of SARS-CoV-2 infections. There was a fall in observed IFR for SARS-CoV-2 infections from 24.9% to 6.7% between these periods, with a fall in IHR from 12.1% to 8.8%. The population had high overall IRs for mortality for each quarter evaluated, corresponding to annual mortality probability of 28.8-41.3%. CONCLUSIONS Standardized real-time monitoring of hospitalization and mortality following infection in LTCFs could inform policy on the need for non-pharmaceutical interventions to prevent transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- O Stirrup
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.
| | - M Krutikov
- UCL Institute of Health Informatics, London, UK
| | - B Azmi
- UCL Institute of Health Informatics, London, UK
| | | | - A Hayward
- UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Healthcare, London, UK; Health Data Research UK, London, UK
| | - A Copas
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tsai JCH, Chang YY, Hsu CY, Chen HJ, Chan FT, Shi ZY. The Epidemiological Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreaks in Nursing Homes during the Period of Omicron Variant Predominance. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2868. [PMID: 37958011 PMCID: PMC10648883 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11212868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the epidemic trend and risk factors associated with COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes during the period of Omicron variant predominance. METHODS The study analyzed the risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and death among the 327 residents and 129 healthcare workers (HCWs) in three hospital-affiliated nursing homes through a multivariate Cox regression model. RESULTS The rates of receiving a COVID-19 booster dose were 70.3% for the residents and 93.0% for the healthcare workers (HCWs), respectively. A number of asymptomatic individuals, including 54 (16.5%) residents and 15 (11.6%) HCWs, were detected through mass screening surveillance tests. The COVID-19 infection rates during the outbreaks were 41.6% among residents and 48.1% among HCWs, respectively. The case fatality rate among residents was 10.3%. None of the HCWs were hospitalized or died. The multivariate Cox regression model showed that the risk of COVID-19 infection increased in males (HR 2.46; 95% CI 1.47-4.11; p = 0.001), Barthel index ≥ 61 (HR 1.93; 95% CI 1.18-3.17; p = 0.009), and dementia (HR 1.61; 95% CI 1.14-2.27; p = 0.007). The risk of COVID-19 death increased with pneumonia (HR 11.03; 95% CI 3.02-40.31; p < 0.001), hospitalization (HR 7.18; 95% CI 1.97-26.25; p = 0.003), and admission to an intensive care unit (HR 8.67; 95% CI 2.79-26.89; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study highlighted the high infection rates with a substantial proportion of asymptomatic infections for both residents and HCWs, as well as a high case fatality rate for the residents among nursing homes during the Omicron epidemic period. We suggest implementing mass screening through regular surveillance testing as an effective strategy for early detection of COVID-19 and for preventing transmission during an epidemic period. Pneumonia is the primary risk associated with COVID-19 death. Early detection and prompt treatment of pneumonia for vulnerable residents in nursing homes are crucial to protect them from potential mortality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Che-Hung Tsai
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Puli Branch, Nantou 545402, Taiwan;
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402202, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Ying Chang
- Nursing Department, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Puli Branch, Nantou 545402, Taiwan
| | - Chiann-Yi Hsu
- Biostatistics Group, Department of Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407219, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Ju Chen
- Infection Control Team, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Puli Branch, Nantou 545402, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Tse Chan
- Nursing Department, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Puli Branch, Nantou 545402, Taiwan
| | - Zhi-Yuan Shi
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402202, Taiwan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407219, Taiwan
- Department of Industrial Engineering & Enterprise Information, Tunghai University, Taichung 407224, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Choudhry S, Rowland TAJ, McClelland K, Renz E, Iyanger N, Chow JY, Aiano F, Ladhani SN, Jeffery-Smith A, Andrews NJ, Zambon M. Protection from infection and reinfection due to the Omicron BA.1 variant in care homes. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1186134. [PMID: 37936695 PMCID: PMC10627010 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1186134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Following the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in 2020, care homes were disproportionately impacted by high mortality and morbidity of vulnerable elderly residents. Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and improved infection control measures together with vaccination campaigns have since improved outcomes of infection. We studied the utility of past infection status, recent vaccination and anti-S antibody titres as possible correlates of protection against a newly emergent Omicron variant infection. Methods Prospective longitudinal surveillance of nine sentinel London care homes from April 2020 onwards found that all experienced COVID-19 outbreaks due to Omicron (BA.1) during December 2021 and January 2022, despite extensive prior SARS-CoV-2 exposure and high COVID-19 vaccination rates, including booster vaccines (>70% residents, >40% staff). Results Detailed investigation showed that 46% (133/288) of Omicron BA.1 infections were SARS-CoV-2 reinfections. Two and three COVID-19 vaccine doses were protective against Omicron infection within 2-9 weeks of vaccination, though protection waned from 10 weeks post-vaccination. Prior infection provided additional protection in vaccinated individuals, approximately halving the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Discussion Anti-S antibody titre showed a dose-dependent protective effect but did not fully account for the protection provided by vaccination or past infection, indicating that other mechanisms of protection are also involved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saher Choudhry
- Virus Reference Department, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Kamil McClelland
- Virus Reference Department, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Erik Renz
- Virus Reference Department, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nalini Iyanger
- London Coronavirus Response Centre, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - J Yimmy Chow
- London Coronavirus Response Centre, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Felicity Aiano
- Immunisations and Countermeasures Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shamez N. Ladhani
- Immunisations and Countermeasures Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Jeffery-Smith
- Virus Reference Department, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nick J. Andrews
- Statistics, Modelling and Economics Unit, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Zambon
- Virus Reference Department, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Stirrup O, Shrotri M, Adams NL, Krutikov M, Azmi B, Monakhov I, Tut G, Moss P, Hayward A, Copas A, Shallcross L. Effectiveness of successive booster vaccine doses against SARS-CoV-2 related mortality in residents of long-term care facilities in the VIVALDI study. Age Ageing 2023; 52:afad141. [PMID: 37595069 PMCID: PMC10438206 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afad141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused severe disease in unvaccinated long-term care facility (LTCF) residents. Initial booster vaccination following primary vaccination is known to provide strong short-term protection, but data are limited on duration of protection and the protective effect of further booster vaccinations. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of third, fourth and fifth dose booster vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 related mortality amongst older residents of LTCFs. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING LTCFs for older people in England participating in the VIVALDI study. METHODS Residents aged >65 years at participating LTCFs were eligible for inclusion if they had at least one polymerase chain reaction or lateral flow device result within the analysis period 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022. We excluded individuals who had not received at least two vaccine doses before the analysis period. Cox regression was used to estimate relative hazards of SARS-CoV-2 related mortality following 1-3 booster vaccinations compared with primary vaccination, stratified by previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and adjusting for age, sex and LTCF size (total beds). RESULTS A total of 13,407 residents were included. Our results indicate that third, fourth and fifth dose booster vaccination provide additional short-term protection against SARS-CoV-2 related mortality relative to primary vaccination, with consistent stabilisation beyond 112 days to 45-75% reduction in risk relative to primary vaccination. CONCLUSIONS Successive booster vaccination doses provide additional short-term protection against SARS-CoV-2 related mortality amongst older LTCF residents. However, we did not find evidence of a longer-term reduction in risk beyond that provided by initial booster vaccination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Stirrup
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Madhumita Shrotri
- UCL Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
| | - Natalie L Adams
- UCL Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
| | - Maria Krutikov
- UCL Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
| | - Borscha Azmi
- UCL Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Gokhan Tut
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Paul Moss
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Andrew Hayward
- UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Healthcare, University College London, London, UK
- Health Data Research UK, London, UK
| | - Andrew Copas
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Laura Shallcross
- UCL Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Silva-Cayetano A, Fra-Bido S, Robert PA, Innocentin S, Burton AR, Watson EM, Lee JL, Webb LMC, Foster WS, McKenzie RCJ, Bignon A, Vanderleyden I, Alterauge D, Lemos JP, Carr EJ, Hill DL, Cinti I, Balabanian K, Baumjohann D, Espeli M, Meyer-Hermann M, Denton AE, Linterman MA. Spatial dysregulation of T follicular helper cells impairs vaccine responses in aging. Nat Immunol 2023; 24:1124-1137. [PMID: 37217705 PMCID: PMC10307630 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-023-01519-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The magnitude and quality of the germinal center (GC) response decline with age, resulting in poor vaccine-induced immunity in older individuals. A functional GC requires the co-ordination of multiple cell types across time and space, in particular across its two functionally distinct compartments: the light and dark zones. In aged mice, there is CXCR4-mediated mislocalization of T follicular helper (TFH) cells to the dark zone and a compressed network of follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) in the light zone. Here we show that TFH cell localization is critical for the quality of the antibody response and for the expansion of the FDC network upon immunization. The smaller GC and compressed FDC network in aged mice were corrected by provision of TFH cells that colocalize with FDCs using CXCR5. This demonstrates that the age-dependent defects in the GC response are reversible and shows that TFH cells support stromal cell responses to vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Philippe A Robert
- Department of Systems Immunology and Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Translational Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Jia Le Lee
- Immunology Program, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Dominik Alterauge
- Institute for Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia P Lemos
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, EMiLy, INSERM U1160, Paris, France
- OPALE Carnot Institute, The Organization for Partnerships in Leukemia, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Edward J Carr
- Immunology Program, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Danika L Hill
- Immunology Program, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Isabella Cinti
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Karl Balabanian
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, EMiLy, INSERM U1160, Paris, France
- OPALE Carnot Institute, The Organization for Partnerships in Leukemia, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France
| | - Dirk Baumjohann
- Institute for Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Center, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Medical Clinic III for Oncology, Hematology, Immuno-Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marion Espeli
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Recherche Saint Louis, EMiLy, INSERM U1160, Paris, France
- OPALE Carnot Institute, The Organization for Partnerships in Leukemia, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France
| | - Michael Meyer-Hermann
- Department of Systems Immunology and Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Alice E Denton
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bohnert AS, Kumbier K, Rowneki M, Gupta A, Bajema K, Hynes DM, Viglianti E, O'Hare AM, Osborne T, Boyko EJ, Young-Xu Y, Iwashyna TJ, Maciejewski M, Schildhouse R, Dimcheff D, Ioannou GN. Adverse outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection with delta and omicron variants in vaccinated versus unvaccinated US veterans: retrospective cohort study. BMJ 2023; 381:e074521. [PMID: 37220941 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2022-074521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the association between covid-19 vaccination types and doses with adverse outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during the periods of delta (B.1.617.2) and omicron (B.1.1.529) variant predominance. DESIGN Retrospective cohort. SETTING US Veterans Affairs healthcare system. PARTICIPANTS Adults (≥18 years) who are affiliated to Veterans Affairs with a first documented SARS-CoV-2 infection during the periods of delta (1 July-30 November 2021) or omicron (1 January-30 June 2022) variant predominance. The combined cohorts had a mean age of 59.4 (standard deviation 16.3) and 87% were male. INTERVENTIONS Covid-19 vaccination with mRNA vaccines (BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna)) and adenovirus vector vaccine (Ad26.COV2.S (Janssen/Johnson & Johnson)). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Stay in hospital, intensive care unit admission, use of ventilation, and mortality measured 30 days after a positive test result for SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS In the delta period, 95 336 patients had infections with 47.6% having at least one vaccine dose, compared with 184 653 patients in the omicron period, with 72.6% vaccinated. After adjustment for patient demographic and clinical characteristics, in the delta period, two doses of the mRNA vaccines were associated with lower odds of hospital admission (adjusted odds ratio 0.41 (95% confidence interval 0.39 to 0.43)), intensive care unit admission (0.33 (0.31 to 0.36)), ventilation (0.27 (0.24 to 0.30)), and death (0.21 (0.19 to 0.23)), compared with no vaccination. In the omicron period, receipt of two mRNA doses were associated with lower odds of hospital admission (0.60 (0.57 to 0.63)), intensive care unit admission (0.57 (0.53 to 0.62)), ventilation (0.59 (0.51 to 0.67)), and death (0.43 (0.39 to 0.48)). Additionally, a third mRNA dose was associated with lower odds of all outcomes compared with two doses: hospital admission (0.65 (0.63 to 0.69)), intensive care unit admission (0.65 (0.59 to 0.70)), ventilation (0.70 (0.61 to 0.80)), and death (0.51 (0.46 to 0.57)). The Ad26.COV2.S vaccination was associated with better outcomes relative to no vaccination, but higher odds of hospital stay and intensive care unit admission than with two mRNA doses. BNT162b2 was generally associated with worse outcomes than mRNA-1273 (adjusted odds ratios between 0.97 and 1.42). CONCLUSIONS In veterans with recent healthcare use and high occurrence of multimorbidity, vaccination was robustly associated with lower odds of 30 day morbidity and mortality compared with no vaccination among patients infected with covid-19. The vaccination type and number of doses had a significant association with outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy Sb Bohnert
- Lieutenant Colonel Charles S Kettles VA Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kyle Kumbier
- Lieutenant Colonel Charles S Kettles VA Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mazhgan Rowneki
- Center of Innovation to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care, VA Portland Healthcare System, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Ashwin Gupta
- Lieutenant Colonel Charles S Kettles VA Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kristina Bajema
- Center of Innovation to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care, VA Portland Healthcare System, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Denise M Hynes
- Center of Innovation to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care, VA Portland Healthcare System, Portland, OR, USA
- Health Management and Policy, School of Social and Behavioral Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
- Health Data and Informatics Program, Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Elizabeth Viglianti
- Lieutenant Colonel Charles S Kettles VA Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ann M O'Hare
- Nephrology, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Healthcare System and University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- VA Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value Driven Care, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Thomas Osborne
- National Center for Collaborative Healthcare Innovation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Edward J Boyko
- General Internal Medicine, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Healthcare System and University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yinong Young-Xu
- White River Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center, White River Junction, VT, USA
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | | | - Matthew Maciejewski
- Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Richard Schildhouse
- Lieutenant Colonel Charles S Kettles VA Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Derek Dimcheff
- Lieutenant Colonel Charles S Kettles VA Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - George N Ioannou
- Health Services Research and Development, Center of Innovation, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, WA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Dam D, McGill E, Bellos A, Coulby C, Edwin J, McCormick R, Patterson K. COVID-19 outbreak trends in Canada, 2021. CANADA COMMUNICABLE DISEASE REPORT = RELEVE DES MALADIES TRANSMISSIBLES AU CANADA 2023; 49:133-144. [PMID: 38385104 PMCID: PMC10881080 DOI: 10.14745/ccdr.v49i04a06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Background In January 2021, the Public Health Agency of Canada launched an outbreak surveillance system, the Canadian COVID-19 Outbreak Surveillance System (CCOSS), with the goal of monitoring incidence and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks across various community settings and complementing case surveillance. Methods Seven provinces were included in this report; these provinces submitted weekly cumulative COVID-19 outbreak line lists to CCOSS in 2021. Data includes administrative variables (e.g. date outbreak declared, date outbreak declared over, outbreak identifier), 24 outbreak settings, and number of confirmed cases and outcomes (hospitalization, death). Descriptive analyses for COVID-19 outbreaks across Canada from January 3, 2021, to January 1, 2022, were performed examining trends over time, severity, and outbreak size. Results Incidence of outbreaks followed similar trends to case incidence. Outbreaks were most common in school and childcare settings (39%) and industrial/agricultural settings (21%). Outbreak size ranged from 2 to 639 cases per outbreak; the median size was four cases per outbreak. Correctional facilities had the largest median outbreak size with 18 cases per outbreak, followed by long-term care facilities with 10 cases per outbreak. During periods of high case incidence, outbreaks may be under-ascertained due to limited public health capacity, or reporting may be biased towards high-risk settings prioritized for testing. Outbreaks reported to CCOSS were dominated by jurisdictions with the largest populations. Conclusion The trends illustrate that COVID-19 outbreaks in 2021 were reported most frequently in community settings such as schools; however, the largest outbreaks occurred in congregate living settings. The information gathered from outbreak surveillance complemented case incidence trends and furthered understanding of COVID-19 in Canada.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Demy Dam
- Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Erin McGill
- Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Anna Bellos
- Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Cameron Coulby
- Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Jonathan Edwin
- Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Rachel McCormick
- Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Kaitlin Patterson
- Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Third dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine closes the gap in immune response between naïve nursing home residents and healthy adults. Vaccine 2023; 41:2829-2836. [PMID: 36997386 PMCID: PMC10040352 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.03.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Background Nursing home residents, a frail and old population group, respond poorly to primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. A third dose has been shown to boost protection against severe disease and death in this immunosenescent population, but limited data is available on the immune responses it induces. Methods In this observational cohort study, peak humoral and cellular immune responses were compared 28 days after the second and third doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in residents and staff members of two Belgian nursing homes. Only individuals without evidence of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection at third dose administration were included in the study. In addition, an extended cohort of residents and staff members was tested for immune responses to a third vaccine dose and was monitored for vaccine breakthrough infections in the following six months. The trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04527614). Findings All included residents (n=85) and staff members (n=88) were SARS-CoV-2 infection naïve at third dose administration. Historical blood samples from 28 days post second dose were available from 42 residents and 42 staff members. Magnitude and quality of humoral and cellular immune responses were strongly boosted in residents post third compared to post second dose. Increases were less pronounced in staff members than in residents. At 28 days post third dose, differences between residents and staff had become mostly insignificant. Humoral, but not cellular, responses induced by a third dose were predictive of subsequent incidence of vaccine breakthrough infection in the six months following vaccination. Interpretation These data show that a third dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine largely closes the gap in humoral and cellular immune response observed after primary vaccination between NH residents and staff members but suggest that further boosting might be needed to achieve optimal protection against variants of concern in this vulnerable population group.
Collapse
|
11
|
Bertozzi A, Mariottini A, Marchi L, Cristinzi MD, Nistri R, Damato V, Mechi C, Barilaro A, Massacesi L, Repice AM. Safety and effectiveness of the booster dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in people with multiple sclerosis: A monocentric experience. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2023; 72:104582. [PMID: 36889098 PMCID: PMC9957336 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.104582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term data on the effectiveness and safety of the booster dose of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in people affected by multiple sclerosis (pwMS) are lacking, hence a retrospective monocentric study exploring these issues was undertaken. MATERIALS AND METHODS PwMS who had received the booster dose of anti-COVID19 mRNA vaccines (either Comirnaty or Spikevax) according to the national regulation were included. The occurrence of adverse events or disease reactivation and SARS-CoV-2 infection were recorded up to last follow-up. Factors predictive of COVID-19 were explored using logistic regression analyses. A two-tailed p-value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS One hundred and fourteen pwMS were included: 80 females (70%); median age at the booster dose 42 years (range 21 - 73); 106/114 patients (93%) were receiving a disease-modifying treatment at vaccination. The median follow-up after the booster dose was 6 (range 2 - 7) months. Adverse events were experienced in 58% of the patients, being mild to moderate in most cases; 4 reactivations of MS were observed, two of which occurring within 4 weeks after the booster. SARS-CoV-2 infection was reported in 24/114 (21%) cases, occurring a median of 74 days (5-162) after the booster dose and requiring hospitalisation in 2 patients. Six cases received direct antiviral drugs. Age at vaccination and time between the primary vaccination cycle and the booster dose were independently and inversely associated with the risk of COVID-19 (HR 0.95 and 0.98, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The administration of the booster dose in pwMS showed an overall good safety profile and protected 79% of the patients from SARS-CoV-2 infection. The observed association between the risk of infection after the booster dose and both younger age at vaccination and shorter interval period to the booster dose suggest that unobserved confounders, possibly including behavioural and social factors, play a relevant role in determining the individual propensity to get infected with COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bertozzi
- Department of Neurosciences, Drug and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alice Mariottini
- Department of Neurosciences, Drug and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Department of Neurology 2 and Tuscan Region Multiple Sclerosis Referral Centre, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
| | - Leonardo Marchi
- Department of Neurosciences, Drug and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Di Cristinzi
- Department of Neurosciences, Drug and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Riccardo Nistri
- Department of Neurosciences, Drug and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; University "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Damato
- Department of Neurosciences, Drug and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Department of Neurology 2 and Tuscan Region Multiple Sclerosis Referral Centre, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Claudia Mechi
- Department of Neurology 2 and Tuscan Region Multiple Sclerosis Referral Centre, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Barilaro
- Department of Neurology 2 and Tuscan Region Multiple Sclerosis Referral Centre, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Luca Massacesi
- Department of Neurosciences, Drug and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Department of Neurology 2 and Tuscan Region Multiple Sclerosis Referral Centre, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Repice
- Department of Neurology 2 and Tuscan Region Multiple Sclerosis Referral Centre, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ehteshaminia Y, Jalali SF, Jadidi-Niaragh F, Enderami SE, Pagheh AS, Akbari E, Kenari SA, Hassannia H. Enhancement of immunogenicity and neutralizing responses against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using the Fc fusion fragment. Life Sci 2023; 320:121525. [PMID: 36841470 PMCID: PMC9951089 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Vaccination has played an important role in protecting against death and the severity of COVID-19. The recombinant protein vaccine platform has a long track record of safety and efficacy. Here, we fused the SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 subunit to the Fc region of IgG and investigated immunogenicity, reactivity to human vaccinated sera, and neutralizing activity as a candidate protein vaccine. MATERIALS AND METHOD We evaluated the immunogenicity of CHO-expressed S1-Fc fusion protein and tag-free S1 protein in rabbits via the production of S1-specific polyclonal antibodies. We subsequently compared the neutralizing activities of sera from immunized rabbits and human-vaccinated individuals using a surrogate Virus Neutralization Test (sVNT). KEY FINDINGS The results indicate that S1-specific polyclonal antibodies were induced in all groups; however, antibody levels were higher in rabbits immunized with S1-Fc fusion protein than tag-free S1 protein. Moreover, the reactivity of human vaccinated sera against S1-Fc fusion protein was significantly higher than tag-free S1 protein. Lastly, the results of the virus-neutralizing activity revealed that vaccination with S1-Fc fusion protein induced the highest level of neutralizing antibody response against SARS-CoV-2. SIGNIFICANCE Our results demonstrate that the S1 protein accompanied by the Fc fragment significantly enhances the immunogenicity and neutralizing responses against SARS-CoV-2. It is hoped that this platform can be used for human vaccination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yahya Ehteshaminia
- Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyedeh Farzaneh Jalali
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | | | - Seyed Ehsan Enderami
- Immunogenetics Research Center, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Abdol Sattar Pagheh
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Science, Birjand, Iran
| | - Esmaeil Akbari
- Immunogenetics Research Center, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Saeid Abedian Kenari
- Immunogenetics Research Center, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Hadi Hassannia
- Immunogenetics Research Center, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Tulloch JS, Lawrenson K, Gordon AL, Ghebrehewet S, Ashton M, Peddie S, Parvulescu P. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in care home staff: A survey of Liverpool care homes. Vaccine 2023; 41:1290-1294. [PMID: 36669970 PMCID: PMC9826986 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Uptake of COVID-19 vaccine first doses in UK care homes has been higher among residents compared to staff. We aimed to identify causes of lower COVID-19 vaccine uptake amongst care home staff within Liverpool. An anonymised online survey was distributed to all care home managers, between the 21st and the 29th January 2021. 53 % of 87 care homes responded. The overall COVID-19 vaccination rate was 52.6 % (n = 1119). Reasons, identified by care home managers for staff being unvaccinated included: concerns about lack of vaccine research (37.0 %), staff being off-site during vaccination sessions (36.5 %), pregnancy and fertility concerns (5.6 %), and allergic reactions concerns (3.2 %). Care home managers wanted to tackle vaccine hesitancy through conversations with health professionals, and provision of evidence dispelling vaccine misinformation. Vaccine hesitancy and logistical issues were the main causes for reduced vaccine uptake among care home staff. The former could be addressed by targeted training, and public health communication campaigns to build confidence and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John S.P. Tulloch
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary, and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Karen Lawrenson
- Public Health Department, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool, UK
| | - Adam L Gordon
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Sam Ghebrehewet
- Public Health England North West, Cheshire & Merseyside Health Protection Team, Liverpool, UK
| | - Matthew Ashton
- Public Health Department, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool, UK
| | - Steve Peddie
- Adult Social Care Department, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool, UK
| | - Paula Parvulescu
- Public Health Department, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Heudorf U, Domann E, Förner M, Kunz S, Latasch L, Trost B, Steul K. Development of morbidity and mortality of SARS-CoV-2 in nursing homes for the elderly in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 2020-2022: What protective measures are still required? GMS HYGIENE AND INFECTION CONTROL 2023; 18:Doc05. [PMID: 36875328 PMCID: PMC9978453 DOI: 10.3205/dgkh000431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Nursing-home residents are among the highest risk group in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. At the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the majority of all deaths from or with SARS-CoV-2 occurred in long-term care facilities (LTCFs), so that maximum protective measures were mandated for these facilities. This study analyzed the impact of the new virus variants and the vaccination campaign on disease severity and mortality among nursing home residents and staff through 2022 as a basis for determining which protective measures remain necessary and appropriate. Methods In five homes in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, with a total capacity for 705 residents, all cases occurring in the facility among residents and staff were recorded and documented (date of birth and diagnosis, hospitalization and death, vaccination status) and were descriptively analyzed with SPSS. Results By 31st August 2022, 496 residents tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, 93 in 2020, 136 in 2021, and 267 in 2022; 14 residents presented with a second SARS-CoV-2 infection in 2022, having previously experienced an infection in 2020 or 2021. The percentage of hospitalizations decreased from 24.7% (2020) and 17.6% (2021) to 7.5% (2022), and the percentage of deaths decreased from 20.4% and 19.1% to 1.5%. In 2021, 61.8% of those infected were vaccinated (at least 2x); in 2022, 86.2% of residents had been vaccinated twice, 84% of whom had already had a booster vaccination. Hospitalization and death rates were significantly higher among the unvaccinated than the vaccinated throughout all years (unvaccinated 21.5% and 18.0%; vaccinated 9.8% and 5.5%; KW test p=0.000). However, this difference was no longer significant under the prevalence of the Omicron variant in 2022 (unvaccinated 8.3% and 0%; p=0.561; vaccinated 7.4% and 1.7%; p=0.604). From 2020 to 2022, 400 employees were documented as infected, with 25 having second infections in 2022. Only one employee showed a second infection in 2021 following the first in 2020. Three employees were hospitalized; no deaths occurred. Discussion and conclusion Severe COVID-19 courses occurred with the Wuhan Wild type in 2020, with a high death rate among nursing-home residents. In contrast, during the waves in 2022 with the relatively mildly pathogenic Omicron variant, many infections but few severe courses and deaths were observed among the now mostly vaccinated and boostered nursing-home residents. Given the high immunity of the population and the low pathogenicity of the circulating virus - even in nursing-home residents - protective measures in nursing homes that restrict people's right to self-determination and quality of life no longer seem justified. Instead, the general hygiene rules and the recommendations of the KRINKO (German Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention) on infection prevention should be followed, and the recommendations of the STIKO (German Standing Commission on Vaccination) on vaccination not only against SARS-CoV-2 but also against influenza and pneumococci should be observed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Eugen Domann
- Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Sabine Kunz
- August-Stunz-Zentrum, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Leo Latasch
- Altenzentrum der Jüdischen Gemeinde, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Bernd Trost
- Franziska-Schervier Seniorenzentrum, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Katrin Steul
- Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Stirrup O, Shrotri M, Adams NL, Krutikov M, Nacer-Laidi H, Azmi B, Palmer T, Fuller C, Irwin-Singer A, Baynton V, Tut G, Moss P, Hayward A, Copas A, Shallcross L. Clinical Effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 Booster Vaccine Against Omicron Infection in Residents and Staff of Long-term Care Facilities: A Prospective Cohort Study (VIVALDI). Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 10:ofac694. [PMID: 36713473 PMCID: PMC9874026 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Successive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants have caused severe disease in long-term care facility (LTCF) residents. Primary vaccination provides strong short-term protection, but data are limited on duration of protection following booster vaccines, particularly against the Omicron variant. We investigated the effectiveness of booster vaccination against infections, hospitalizations, and deaths among LTCF residents and staff in England. Methods We included residents and staff of LTCFs within the VIVALDI study (ISRCTN 14447421) who underwent routine, asymptomatic testing (December 12, 2021-March 31, 2022). Cox regression was used to estimate relative hazards of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and associated hospitalization and death at 0-13, 14-48, 49-83, 84-111, 112-139, and 140+ days after dose 3 of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination compared with 2 doses (after 84+ days), stratified by previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and adjusting for age, sex, LTCF capacity, and local SARS-CoV-2 incidence. Results A total of 14 175 residents and 19 793 staff were included. In residents without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, infection risk was reduced 0-111 days after the first booster, but no protection was apparent after 112 days. Additional protection following booster vaccination waned but was still present at 140+ days for COVID-associated hospitalization (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.20; 95% CI, 0.06-0.63) and death (aHR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.20-1.27). Most residents (64.4%) had received primary course vaccine of AstraZeneca, but this did not impact pre- or postbooster risk. Staff showed a similar pattern of waning booster effectiveness against infection, with few hospitalizations and no deaths. Conclusions Our findings suggest that booster vaccination provided sustained protection against severe outcomes following infection with the Omicron variant, but no protection against infection from 4 months onwards. Ongoing surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in LTCFs is crucial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Stirrup
- Correspondence: Oliver Stirrup, PhD, UCL Institute for Global Health, 222 Euston Road, London NW1 2DA, UK ()
| | | | | | - Maria Krutikov
- UCL Institute of Health Informatics, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Borscha Azmi
- UCL Institute of Health Informatics, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Palmer
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Verity Baynton
- Department of Health and Social Care, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gokhan Tut
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Moss
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Hayward
- UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Healthcare, London, United Kingdom,Health Data Research UK, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Copas
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Ferraresi A, Isidoro C. Will Omics Biotechnologies Save Us from Future Pandemics? Lessons from COVID-19 for Vaccinomics and Adversomics. Biomedicines 2022; 11:biomedicines11010052. [PMID: 36672560 PMCID: PMC9855897 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11010052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic had cross-cutting impacts on planetary health, quotidian life, and society. Mass vaccination with the current gene-based vaccines has helped control the pandemic but unfortunately it has not shown effectiveness in preventing the spread of the virus. In addition, not all individuals respond to these vaccines, while others develop adverse reactions that cannot be neglected. It is also a fact that some individuals are more susceptible to infection while others develop effective immunization post-infection. We note here that the person-to-person and population variations in vaccine efficacy and side effects have been studied in the field of vaccinomics long before the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the field of adversomics examines the mechanisms of individual differences in the side effects of health interventions. In this review, we discuss the potential of a multi-omics approach for comprehensive profiling of the benefit/risk ratios of vaccines. Vaccinomics and adversomics stand to benefit planetary health and contribute to the prevention of future pandemics in the 21st century by offering precision guidance to clinical trials as well as promoting precision use of vaccines in ways that proactively respond to individual and population differences in their efficacy and safety. This vision of pandemic prevention based on personalized instead of mass vaccination also calls for equity in access to precision vaccines and diagnostics that support a vision and practice of vaccinomics and adversomics in planetary health.
Collapse
|
17
|
Emmerson C, Hollinghurst J, North L, Fry R, Akbari A, Humphreys C, Gravenor MB, Lyons RA. The impact of dementia, frailty and care home characteristics on SARS-CoV-2 incidence in a national cohort of Welsh care home residents during a period of high community prevalence. Age Ageing 2022; 51:afac250. [PMID: 36469089 PMCID: PMC9721242 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afac250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND dementia may increase care home residents' risk of COVID-19, but there is a lack of evidence on this effect and on interactions with individual and care home-level factors. METHODS we created a national cross-sectional retrospective cohort of care home residents in Wales for 1 September to 31 December 2020. Risk factors were analysed using multi-level logistic regression to model the likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality. RESULTS the cohort included 9,571 individuals in 673 homes. Dementia was diagnosed in 5,647 individuals (59%); 1,488 (15.5%) individuals tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. We estimated the effects of age, dementia, frailty, care home size, proportion of residents with dementia, nursing and dementia services, communal space and region. The final model included the proportion of residents with dementia (OR for positive test 4.54 (95% CIs 1.55-13.27) where 75% of residents had dementia compared to no residents with dementia) and frailty (OR 1.29 (95% CIs 1.05-1.59) for severe frailty compared with no frailty). Analysis suggested 76% of the variation was due to setting rather than individual factors. Additional analysis suggested severe frailty and proportion of residents with dementia was associated with all-cause mortality, as was dementia diagnosis. Mortality analyses were challenging to interpret. DISCUSSION whilst individual frailty increased the risk of COVID-19 infection, dementia was a risk factor at care home but not individual level. These findings suggest whole-setting interventions, particularly in homes with high proportions of residents with dementia and including those with low/no individual risk factors may reduce the impact of COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph Hollinghurst
- Population Data Science and Health Data Research UK, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Laura North
- Population Data Science and Health Data Research UK, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Richard Fry
- Population Data Science and Health Data Research UK, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Ashley Akbari
- Population Data Science and Health Data Research UK, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | | | - Mike B Gravenor
- Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Ronan A Lyons
- Population Data Science and Health Data Research UK, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Dyer AH, Fallon A, Noonan C, Dolphin H, O'Farrelly C, Bourke NM, O'Neill D, Kennelly SP. Managing the Impact of COVID-19 in Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care Facilities: An Update. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2022; 23:1590-1602. [PMID: 35922016 PMCID: PMC9250924 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2022.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Older adults in nursing homes are at greatest risk of morbidity and mortality from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nursing home residents constituted one-third to more than half of all deaths during the early waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following this, widespread adaptation of infection prevention and control measures and the supply and use of personal protective equipment resulted in a significant decrease in nursing home infections and deaths. For nursing homes, the most important determinant of experiencing a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in the first instance appears to be community-transmission levels (particularly with variants of concern), although nursing home size and quality, for-profit status, and sociodemographic characteristics are also important. Use of visitation bans, imposed to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on residents, must be delicately balanced against their impact on resident, friend or family, and staff well-being. The successful rollout of primary vaccination has resulted in a sharp decrease in morbidity and mortality from SARS-CoV-2 in nursing homes. However, emerging evidence suggests that vaccine efficacy may wane over time, and the use of a third or additional vaccine "booster" doses in nursing home residents restores protection afforded by primary vaccination. Ongoing monitoring of vaccine efficacy in terms of infection, morbidity, and mortality is crucial in this vulnerable group in informing ongoing SARS-CoV-2 vaccine boosting strategies. Here, we detail the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on nursing home residents and discuss important considerations in the management of nursing home SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks. We additionally examine the use of testing strategies, nonpharmacologic outbreak control measures and vaccination strategies in this cohort. Finally, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the sector is reflected on as we emphasize the need for adoption of universal standards of medical care and integration with wider public health infrastructure in nursing homes in order to provide a safe and effective long-term care sector.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam H Dyer
- Department of Age-Related Healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; Discipline of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Aoife Fallon
- Department of Age-Related Healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; Discipline of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Claire Noonan
- Department of Age-Related Healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Helena Dolphin
- Department of Age-Related Healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Cliona O'Farrelly
- Comparative Immunology, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Dublin, Ireland; School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nollaig M Bourke
- Discipline of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Inflammageing Research Group, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Desmond O'Neill
- Department of Age-Related Healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; Discipline of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sean P Kennelly
- Department of Age-Related Healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; Discipline of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|