Real-world effectiveness of Ad26.COV2.S or BNT162b2 booster vaccines against severe COVID-19 in adults who received a primary dose of Ad26.COV2.S in South Africa during the Delta period: A retrospective cohort study using medical scheme data
While most participants remained unboosted, administration of either ancestral strain Ad26.COV2.S or BNT162b2 vaccination provided protection against severe COVID-19 outcomes among essential workers in SA during the dominance of the Omicron BA.1 and BA.4/5 variants, demonstrating cross-strain protection.
Authors
- Selaelo Mametja
- Nonhlanhla Yende‐Zuma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3708-8611)
- Nigel Garrett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4530-234X)
- Glenda Gray (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4649-1477)
- Naomi Folb (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2667-0956)
- Ishen Seocharan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5547-2393)
- Tarylee Reddy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9521-2692)
- Ameena Goga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2394-6486)
- Sean Bennet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4549-5150)
- Lara Fairall (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7460-4670)
- Mabatlo Semenya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5678-1086)
- Sakhile Simelane
- L-G
Institutions
- South African Medical Research Council (ZA)
- Western Cape Department of Health (ZA)
- Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation (ZA)
- University of Cape Town (ZA)
- Government of South Africa (ZA)
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (ZA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- South African Medical Journal
- Published
- 2025-08-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7196/samj.2025.v115i7.2532
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.40
Funders
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- Michael and Susan Dell Foundation
- Cancer Research Institute
- South African Medical Research Council