Virological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine breakthrough infections in health care workers

  

View ORCID ProfileMarc Conrad Shamier,  View ORCID ProfileAlma Tostmann, Susanne Bogers, Janet De Wilde, Jeroen IJpelaar, Willemijn Van Der Kleij, Herbert De Jager, Bart Haagmans, Richard Molenkamp, Bas Oude Munnink, Carsten van Rossum, Janette Rahamat-Langendoen, Nannet Van Der Geest, Chantal Bleeker-Rovers, Heiman Wertheim, Marion Koopmans, Corine GeurtsvanKessel

doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.20.21262158

This article is a preprint and has not been certified by peer review [what does this mean?]. It reports new medical research that has yet to be evaluated and so should not be used to guide clinical practice.

PDF: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.20.21262158v1.full.pdf

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are highly effective at preventing COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality. As no vaccine is 100% effective, breakthrough infections are expected to occur. We analyzed the virological characteristics of 161 vaccine breakthrough infections in a population of 24,706 vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs), using RT-PCR and virus culture. The delta variant (B.1.617.2) was identified in the majority of cases. Despite similar Ct-values, we demonstrate lower probability of infectious virus detection in respiratory samples of vaccinated HCWs with breakthrough infections compared to unvaccinated HCWs with primary SARS-CoV-2 infections. Nevertheless, infectious virus was found in 68.6% of breakthrough infections and Ct-values decreased throughout the first 3 days of illness. We conclude that rare vaccine breakthrough infections occur, but infectious virus shedding is reduced in these cases.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Funding Statement

No external funding

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.20.21262158v1