Where is the greatest risk of COVID-19 infection? Findings from Germany's largest public health department, Cologne

Immune response analysis of solid organ transplantation recipients inoculated with inactivated COVID-19 vaccine: A retrospective analysis

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of solid organ transplantation recipients inoculated with an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the antibody levels and related adverse events of non-transplantation subjects and solid organ transplant recipients, both pre-transplantation (individuals awaiting organ transplantation) and post-transplantation (individuals who have undergone organ transplantation), who received inactivated COVID-19 vaccines from February 2021 to July 2022.

Results

The study included 38 pre-transplantation vaccination group, 129 post-transplantation vaccination group, and 246 non-transplantation group. The antibody titer was assessed monthly within the period of 1-12 months after the last injection. The antibody-positive rate among the three groups were 36.84, 20.30, 61.17% (P < 0.05). The antibody-positive rates among three groups with one, two doses vaccine were not significantly different (P > 0.05), but were significantly different after three doses (P < 0.05). The antibody titers among three groups were significantly different after two doses (P < 0.05). Adverse reactions occurred in six transplant recipients, which were relieved after treatment, and not in the non-transplantation subjects.

Conclusion

Inactivated COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for solid organ transplantation recipients, at least two doses of which should be completed before organ transplant surgery.

Correction: Where is the greatest risk of COVID-19 infection? Findings from Germany's largest public health department, Cologne

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273496.].

Adherence to stay-at-home orders: awareness, implementation and difficulties of officially ordered quarantine measures in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Cologne - a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the awareness, implementation and difficulty of behavioural recommendations and their correlates in officially ordered domestic isolation and quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN

Online retrospective cohort survey conducted from 12 December 2020 to 6 January 2021 as part of the Cologne-Corona Counselling and Support for Index and Contact Persons During the Quarantine Period study.

SETTING

Administrative area of the city of Cologne, Germany.

PARTICIPANTS

3011 infected persons (IPs) and 5822 contacts over 16 years of age who were in officially ordered domestic isolation or quarantine between 28 February 2020 and 9 December 2020. Of these, 60.4% were women.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Self-developed scores were calculated based on responses about awareness and implementation of 19 behavioural recommendations to determine community-based and household-based adherence. Linear regression analyses were conducted to determine factors influencing adherence.

RESULTS

The average adherence to all recommendations, including staying in a single room, keeping distance and wearing a mask, was 13.8±2.4 out of 15 points for community-based recommendations (CBRs) and 17.2±6.8 out of 25 points for household-based recommendations (HBRs). IPs were significantly more adherent to CBRs (14.3±2.0 points vs 13.7±2.6 points, p<0.001) and HBRs (18.2±6.7 points vs 16.5±6.8 points, p<0.001) than were contact persons. Among other factors, both status as an IP and being informed about the measures positively influenced participants' adherence. The linear regression analysis explained 6.6% and 14.4% (corr. R²) of the adherence to CBRs and HBRs.

CONCLUSIONS

Not all persons under official quarantine were aware of the relevant behavioural recommendations. This was especially true in cases where instructions were given for measures to be taken in one's own household. Due to the high transmission rates within households, HBRs should be communicated with particular emphasis.