Estimates of SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence and Incidence of Primary SARS-CoV-2 Infections Among Blood Donors, by COVID-19 Vaccination Status - United States, April 2021-September 2022

Abstract

Changes in testing behaviors and reporting requirements have hampered the ability to estimate the U.S. SARS-CoV-2 incidence (1). Hybrid immunity (immunity derived from both previous infection and vaccination) has been reported to provide better protection than that from infection or vaccination alone (2). To estimate the incidence of infection and the prevalence of infection- or vaccination-induced antibodies (or both), data from a nationwide, longitudinal cohort of blood donors were analyzed. During the second quarter of 2021 (April-June), an estimated 68.4% of persons aged ≥16 years had infection- or vaccination-induced SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, including 47.5% from vaccination alone, 12.0% from infection alone, and 8.9% from both. By the third quarter of 2022 (July-September), 96.4% had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies from previous infection or vaccination, including 22.6% from infection alone and 26.1% from vaccination alone; 47.7% had hybrid immunity. Prevalence of hybrid immunity was lowest among persons aged ≥65 years (36.9%), the group with the highest risk for severe disease if infected, and was highest among those aged 16-29 years (59.6%). Low prevalence of infection-induced and hybrid immunity among older adults reflects the success of public health infection prevention efforts while also highlighting the importance of older adults staying up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccination, including at least 1 bivalent dose.*^,†.

FIGURE 1

Prevalences of vaccine-induced, infection-induced, and hybrid immunity against SARS-CoV-2 among blood donors aged ≥16 years — United States, April 2021–September 2022 * Immunity derived from a combination of vaccination and infection. ^† Ascertained by the presence of anti-spike antibodies (present in both COVID-19–vaccinated and SARS-CoV-2–infected persons) and anti-nucleocapsid antibodies (present only in previously infected persons) and self-reported history of vaccination.

FIGURE 2

Prevalences of vaccine-induced, infection-induced, and hybrid immunity against SARS-CoV-2 among blood donors aged ≥16 years, by age group — United States, April 2021–September 2022 * Immunity derived from a combination of vaccination and infection. ^† Ascertained by the presence of anti-spike antibodies (present in both COVID-19–vaccinated and SARS-CoV-2–infected persons) and anti-nucleocapsid antibodies (present only in previously infected persons) and self-reported history of vaccination.