Vaccination and Its Impact on Lung Involvement in COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Study in India

Background COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, led to a global pandemic necessitating urgent vaccine development and deployment. By the end of 2020, several vaccines had reached their clinical trial endpoints. India, leveraging its pharmaceutical prowess, developed two primary vaccines: CoviShield® and Covaxin®. Despite the availability of these vaccines, vaccine hesitancy became a notable challenge. This study aimed to assess the correlation between vaccination status and lung involvement in COVID-19 patients, aiming to fortify trust in vaccines and enhance vaccine uptake in India. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed data from 272 patients treated at a designated COVID-19 Care Center in Chennai, India, from May to July 2021. Patients were divided into vaccinated and unvaccinated groups, with vaccinated individuals further categorized based on the type and dose of vaccine received (CoviShield® or Covaxin®). Lung involvement was assessed through CT chest scans, and statistical analyses were performed to compare the severity of lung involvement across different groups. Results The vaccinated group demonstrated significantly lower mean lung involvement (28%) compared to the unvaccinated group (34.8%). Within vaccinated individuals, no significant differences were observed between different vaccine types and doses, suggesting a generalized protective effect of COVID-19 vaccination against severe lung involvement. Conclusion Vaccination against COVID-19 significantly reduces the severity of lung involvement among patients, irrespective of the vaccine brand or dose. This study reinforces the importance of vaccination in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and supports ongoing vaccination efforts.