Single Center Study of Vaccination Breakthrough infection with SARS-CoV-2 Among Erbil Population in August 2021

Abstract

Objectives: This is a first study to determine the incidence of  COVID-19 infection in the post-vaccinated in Erbil city population.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted   in the Central Health Laboratory  in Erbil City over  a period from  1st to 31st of August 2021. All vaccinated & non vaccinated  persons  (18 years of age and above) who had  symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 were engaged  in  the study . Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected   and examined for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time RT-PCR implemented  to all attendance  according to World Health Organization guidelines.

Results: A total of 2934 persons  had attended   the Central Laboratory for checking  during the study period. From  this total number,551 (18.8% ) were vaccinated while 2383  were nonvaccinated (81.2%). Sixty one persons (61, 11.1%) of the vaccinated group showed  a positive PCR . The highest incidence  of PCR   positivity according to age  range , gender  and vaccine  dose , were as follows: male (42; 68.9%), 33–47 years (36; 59%), second dose  (36; 59%) respec­tively. Statistically, the dif­ferences of distribution of the PCR positivity concerning the these  factors  were : non-significant . The higher incidence of PCR positivity  was among the nonvaccinated group ( 449,18.8% ) and statistically, the differences of distribution of the PCR  positivity between both groups of vaccinated and the nonvaccinated  was significant (p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusions: Primarily the present study conclude that SARS-CoV-2 incidence among vaccinated persons was 11.1%. Overall the present  data provides further assurances of the effectiveness of the vaccines even when the vaccine was not able to prevent  completely  the infection . Further studies are needed to explore this topic.