ABSTRACT
ObjectiveThis study investigates the effectiveness of booster doses on the Omicron wave in morocco against COVID-19 severe and critical hospitalizations and deaths; Participants/methodsThis study uses nationally representative data on COVID-19 from 15 December 2021 to 31 January 2022. to investigate the effectiveness of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine BBIBP-CorV (Vero Cells) Sinopharm booster doses on the Omicron wave in morocco by using real-world data established from nationally representative statistics on COVID-19 cases, deaths and vaccinations. Statistical AnalysesScreening method was used to Estimate vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 severe or critical hospitalization and COVID 19 related deaths. The data were grouped by, age subgroup, sex, week, and geographical area and were analysed by using binary logistic regression with an offset (incorporating expected PPV by third dose and Sinopharm vaccine) for vaccine coverage. ResultsThe overall sinopharm VE estimate is 89% (95% CI 85 to 92) effective in curbing COVID-19 death, and 81% (95% CI 78 to 84 in curbing COVID-19 severe critical hospitalization. Death related VE estimate was 86% (95% CI 81 to 90) for patients aged 1Z65 years, and 96% (95% CI 90 to 98) for those aged < 65 years, 95% (95% CI 88 to 98) in no risk factor patient was, 91% (95% CI 85 to 94) with 1 risk factor; 90% (95% CI 83 to 95) with 2 risk factors; 72% (95% CI 52 to 84) in patient with 3 risk factors and more. Severe critical hospitalization VE, estimate was 78% (95% CI 74 to 82) for patients aged 1Z65 years, 87% (95% CI 82 to 90) for those aged < 65 years, 86% (95% CI 80 to 90) in no risk factor patient was, 80% (95% CI 73 to 84) with 1 risk factor; 80% (95% CI 70 to 85) with 2 risk factors; 80% (95% CI 68 to 86) in patient with 3 risk factors and more. ConclusionsSinopharm Boosters are effective in increasing protection against Omicron variant related COVID-19death and severe critical hospitalization. The protection is reduced with older age and higher risk factors. These findings emphasize the importance of targeted vaccination strategies for different demographic groups and underscore the protective benefits of the third booster Sinopharm vaccine.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , DeathABSTRACT
Objectives: The clinical presentation of COVID-19 has shown high variability between individuals, which is partly due to genetic factors. The OAS1/2/3 cluster was found to be strongly associated with COVID-19 severity. We aimed to examine this locus for the occurrence of the critical variant, rs10774671, and its respective haplotype blocks within the Moroccan population. Methods: The frequency of SNPs at the cluster of OAS immunity genes was assessed from an in-house database in 157 unrelated individuals of Moroccan origin. The OAS1 exon 6 was sequenced by Sanger's method in 71 asymptomatic/mild and 74 moderate/severe individuals positive for SARS-CoV-2. Genotypic, allelic, and haplotype frequencies of three SNPs were compared between the two groups. Finally, males in our COVID-19 series were genotyped for the Berber-specific marker E-M81. Results: The prevalence of the OAS1 rs10774671-G allele in present-day Moroccans was 40.4%, close to that of Europeans. However, it was found equally on both the Neanderthal GGG haplotype and the African GAC haplotype with a frequency of 20% each. These two haplotypes, and hence the rs10774671-G allele, were significantly associated with the protection against severe COVID-19 (p = 0.034, p = 0.041, and p = 0.008 respectively). Surprisingly, among Berber men, the African haplotype was absent while the prevalence of the Neanderthal haplotype was close to that of Europeans. Conclusion: The protective rs10774671-G allele of OAS1 was found only in the Neanderthal haplotype in Berbers, the indigenous people of North Africa, suggesting that this region may have served as the stepping-stone for the passage of the hominids to the other continents.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
The Kingdom of Morocco approved BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use on 22 January 2021 in a two-dose, three-to-four-week interval schedule. We conducted a case-control study to determine real-world BBIBP-CorV vaccine effectiveness (VE) against serious or critical hospitalization of individuals RT-PCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the first five months of BBIBP-CorV use in Morocco. The study was conducted among adults 18-99 years old who were tested by RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 infection between 1 February and 30 June 2021. RT-PCR results were individually linked with outcomes from the COVID-19 severe or critical hospitalization dataset and with vaccination histories from the national vaccination registration system. Individuals with partial vaccination (<2 weeks after dose two) or in receipt of any other COVID-19 vaccine were excluded. Unadjusted and adjusted VE estimates against hospitalization for serious or critical illness were made by comparing two-dose vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals in logistic regression models, calculated as (1-odds ratio) * 100%. There were 348,190 individuals able to be matched across the three databases. Among these, 140,892 were fully vaccinated, 206,149 were unvaccinated, and 1,149 received homologous BBIBP-CorV booster doses. Unadjusted, full-series, unboosted BBIBP-CorV VE against hospitalization for serious or critical illness was 90.2% (95%CI: 87.8% - 92.0%). Full-series, unboosted VE, adjusted for age, sex, and calendar day of RT-PCR test, was 88.5% (95%CI: 85.8% - 90.7%). Calendar day- and sex-adjusted VE ranged from 93.9% to 100% for individuals <60 years, and was 53.3% for individuals 60 years and older. There were no serious or critical illnesses among BBIBP-CorV-boosted individuals. Effectiveness of Sinopharm's BBIBP-CorV was consistent with phase III clinical trial results. Two doses of BBIBP-CorV was highly protective against COVID-19-associated serious or critical hospitalization in working-age adults under real-world conditions and moderately effective in older adults. Booster dose VE should be evaluated, as booster doses of BBIBP-CorV are recommended and are being used.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION We provide national estimates of the real-world Vaccine effectiveness (VE) based on nationally available surveillance data. The study aimed to estimate the effectiveness of the inactivated Covid-19 vaccine BBIBP-CorV (Vero Cells) Sinopharm vaccine currently deployed in Morocco to reduce the risk of hospitalization from a severe infection of SARS- CoV-2 virus within 9 months after vaccination. METHODS We conducted a test-negative, case-control study among a population aged 18 years or older who were tested by rt-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 infection from February to October 2021 in Morocco. From the national laboratory COVID-19 database; we identified cases who were rt-PCR positive amongst severe and critical COVID-19 cases and controls who had a negative rt-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2. From the national vaccination register (NVR); individuals vaccinated with COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell) and those unvaccinated were identified and included in the study. The linkage between databases was conducted for the study of Vaccination status based on the timing of the vaccine receipt relative to the SARS-CoV-2 rt-PCR test date. For each person, who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, we identified a propensity score-matched control participant who was tested negative. We estimated vaccine effectiveness using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS Among 12884 persons who tested positive and 12885 propensity score-matched control participants, the median age was 62 years, 47.2% of whom were female. As a function of time after vaccination of second dose vaccination, vaccine effectiveness during the first month was 88% (95% CI, 84-91), 87% (95% CI: 83-90) during the second and third month, 75% (95% CI: 67-80) during the fourth month, 61% (95% CI: 54-67) during the fifth month, and 64% (95% CI: 59-69) beyond the sixth month. VE remained high and stable during the first three months in the two-age subgroup. In the fourth month, the VE in the older population aged 60 years and above (64%) was reduced by 20 points compared to VE in the younger population (84%). CONCLUSION A Sinopharm vaccine is highly protective against serious SARS-CoV-2 infection under real-world conditions. Protection remained high and stable during the first three months following the second dose and decreases slightly beyond the fourth month especially beyond 60 years.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
The mental being of healthcare workers with the COVID 19 pandemic is a determinant of their resilience. We investigated the psychological impact of healthcare workers during novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV times in Morocco. A cross-sectional study conducted among healthcare workers of an University Hospital. We evaluated the knowledge of the protective means against nCov-19, incidence and the degree of anxiety and depression according to health workers characteristic. Among 287 health workers; 54% have been trained regarding protection procedures, and 94.8% declared that they are aware of individual protection measures. The incidence of anxiety and depression was respectively 77.4% and 73.9%. High degree of anxiety and depression was associated with female gender. However, Higher degree of anxiety was also related to function, specialty of practice ,and knowledge of the protective measures against COVID-19.