Present
August 9, 2023
II Research Conference on Primary Care organized by the Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga and the Faculty of Health Sciences
Grupo de Kronikgune – OSI Bilbao Basurto y Kronikgune – OSI Barrualde Galdakao
Two recent publications reveal that vaccination and prior infection are key factors in protecting nursing home residents against COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death.
A study conducted by the COVID-Health Basque Country research team, with the participation of several researchers from the Kronikgune groups of the RICAPPS (Regional Network of Primary Care Physicians), demonstrates the significant impact of both vaccination and prior SARS-CoV-2 infection on protecting nursing home residents against COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death. The research results, published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association and Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, have yielded data that underscore the importance of vaccination and prior infection coverage in protecting this vulnerable population group.
This study analyzes the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines in preventing COVID-19 infections, hospitalization, and mortality in nursing home residents, taking into account the presence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infections. Researchers collected data from 17,475 residents aged 60 and over in the Basque Country who were living at the start of the vaccination campaign (December 27, 2020). These individuals were monitored until January 31, 2022, considering prior COVID-19 infections from the beginning of the pandemic (March 1, 2020).
The statistical analysis included Cox proportional hazards models with random effects and time-dependent variables, adjusted for age, sex, and comorbidities, to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) according to vaccination status. The reference date (month and year in which an individual’s vaccination status changed) was considered a random effect.
Studies conclude that the effectiveness of current vaccines against severe COVID-19 in nursing home residents is high, and prior SARS-CoV-2 exposure is associated with a significant reduction in subsequent COVID-19 infection rates, hospitalization, and mortality. However, the protection conferred by mRNA vaccines wanes in the months following the administration of a third dose, reinforcing the importance of providing additional doses to optimize protective immunity.
The findings of this study provide a solid foundation for developing more effective protection and prevention strategies in nursing homes. It is hoped that these results will be considered by decision-makers and contribute to the implementation of health policies that ensure the safety and well-being of the most vulnerable.
The articles mentioned are cited below:
- España, P. P., Bilbao-Gonzalez, A., Larrea, N., Castillo-Sintes, I., García-Gutiérrez, S., Portuondo, J., Villanueva, A., Uranga, A., Legarreta, M. J., Gascón, M., Quintana, J. M. & COVID-Health Basque Country Research Group (2023). Impact of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination on COVID-19 infection among nursing home residents. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 24(6), 919-921. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2023.03.013
- España, P. P., Bilbao-Gonzalez, A., Larrea, N., Castillo-Sintes, I., García-Gutiérrez, S., Portuondo, J., Villanueva, A., Uranga, A., Legarreta, M. J., Gascón, M., Quintana, J. M. & COVID-Health Basque Country Research Group (2023). Impact of prior SARS-COV-2 infection and vaccination on COVID-19 hospital admission and mortality amongst nursing home residents. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 1-8. doi: 10.1007/s40520-023-02446-3
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