COVID-19 BREAKTHROUGH INFECTION IN HEALTH CARE WORKERS AT AN INSTITUTE OF TRAUMA, KARACHI PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Currently, the only mainstay prevention for SARS-CoV-2 is vaccines. Pakistan launched a mass COVID-19 vaccination campaign after receiving Sinopharm/Sinovac and since the launch of the campaign, reports indicated fully vaccinated people testing positive for COVID-19. This study aimed to determine the rate of breakthrough infection in fully vaccinated healthcare workers (HCW) at Trauma institution in Karachi, Pakistan.

Material and Methods: An online-questionnaire was distributed through email during the month of April 2021 through Google-Forms among HCW’s at Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Institute, Karachi, Pakistan. We evaluated HCW’s who were symptomatic and rates of COVID infection pre- and post-vaccination. Descriptive analyses were conducted using frequency and percentages. Further analysis was performed using SPSS version 24. Probability value p-≤0.05 was considered as significant.

Results: Total of 112 HCW’s were evaluated with a median age of 31.54 ± 7.48 where 95% of HCW’s were fully vaccinated. About 42.8% of participants contracted COVID-19 after vaccination. Statistically, significant number of doctors had breakthrough infection (19 vs 6, p-value 0.025). Mild symptoms were reported in most of the breakthrough infections. Out of total 112 HCWs, 84% expressed confidence in the vaccine but 15% had concerns regarding vaccine efficacy.

Conclusion: In conclusion, 11% completely vaccinated healthcare workers at Trauma institute in Karachi, Pakistan, experienced mild breakthrough infections. Due to the low production of neutralizing antibodies, inactive COVID 19 vaccines were found to cause more breakthrough infections than mRNA vaccinations.

Keywords: Pakistan, COVID-19 vaccination, Breakthrough infection