Post-vaccination SARS-COV-2 infections among vaccinated individuals tested at the unam molecular diagnostic laboratory, June 2021-May 2022
| dc.contributor.author | Ndozi-Okia, Nkemdilim V. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-06-05T09:26:56Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-06-05T09:26:56Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024 | |
| dc.description | A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of masters of science in applied field epidemiology/ laboratory management | |
| dc.description.abstract | Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). To curb the disease, COVID-19 vaccines were rolled out. However, because vaccines are not 100% protective against the virus, post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infections (PVSI) do occur. Thus, the study aimed to analyze the occurrence of post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infections among vaccinated individuals tested at the UNAM Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory (UNAM-MDL) from June 2021 to May 2022. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of SARS-CoV-2 immunized individuals tested at the laboratory between June 2021 and May 2022. COVID-19 Case Investigation Forms (CIFs) were reviewed, and data from 5389 individuals were collected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) v.26, descriptive and inferential analysis was performed; this included logistic regression, Kaplan Meier survival curve, 95% confidence interval, and p-value < 0.05 statistical significance. The study was conducted in compliance with ethical principles. Results: The post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection rate among vaccinated individuals was 99.8 per 1,000 population with a median age of 40 years and a mortality rate of 1.1 per 1,000. The majority of individuals in the study were males, with 4016 (74.5%). Most individuals were vaccinated with Sinopharm 2399 (44.5%), asymptomatic and had no comorbidities. Only 10 (2%) had sequenced data of the SARS-CoV-2 variants with three variants: Beta, Delta and Omicron. PVSI were characterized as early post-vaccination 52 (9.7%), partially vaccinated 201(39%) and fully vaccinated 276 (51.3%). The survival distribution in the study was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Age, number of doses and sex were shown to be significant factors associated with PVSI. ii Conclusion: The study showed that PVSI occurred mostly among fully vaccinated individuals, although without complications. Although the study's goal was to further knowledge of SARS CoV-2 infections following immunization, the significance of maintaining high vaccination rates in Namibia is highlighted by our results. To protect against severe COVID-19, it is critical to raise community health awareness and actively encourage public vaccination uptake | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11070/3883 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | University of Namibia | |
| dc.subject | COVID-19 | |
| dc.subject | Vaccination | |
| dc.subject | Variants | |
| dc.subject | Post-vaccination infections | |
| dc.subject | Namibia | |
| dc.title | Post-vaccination SARS-COV-2 infections among vaccinated individuals tested at the unam molecular diagnostic laboratory, June 2021-May 2022 | |
| dc.type | Thesis |