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Protection of inactivated vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infections in patients with comorbidities: a prospective cohort study

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Abstract

Protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection of inactivated vaccines is not well characterized in people with comorbidities, who are at high risk of severe infection. We compared the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection after complete vaccination with Sinopharm/BBIBP in people with comorbidities (e.g., autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, and diabetes) with healthy individuals using a Cox-proportional hazard model. In July-September 2021, a total of 10 548 people (comorbidities, 2143; healthy, 8405) receiving the complete primary series of vaccination with Sinopharm/BBIBP in Bangkok, Thailand were prospectively followed for SARS-CoV-2 infection through text messaging and telephone interviewing for 6 months. A total of 295 infections from 284 participants were found. HRs (95% CI) of individuals with any comorbidities did not increase (unadjusted, 1.02 (0.77–1.36), P = 0.89; adjusted, 1.04 (0.78–1.38), P = 0.81). HRs significantly increased in the subgroup of autoimmune diseases (unadjusted, 2.64 (1.09–6.38), P = 0.032; adjusted, 4.45 (1.83–10.83), P = 0.001) but not in cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, or diabetes. The protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection of the Sinopharm vaccine was similar in participants with any comorbidities vs. healthy individuals. However, the protection appeared lower in the subgroup of autoimmune diseases, which may reflect suboptimal immune responses among these people.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Chulabhorn Royal Academy (No. RAA2565/049).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Princess Srisavangavadhana College of Medicine, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand

    Kanchana Ngaosuwan, Chawin Warakul & Chirayu Auewarakul

  2. Data Management Unit, Centre of Learning and Research in Celebration of HRH Princess Chulabhorn’s 60th Birthday Anniversary, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand

    Kamonwan Soonklang

  3. Chulabhorn Hospital, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand

    Nithi Mahanonda

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  1. Kanchana Ngaosuwan
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Correspondence to Kanchana Ngaosuwan.

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Kanchana Ngaosuwan, Kamonwan Soonklang, Chawin Warakul, Chirayu Auewarakul, and Nithi Mahanonda declare that they have no conflict of interest. All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000 (5). Informed consent for being included in the study was obtained from all participants.

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Ngaosuwan, K., Soonklang, K., Warakul, C. et al. Protection of inactivated vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infections in patients with comorbidities: a prospective cohort study. Front. Med. 17, 867–877 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11684-023-0995-9

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