In a current examine revealed within the journal Pediatrics, researchers evaluated the effectiveness of major BNT162b2, messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-1273, and heterologous messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccination schedules amongst adolescents in opposition to coronavirus illness 2019 (COVID-19)-associated hospitalization throughout Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark.
For adolescent people, information on mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 VE estimates in opposition to extreme acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) an infection outcomes over the long run are restricted, particularly with long-term follow-up. Limited analysis has been performed on the effectiveness of homologous mRNA-1273 and heterologous messenger RNA vaccinations (i.e., combining mRNA-1273 with BNT162b2).
Study: COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Among Adolescents. Image Credit: EDSON DE SOUZA NASCIMENTO / Shutterstock
About the examine
The researchers of the current examine evaluated mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, and heterologous messenger RNA VE in opposition to SARS-CoV-2-associated hospitalization at six months in adolescents. They additionally supplied VE estimates for prolonged follow-ups of 1 yr and the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant wave.
The researchers performed nationwide register-based and 1:1 matched country-specific cohorts in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark between 28 May 2021 and 30 April 2023 to calculate VE for the first two-dose COVID-19 vaccination schedules amongst people aged between 12 and 17 years. They used the inverse variance technique to acquire country-specific estimates. The examine contributors included adolescents with out prior COVID-19-associated hospitalization, excluding those that acquired COVID-19 vaccinations earlier than the evaluation or had been non-residents of the collaborating nations. The SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron strains dominated in the course of the evaluation interval.
The major examine end result was SARS-CoV-2-associated hospitalization, together with inpatient hospital contacts, SARS-CoV-2-related prognosis, and a SARS-CoV-2-positive polymerase chain response (PCR) report. Secondary analyses included follow-up extensions to a yr after vaccination, limiting evaluation to the Omicron wave by stratification by calendar interval, and analyzing VE single dose vaccinees in comparison with unvaccinated people.
Follow-up commenced two weeks post-index date until the result, six months after follow-up graduation, emigration, dying, booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines, or the examine finish date, whichever came about first. The crew carried out logistic regressions to calculate propensity scores and estimate the conditional probability of COVID-19 vaccination with specific schedules given comorbidities, residence, intercourse, precedence teams, and prior COVID-19 historical past. The crew carried out random-effects-type meta-analytical analysis, combining nation-specific threat variations (RD) and vaccine effectiveness estimates.
Results
In whole, the analytical pattern included 526,966 two-dose vaccinees and an equal variety of unvaccinated adolescent people. Most of them acquired BNT162b2 (n=419,168), and in Finland, the mRNA-1273 (homologous) and heterologous messenger RNA vaccinations had been extra frequent in comparison with different nations. The imply participant age ranged between 14 and 17 years in all cohorts. Most vaccinations had been supplied from July to November 2021. The crew noticed low comorbidity prevalence among the many contributors.
Vaccine effectiveness in opposition to SARS-CoV-2-associated hospitalization was 73%, with a threat distinction of -2.80 amongst each 10,000 BNT162b2 vaccinees at six months in comparison with unvaccinated people. The corresponding vaccine effectiveness and threat distinction values had been 86.0% and -2.10 amongst each 10,000 mRNA-1273 vaccinees and 81.0% and -5.50 amongst each 10,000 heterologous messenger RNA vaccinees.
Across all 4 Nordic nations, COVID-19-associated hospitalization was uncommon amongst adolescents at follow-up. Among the examine topics, the variety of COVID-19-associated hospitalizations throughout six months of the follow-up interval from lower than 5 to 37 and eight to 140 amongst vaccinees and non-vaccinees, respectively. At follow-up, the cumulative COVID-19-associated hospitalization charges had been larger among the many unvaccinated. The COVID-19-related hospitalization charges couldn’t be decided for Norway resulting from a scarcity of occasions amongst vaccinated adolescents within the examine cohorts.
The six-month country-combined vaccine effectiveness estimates in opposition to laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 an infection had been 22%, 3.6%, and 28% for BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, and heterologous COVID-19 vaccinations, respectively. VE for one-dose schedules was low. Extending follow-up to day 365 confirmed comparable outcomes; the country-combined vaccine effectiveness estimates in opposition to COVID-19 hospitalizations had been 66% for BNT162b2, 91% for homologous mRNA-1273 vaccinations, and 83% for heterologous vaccinations. Restricting the analyses to a interval of ο predominance didn’t alter the findings. A low variety of circumstances influenced effectiveness estimates for one-dose vaccination.
Overall, the examine findings confirmed that the first mRNA vaccination schedules present excessive safety in opposition to adolescent hospitalizations in comparison with unvaccinated people at six months of follow-up throughout Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The homologous mRNA-1273 and heterologous vaccinations successfully prevented COVID-19-associated hospitalization, with VE ranging between 73% and 86% at six months. The effectiveness of those vaccines stays constant, extending follow-up to a yr and the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron wave.