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. 2022 Sep 12;107(5):1055-1059.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0368. Print 2022 Nov 14.

COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness during a Prison Outbreak when Omicron was the Dominant Circulating Variant-Zambia, December 2021

John Simwanza  1   2 , Jonas Z Hines  3 , Danny Sinyange  1   2 , Nyambe Sinyange  4 , Chilufya Mulenga  1   4 , Sarah Hanyinza  4 , Patrick Sakubita  4 , Nelia Langa  4 , Haggai Nowa  5 , Priscilla Gardner  6 , Ngonda Saasa  7 , Graham Chitempa  8 , James Simpungwe  3 , Warren Malambo  3 , Busiku Hamainza  2 , Peter J Chipimo  4 , Nathan Kapata  4 , Muzala Kapina  4 , Kunda Musonda  4 , Mazyanga Liwewe  4 , Consity Mwale  6 , Sombo Fwoloshi  9 , Lloyd B Mulenga  9 , Simon Agolory  3 , Victor Mukonka  4 , Roma Chilengi  4   10
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COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness during a Prison Outbreak when Omicron was the Dominant Circulating Variant-Zambia, December 2021

John Simwanza et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. .

Abstract

During a COVID-19 outbreak in a prison in Zambia from December 14 to 19, 2021, a case-control study was done to measure vaccine effectiveness (VE) against infection and symptomatic infection, when the Omicron variant was the dominant circulating variant. Among 382 participants, 74.1% were fully vaccinated, and the median time since full vaccination was 54 days. There were no hospitalizations or deaths. COVID-19 VE against any SARS-CoV-2 infection was 64.8%, and VE against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection was 72.9%. COVID-19 vaccination helped protect incarcerated persons against SARS-CoV-2 infection during an outbreak while Omicron was the dominant variant in Zambia. These findings provide important local evidence that might be used to increase COVID-19 vaccination in Zambia and other countries in Africa.

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