Epidemiological intelligence community network intervention: a community response for COVID-19 community transmission.

BACKGROUND: Expanding and providing access to early detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) through testing community-based strategies among socially vulnerable communities (SVC) are critical to reducing health disparities. The Epidemiological Intelligence Community Network (EpI-Net) community-based intervention sought to increase coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) testing uptake and prevention practices among SVC in Puerto Rico (PR). We evaluated EpI-Net's community leaders' capacity-building component by assessing pre-post COVID-19 public health workshops' tests' score changes and satisfaction among trained community leaders. METHODS: A total of 24 community leaders from SVC in PR have completed four community workshops. Pre- and post-assessments were completed as part of the health promotors training program to evaluate participants' tests score changes and satisfaction outcomes. RESULTS: Preliminary results showed: (1) high intervention retention levels of community leaders (85.7% acceptance rate); (2) change in post-test scores for community engagement strategies (p = 0.012); (3) change in post-test educational scores in COVID-19 prevention practices (p = 0.014); and (4) a change in scores in public health emergency management strategies (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The overall workshop satisfaction was 99.6%. Community leaders have shown the importance of community capacity building as a key component for intervention feasibility and impact. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Our study was retrospectively registered under the ClinicalTrial.gov ID NCT04910542.

Immunoglobulin G antibody response to the Sputnik V vaccine: previous SARS-CoV-2 seropositive individuals may need just one vaccine dose.

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated the immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibody response against the nucleocapsid protein (NP) and the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 in a cohort of 86 individuals in Venezuela, before and after receiving the Sputnik V vaccine. METHODS: Antibody responses against NP and RBD were determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay just before, 3 weeks after the first, and 6 weeks after the second dose of the vaccine. RESULTS: Before vaccination, 59 individuals were seronegative, and 27 seropositive for NP and/or RBD. Of the seronegative cohort, 42% did not develop an IgG immune response against RBD after the first vaccine dose, but 100% had a strong IgG response after 2 doses. All seropositive individuals developed a strong IgG antibody response against RBD after the first vaccine dose, with antibody levels ∼40% higher than seronegative individuals who had received 2 doses. Previously seropositive subjects showed no significant increase in IgG antibody response against RBD after the second vaccine dose. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that 2 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine triggered antibody response in all study individuals. The second Sputnik V dose had no impact on IgG response for those seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 antigens before vaccination.

Resource Savings Associated With Use of an Automated Symptom Monitoring Tool for COVID-19 Public Health Response, Summer 2020-Summer 2021.

CONTEXT: Active symptom monitoring is a key component of the public health response to COVID-19, but these activities are resource-intensive. Digital tools can help reduce the burden of staff time required for active symptom monitoring by automating routine outreach activities. PROGRAM: Sara Alert is an open-source, Web-based automated symptom monitoring tool launched in April 2020 to support state, tribal, local, and territorial jurisdictions in their symptom monitoring efforts. IMPLEMENTATION: As of October 2021, a total of 23 public health jurisdictions in the United States had used Sara Alert to perform daily symptom monitoring for more than 6.1 million individuals. This analysis estimates staff time and cost saved in 3 jurisdictions that used Sara Alert as part of their COVID-19 response, across 2 use cases: monitoring of close contacts exposed to COVID-19 (Arkansas; Fairfax County, Virginia), and traveler monitoring (Puerto Rico). EVALUATION: A model-based approach was used to estimate the additional staff resources that would have been required to perform the active symptom monitoring automated by Sara Alert, if monitoring instead relied on traditional methods such as telephone outreach. Arkansas monitored 283 705 individuals over a 10-month study period, generating estimated savings of 61.9 to 100.6 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff, or $2 798 922 to $4 548 249. Fairfax County monitored 63 989 individuals over a 13-month study period, for an estimated savings of 24.8 to 41.4 FTEs, or $2 826 939 to $4 711 566. In Puerto Rico, where Sara Alert was used to monitor 2 631 306 travelers over the 11-month study period, estimated resource savings were 849 to 1698 FTEs, or $26 243 161 to $52 486 322. DISCUSSION: Automated symptom monitoring helped reduce the staff time required for active symptom monitoring activities. Jurisdictions reported that this efficiency supported a rapid and comprehensive COVID-19 response even when experiencing challenges with quickly scaling up their public health workforce.

Evaluation of the humoral response induced by BBIBP-CorV vaccine by determining neutralizing antibodies in peruvian healthcare personnel. / Evaluación de la respuesta humoral inducida por la vacuna BBIBP-CorV mediante la determinación de anticuerpos neutralizantes en personal sanitario peruano.

OBJECTIVE.: To determine the titer of antibodies against the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein (S) in health personnel between the 4th and 12th week after receiving the BBIBP-CorV vaccine (Sinopharm). MATERIALS AND METHODS.: We included a total of 168 healthcare workers from two hospitals in the region, who complied with the complete Sinopharm vaccine schedule; serum antibodies were measured using the Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 test. RESULTS.: All participants developed antibodies to the RBD domain. The lowest antibody titer level was 1.78 U/mL. Levels equal to or above 250 were found in 70 (41.7%) participants. The geometric mean was 82.6 (95% CI: 67.8-100.6). Women had higher antibody levels. Participants whose antibodies were measured between 4- and 7-weeks post-vaccination showed significantly higher antibody levels than patients whose antibody levels were measured between 10- and 12-weeks post-vaccination. Among patients with a history of COVID-19, antibody levels were found to be at or above 250 U/mL in 88% of cases, compared to 6% among those without a history of COVID-19, (p<0.001). CONCLUSION.: All participants immunized with BBIBPCorV vaccine were positive for antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein RBD. The correlation between the titer level and protection against COVID-19, as well as the length of the protection provided by the vaccine, needs to be evaluated.

OBJETIVO.: Determinar el título de anticuerpos frente al dominio de unión al receptor (RBD) de la proteína espiga (S) en personal de salud entre la 4.ª y 12.ª semana luego de haber recibido la vacuna BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm). MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS.: Se incluyeron 168 trabajadores de salud de dos hospitales de la región, quienes cumplían el esquema completo con vacuna de Sinopharm, y se realizó la medición de anticuerpos en suero mediante la prueba Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2. RESULTADOS.: Todos los participantes desarrollaron anticuerpos frente al dominio RBD. El valor mínimo fue de 1,78 U/mL. En 70 (41,7%) participantes se encontraron niveles iguales o por encima de 250. La media geométrica fue de 82,6 (IC 95% 67,8-100,6). Las mujeres presentaron un mayor nivel de anticuerpos. El grupo de participantes en los que se midieron anticuerpos entre las semanas 4 y 7 posvacunación mostró niveles de anticuerpos significativamente mayores que los pacientes cuyas determinaciones fueron realizadas entre las 10 y 12 semanas posvacunación. Entre los pacientes con antecedente de COVID-19, los niveles de anticuerpos se encontraron en cifras iguales o por encima de 250 U/mL en el 88% de casos, en comparación con 6% entre aquellos sin antecedente de COVID-19, (p<0,001). CONCLUSIÓN.: Todos los participantes inmunizados con la vacuna BBIBP-CorV presentaron positividad a anticuerpos frente al RBD de la proteína S del SARS-CoV-2. Es necesario evaluar la correlación entre la magnitud de los títulos y la protección frente a COVID-19 y el tiempo de protección conferido por la vacuna.

Risk for COVID-19 infection and death among Latinos in the United States: examining heterogeneity in transmission dynamics.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to ascertain COVID-19 transmission dynamics among Latino communities nationally. METHODS: We compared predictors of COVID-19 cases and deaths between disproportionally Latino counties (≥17.8% Latino population) and all other counties through May 11, 2020. Adjusted rate ratios (aRRs) were estimated using COVID-19 cases and deaths via zero-inflated binomial regression models. RESULTS: COVID-19 diagnoses rates were greater in Latino counties nationally (90.9 vs. 82.0 per 100,000). In multivariable analysis, COVID-19 cases were greater in Northeastern and Midwestern Latino counties (aRR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.11-1.84, and aRR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.57-1.85, respectively). COVID-19 deaths were greater in Midwestern Latino counties (aRR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.04-1.34). COVID-19 diagnoses were associated with counties with greater monolingual Spanish speakers, employment rates, heart disease deaths, less social distancing, and days since the first reported case. COVID-19 deaths were associated with household occupancy density, air pollution, employment, days since the first reported case, and age (fewer <35 yo). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 risks and deaths among Latino populations differ by region. Structural factors place Latino populations and particularly monolingual Spanish speakers at elevated risk for COVID-19 acquisition.