Association between COVID Vaccination and Disease Severity among Hospitalized Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its unprecedented global societal and economic disruptive impact, highlight the urgent need for the development of safe, effective, affordable, and deployable vaccines against COVID-19. Among the several vaccines approved by the World Health Organization, BBV-152 (COVAXIN) and AZD1222 (COVISHIELD) are approved in India. As on 1-Apr-2021, around 9 million people were fully vaccinated and around 59 million had received one dose of vaccine in India. Hence, this study was aimed to study the association between disease severity and disease progression from mild to moderate/severity. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a private medical college at Tamil Nadu between April 2021 to May 2021 (one month period). The study included 100 participants who were aged more than 45 years admitted for COVID infection. Disease severity was assessed as per the guidelines issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the patient vaccination status was ascertained based on the patient's testimony (also corroborated with a vaccine certificate). Result(s) The gender ratio observed was 1.61. The mean age at presentation was 59 years for mild disease, 60 years for moderate disease and 61 years for severe disease. The prevalence of moderate disease was 65% among non-vaccinated, and 15% among vaccinated individuals. The prevalence of severe disease was 25% among non-vaccinated individuals, and 5% among vaccinated individuals. Conclusion(s) Vaccination provides significant protection against moderate and severe COVID-19 disease.Copyright © 2023, Dr Yashwant Research Labs Pvt Ltd. All rights reserved.