ABSTRACT
Background. Sharp declines in influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) circulation across the U.S. have been described during the pandemic in temporal association with community mitigation for control of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We aimed to determine relative frequencies of rhinovirus/ enterovirus (RV/EV) and other respiratory viruses in children presenting to emergency departments or hospitalized with acute respiratory illness (ARI) prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. We conducted a multi-center active prospective ARI surveillance study in children as part of the New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN) from December 2016 through January 2021. Molecular testing for RV/EV, RSV, influenza, and other respiratory viruses [i.e., human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus (Types 1-4), and adenovirus] were performed on specimens collected from children enrolled children. Cumulative percent positivity of each virus type during March 2020-January 2021 was compared from March-January in the prior seasons (2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020) using Pearson's chi-squared. Data are provisional. Results. Among 69,403 eligible children, 37,676 (54%) were enrolled and tested for respiratory viruses. The number of both eligible and enrolled children declined in early 2020 (Figure 1), but 4,691 children (52% of eligible) were enrolled and tested during March 2020-January 2021. From March 2020-January 2021, the overall percentage of enrolled children with respiratory testing who had detectable RV/EV was similar compared to the same time period in 2017-2018 and 2019-2020 (Figure 1, Table 1). In contrast, the percent positivity of RSV, influenza, and other respiratory viruses combined declined compared to prior years, (p< 0.001, Figure 1, Table 1). Figure 1. Percentage of Viral Detection Among Enrolled Children Who Received Respiratory Testing, New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN), United States, December 2016 - January 2021 Table 1. Percent of Respiratory Viruses Circulating in March 2020- January 2021, compared to March-January in Prior Years, New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN), United States, March 2017 - January 2021 Conclusion. During 2020, RV/EV continued to circulate among children receiving care for ARI despite abrupt declines in other respiratory viruses within this population. These findings warrant further studies to understand virologic, behavioral, biological, and/or environmental factors associated with this continued RV/EV circulation.
ABSTRACT
Background. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals, including solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR). Despite being excluded from phase 1-3 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine clinical trials, SOTR were identified as high-risk populations and prioritized for vaccination in public health guidelines. We aimed to evaluate the antibody response to two doses of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine in SOTR as compared to healthy controls (HC). Methods. SOTR and HC scheduled to receive two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine and able to complete required follow-up visits were enrolled. Blood specimens were collected from participants before receiving the first and second doses and 21-42 days after the second dose. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect immunoglobulin G (IgG) to the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain (RBD). Generalized estimating equations with a working independence correlation structure were used to compare anti-RBD IgG levels between SOTR and HC at each study visit and within each group over time. All models were adjusted for age, sex, and pre-vaccination seroreactivity in the ELISA. Results. A total of 54 SOTR and 26 HC were enrolled, with mean (SD) ages of 72 (3.6) and 62 (6.7) years, 61% and 35% were male, and 91% and 88% were white, respectively. The most common organ transplant types were kidney (41%) and liver (37%). All SOTR were receiving calcineurin inhibitors. The median time post-transplantation was 7 years. SOTR had markedly lower mean anti-RBD IgG levels when compared to HC with adjusted mean differences of -0.76 (95%CI: [-1.04, -0.47];p < 0.001) ELISA units (EU) and -1.35 (95%CI [-1.68, -1.01];p < 0.001) EU after the first and second doses, respectively (Figure 1). Both groups had a significant increase in anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels after the second dose. However, the magnitude was lower in SOTR, 0.49 (95%CI [0.31, 0.69];p < 0.001) EU than in HCs, 1.08 (95% CI [0.91, 1.24];p < 0.001) EU. Figure 1. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD IgG levels in solid organ transplant recipients and healthy controls before receiving the BNT162b2 vaccine (baseline), post-vaccine dose 1, and post-vaccine dose 2. Conclusion. Our study showed SOTR mounted weaker humoral immune responses than HC to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Given a lower response, SOTR should continue to practice social distancing and masking until data on vaccine efficacy are available in this vulnerable population.