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
<b>Background:</b> 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. <b>Methods:</b> 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. <b>Results:</b> 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. <b>Conclusions:</b> 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.
Authors
- Silvia Lamonica
- Elza Barzdina
- Albert Prats‐Uribe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1202-9153)
- Mihaela Lazăr (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8226-6026)
- Georgios Panagiotakopoulos
- Kyriaki Tryfinopoulou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7066-7453)
- Lauren Ferguson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8506-9888)
- Jonathan McGrath (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8227-0976)
- Venerando Rapisarda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3482-1136)
- Victor Daniel Miron (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2318-5365)
- Zvjezdana Lovrić Makarić (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4285-2116)
- Goranka Petrović (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8304-5519)
- Anneli Uusküla (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4036-3856)
- Alma Kosa
- Anna Spolti
- Claire Kenny
- Miriam Latorre-Millán (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9932-0124)
- Antonella Agodi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4405-8162)
- Dace Zavadska (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4892-3763)
- Kim Brolin
- Corneliu Petru Popescu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6316-0333)
- Mihai Craiu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6194-6797)
- Rita Murri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9468-5458)
- Gordan Sarajlić (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3722-8795)
- Camelia Savulescu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5374-835X)
- Dagne Grãvele
- Sabrina Bacci (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6575-3439)
- Martina Barchitta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0905-5003)
- Catherine Fleming (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9630-1064)
- Ausenda Machado (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1849-1499)
- Piotr Kramarz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1030-1929)
- Dainis Krieviņš (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1570-5532)
- Vânia Gaio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7626-4991)
- Anthony Nardone (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1138-0937)
- Carmen Muñoz‐Almagro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5586-404X)
- Ana Milagro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3888-8952)
- Colm J Bergin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6651-1132)
- Paolo Bonfanti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7289-8823)
- Viesturs Zvirbulis
- Pilar Subirats
- Ilze Āboliņa
- Laura Clusa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3503-2331)
- Konstanty Szułdrzyński (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2501-4727)
- Jacklyn Sui
- Simin Aysel Florescu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6482-3386)
- Marina Amerali (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1199-4130)
- Ana Palmira Amaral
- Marianna Rossi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9443-3306)
- Miguel Cisneros (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9715-887X)
- Katleen de Gaetano Donati
- Liis Lohur
Institutions
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (IT)
- Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona (ES)
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy (RO)
- Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway (IE)
- Trinity College Dublin (IE)
- Vibhavadi Hospital (TH)
- Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic (IT)
- University Hospital Galway (IE)
- Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (ES)
- University of Catania (IT)
- Centro Hospitalar Tondela-Viseu (PT)
- Hrvatski zavod za javno zdravstvo (HR)
- Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital (LV)
- Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet (ES)
- Children's Clinical University Hospital (LV)
- Institutul National pentru Sanatatea Mamei si Copilului "Alessandrescu-Rusescu" (RO)
- Policlinico Universitario di Catania (IT)
- Ministry of Interior and Administration (PL)
- Spitalul Clinic Dr. Victor Babes (RO)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (ES)
- National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (PT)
- National Public Health Organization (GR)
- Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IT)
- St. James's Hospital (IE)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (ES)
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu
- University of Tartu (EE)
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SE)
- University of Milano-Bicocca (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Vaccines
- Published
- 2024-11-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12111295
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.95
Funders
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control