TY - JOUR
T1 - Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among European Healthcare Workers and Effectiveness of the First Booster COVID-19 Vaccine, VEBIS HCW Observational Cohort Study, May 2021–May 2023
AU - Savulescu, Camelia
AU - Prats-Uribe, Albert
AU - Brolin, Kim
AU - Lovrić Makarić, Zvjezdana
AU - Uusküla, Anneli
AU - Panagiotakopoulos, Georgios
AU - Bergin, Colm
AU - Fleming, Catherine
AU - Agodi, Antonella
AU - Bonfanti, Paolo
AU - Murri, Rita
AU - Zvirbulis, Viesturs
AU - Zavadska, Dace
AU - Szuldrzynski, Konstanty
AU - Machado, Ausenda
AU - Popescu, Corneliu Petru
AU - Craiu, Mihai
AU - Cisneros, Maria
AU - Latorre-Millán, Miriam
AU - Petrović, Goranka
AU - Lohur, Liis
AU - Tryfinopoulou, Kyriaki
AU - McGrath, Jonathan
AU - Ferguson, Lauren
AU - Barchitta, Martina
AU - Spolti, Anna
AU - de Gaetano Donati, Katleen
AU - Abolina, Ilze
AU - Gravele, Dagne
AU - Gaio, Vânia
AU - Florescu, Simin Aysel
AU - Lazar, Mihaela
AU - Subirats, Pilar
AU - Clusa Cuesta, Laura
AU - Sarajlić, Gordan
AU - Amerali, Marina
AU - Sui, Jacklyn
AU - Kenny, Claire
AU - Rapisarda, Venerando
AU - Rossi, Marianna
AU - Lamonica, Silvia
AU - Krievins, Dainis
AU - Barzdina, Elza Anna
AU - Palmira Amaral, Ana
AU - Kosa, Alma Gabriela
AU - Miron, Victor Daniel
AU - Muñoz-Almagro, Carmen
AU - Milagro, Ana María
AU - Bacci, Sabrina
AU - Kramarz, Piotr
AU - Nardone, Anthony
AU - VEBIS HCW Observational Cohort Study
PY - 2024/11/19
Y1 - 2024/11/19
N2 - Background: European countries have included healthcare workers (HCWs) among priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination. We established a multi-country hospital network to measure the SARS-CoV-2 incidence and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among HCWs against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: HCWs from 19 hospitals in 10 countries participated in a dynamic prospective cohort study, providing samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing at enrolment and during weekly/fortnightly follow-up. We measured the incidence during pre-Delta (2 May–6 September 2021), Delta (7 September–14 December 2021), and Omicron (15 December 2021–2 May 2023) waves. Using Cox regression, we measured the relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of the first COVID-19 booster dose versus primary course alone during Delta and Omicron waves. Results: We included a total of 3015 HCWs. Participants were mostly female (2306; 79%), with a clinical role (2047; 68%), and had a median age of 44 years. The overall incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 3.01/10,000 person-days during pre-Delta, 4.21/10,000 during Delta, and 23.20/10,000 during Omicron waves. rVE was 59% (95% CI: −25; 86) during Delta and 22% (1; 39) during Omicron waves. rVE was 51% (30; 65) 7–90 days after the first booster dose during the Omicron wave. Conclusions: The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs was higher during the Omicron circulation period. The first COVID-19 vaccine booster provided additional protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to primary course vaccination when recently vaccinated <90 days. This multi-country HCW cohort study addressing infection as the main outcome is crucial for informing public health interventions for HCWs
AB - Background: European countries have included healthcare workers (HCWs) among priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination. We established a multi-country hospital network to measure the SARS-CoV-2 incidence and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among HCWs against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: HCWs from 19 hospitals in 10 countries participated in a dynamic prospective cohort study, providing samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing at enrolment and during weekly/fortnightly follow-up. We measured the incidence during pre-Delta (2 May–6 September 2021), Delta (7 September–14 December 2021), and Omicron (15 December 2021–2 May 2023) waves. Using Cox regression, we measured the relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of the first COVID-19 booster dose versus primary course alone during Delta and Omicron waves. Results: We included a total of 3015 HCWs. Participants were mostly female (2306; 79%), with a clinical role (2047; 68%), and had a median age of 44 years. The overall incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 3.01/10,000 person-days during pre-Delta, 4.21/10,000 during Delta, and 23.20/10,000 during Omicron waves. rVE was 59% (95% CI: −25; 86) during Delta and 22% (1; 39) during Omicron waves. rVE was 51% (30; 65) 7–90 days after the first booster dose during the Omicron wave. Conclusions: The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs was higher during the Omicron circulation period. The first COVID-19 vaccine booster provided additional protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to primary course vaccination when recently vaccinated <90 days. This multi-country HCW cohort study addressing infection as the main outcome is crucial for informing public health interventions for HCWs
KW - COVID-19
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - vaccine effectiveness
KW - healthcare workers
KW - ;Europe
U2 - 10.3390/vaccines12111295
DO - 10.3390/vaccines12111295
M3 - Article
SN - 2076-393X
VL - 12
JO - Vaccines
JF - Vaccines
IS - 11
M1 - 1295
ER -
