Efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccination in patients with asymptomatic or mild illness during the Omicron epidemic in Guangzhou: a multi-centre retrospective cohort study

Ann Med. 2024 Dec;56(1):2307504. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2024.2307504. Epub 2024 Mar 11.

Abstract

Background: Despite the widespread administration of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, the impact on patients with asymptomatic to mild illness remains unclear. Here, we aimed to assess the efficacy of various vaccine doses and types on the duration of isolation duration and discharge rates, the viral shedding duration, and negative rates in asymptomatic to mild COVID-19 patients.

Methods: We included adult patients at the Fangcang isolation centres in Pazhou or Yongning between November and December 2022. We analysed data on basic demographics, admission details, laboratory indicators and vaccination information.

Results: A total of 6560 infected patients were included (3584 from Pazhou and 2976 from Yongning). Of these, 90.6% received inactivated vaccines, 3.66% received recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein subunit vaccines and 0.91% received adenovirus vaccines. Among the 6173 vaccinated individuals, 71.9% received a booster dose. By day 9, the isolation rate reached 50% among vaccinated patients. On day 7.5, the positive rate among vaccinated individuals reached 50%.

Conclusions: Full vaccination was effective, with heterologous vaccines showing greater efficacy than inactivated vaccines alone. However, there was no significant difference in the vaccine protective effect 12 months after vaccination.

Keywords: Inactivated vaccine; Omicron; adenovirus type-5 (Ad5) vectored COVID-19 vaccine; booster vaccine; heterologous; recombinant protein vaccine.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus*
  • Vaccination
  • Vaccines, Inactivated

Substances

  • spike protein, SARS-CoV-2
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Inactivated
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Emergency Key Program of Guangzhou Laboratory under Grant number [EKPG21-29, EKPG21-31].