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. 2022 Aug 9;10(8):1283.
doi: 10.3390/vaccines10081283.

Real-World Effectiveness of a Booster Dose of the COVID-19 Vaccines among Japanese University Students

Shunsuke Miyauchi  1   2 , Toru Hiyama  1 , Yukiko Nakano  2 , Mahoko Yoshida  1 , Atsuo Yoshino  1 , Yoshie Miyake  1 , Yuri Okamoto  1
Affiliations

Real-World Effectiveness of a Booster Dose of the COVID-19 Vaccines among Japanese University Students

Shunsuke Miyauchi et al. Vaccines (Basel). .

Abstract

With the spread of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), missing learning opportunities due to COVID-19 has been raised as a major concern for university education. We aimed to examine the effectiveness of a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines among Japanese university students during the spread of the Omicron variant. We enrolled 249 students who became a close contact and 294 COVID-19-infected students though the Hiroshima University COVID-19 registration system. Infection rates of people in close contact with sick individuals and symptoms of infected students were examined. Close contacts who had received a booster dose showed a significantly lower infection rate (31%) compared with those with two doses (50%, p = 0.02) and the unvaccinated (71%, p = 0.002). Age- and sex-adjusted odds ratios of receipt of a booster dose vs. two doses and unvaccinated were 0.40 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.23−0.70, p = 0.001) and 0.44 (95% CI, 0.25−0.77, p = 0.004), respectively. The incidence of severe fever (38.5°C or higher) was significantly less prevalent in those with a booster dose (16%) compared with two doses (40%, p = 0.002) and those who were unvaccinated (75%, p < 0.0001). Booster doses reduced infection rates among close-contact students and can help students to avoid missing learning opportunities.

Keywords: COVID-19; Omicron variant; booster dose; close contact; university; vaccine; vaccine hesitancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study chart. * As of January 1, 2022. ** Close contacts were followed up for at least 10 days from their last contact with a COVID-19 patient. COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019; PCR = polymerase chain reaction.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Vaccine doses and infection rate among the close contacts.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Associations of vaccine doses and incidences of fever. (A) Incidence of fever (37.5 °C or higher). (B) Incidence of fever of 38.5 °C or higher.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Associations of vaccine doses and symptoms other than fever. (A) Any symptoms. (B) Cough. (C) Pharyngeal pain. (D) Headache. (E) Joint and muscle pain.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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