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. 2023 Sep:8:19-27.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.04.009. Epub 2023 Apr 16.

Primary series COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness among healthcare workers in Albania, February-December 2021

Julia E Rubin-Smith  1   2 , Madelyn Yiseth Rojas Castro  3 , Iria Preza  4 , Iris Hasibra  4 , Jonilda Sulo  5 , Albana Fico  4 , Rovena Daja  4 , Adela Vasili  4 , Majlinda Kota  4 , Alexis Schmid  1   2 , Shela Sridhar  1   6 , Alina Guseinova  7 , Golubinka Boshevska  7 , Gazmend Bejtja  7 , Barbara Mühlemann  8   9 , Christian Drosten  8   9 , Pernille Jorgensen  7 , Richard Pebody  7 , Esther Kissling  3 , Kathryn E Lafond  10 , Mark A Katz  7 , Silvia Bino  4
Affiliations

Primary series COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness among healthcare workers in Albania, February-December 2021

Julia E Rubin-Smith et al. IJID Reg. 2023 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Healthcare workers have experienced high rates of morbidity and mortality from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in three Albanian hospitals between 19 February and 14 December 2021. All participants underwent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serological testing at enrolment, regular serology throughout, and PCR testing when symptomatic.Vaccine effectiveness (VE) against COVID-19 and against all severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections (symptomatic or asymptomatic) was estimated. VE was estimated using a Cox regression model, with vaccination status as a time-varying variable.

Findings: In total, 1504 HCWs were enrolled in this study; 70% had evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. VE was 65.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 37.7-80.5] against COVID-19, 58.2% (95% CI 15.7-79.3) among participants without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 73.6% (95% CI 24.3-90.8) among participants with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. For BNT162b2 alone, VE was 69.5% (95% CI 44.5-83.2). During the period when the Delta variant was predominant, VE was 67.1% (95% CI 38.3-82.5). VE against SARS-CoV-2 infection for the full study period was 36.9% (95% CI 15.8-52.7).

Interpretation: This study found moderate primary series VE against COVID-19 among healthcare workers in Albania. These results support the continued promotion of COVID-19 vaccination in Albania, and highlight the benefits of vaccination in populations with high levels of prior infection.

Keywords: Albania; COVID-19 vaccine; Delta variant; Healthcare workers; Hybrid immunity; Vaccine effectiveness.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart illustrating the enrolment of healthcare workers in a coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine effectiveness study, Albania, 2021. HCW, healthcare worker.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Epicurve showing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases by vaccination status in the study population, and national COVID-19 incidence in Albania, by epidemiologic week, 2021. PCR, polymerase chain reaction; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2; WHO, World Health Organization.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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