Transmission Risks of Omicron BA.5 Following Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccines Among Children and Adolescents in China

Overview

Journal Commun Med (Lond)

Publisher Nature Portfolio

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2024 May 18

PMID 38762678

Authors

Zihao Guo

Ting Zeng

Yaoqin Lu

Shengzhi Sun

Xiao Liang

Jinjun Ran

Yushan Wu

Marc K C Chong

Kai Wang

Shi Zhao

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: As SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants circulating globally since 2022, assessing the transmission characteristics, and the protection of vaccines against emerging Omicron variants among children and adolescents are needed for guiding the control and vaccination policies.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study for SARS-CoV-2 infections and close contacts aged <18 years from an outbreak seeded by Omicron BA.5 variants. The secondary attack rate (SAR) was calculated and the protective effects of two doses of inactivated vaccine (mainly Sinopharm /BBIBP-CorV) within a year versus one dose or two doses above a year after vaccination against the transmission and infection of Omicron BA.5 were estimated.

Results: A total of 3442 all-age close contacts of 122 confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections aged 0-17 years were included. The SAR was higher in the household setting and for individuals who received a one-dose inactivated vaccine or those who received a two-dose for more than one year, with estimates of 28.5% (95% credible interval [CrI]: 21.1, 37.7) and 55.3% (95% CrI: 24.4, 84.8), respectively. The second dose of inactivated vaccine conferred substantial protection against all infection and transmission of Omicron BA.5 variants within a year.

Conclusions: Our findings support the rollout of the second dose of inactivated vaccine for children and adolescents during the Omciron BA.5 predominant epidemic phase. Given the continuous emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, monitoring the transmission risk and corresponding vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 variants among children and adolescents is important to inform control strategy.

Citing Articles

Transmission risks of Omicron BA.5 following inactivated COVID-19 vaccines among children and adolescents in China.

Guo Z, Zeng T, Lu Y, Sun S, Liang X, Ran J Commun Med (Lond). 2024; 4(1):92.

PMID: 38762678 PMC: 11102477. DOI: 10.1038/s43856-024-00521-y.

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