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Breakthrough COVID-19 infections - Analyzing our experience
Aneela Hussain1, Samreen Sarfaraz2, Sabiha Anis3
1Dr. Aneela Hussain, MBBS, FCPS (Internal Medicine), FCPS (Infectious Diseases) Infectious Diseases Department, Indus Hospital & Health Network, Karachi, Pakistan.
Objective:
There are many cases of post-vaccination COVID-19 globally. Also, literature on serum antibodies after vaccination is abundant. Our research focuses on breakthrough infections reported at our institution during the third wave of COVID-19.
Methods:
A total of 177 people recruited at the Indus Hospital Karachi between May to September 2021 with COVID-19 infection were divided into vaccinated, partially vaccinated, and unvaccinated cohorts. Furthermore, a subset of the vaccinated cohort was tested for anti-NP and anti-S antibodies.
Results:
There were 119 patients with breakthrough infection, however, 74% had mild symptoms. The antibodies against NP and S were found at a higher level in those who had a breakthrough infection in comparison to healthy vaccinated controls.
Conclusion:
Vaccination does not prevent disease but does confer some immunity causing less severe infection.
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