ABSTRACT
This repeated cross-sectional study with two independent sample populations compared the antibody response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccines in Albania in July-August 2021 and 2022. In 2021, it found higher anti-spike-1 seropositivity and antibody levels in fully vaccinated individuals, especially with BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 and to a lesser degree with CoronaVac. By 2022, all single-dose recipients showed high antibody responses, suggesting natural infection-enhanced immunity. The study indicates a significant evolution in the antibody response to different coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines and suggests that a single vaccine dose, coupled with natural infection, might suffice to maintain adequate immunity levels in an endemic scenario.
ABSTRACT
Background: Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence dynamics during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial for understanding population immunity and providing insights into public health policies. Limited data exist on this from Albania and other Eastern European countries. This study aimed to investigate SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Albania, comparing August 2021 and August 2022 data from two representative samples of the general population. The objective was to understand the temporal dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies across age groups and assess the impacts of natural infection and vaccination on population immunity. Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted in two consecutive cross-sectional assessments 12 months apart in Albania's urban all-ages population. IgG anti-Spike-1 and anti-Nucleoprotein SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were measured using ELISA, focusing on seropositivity rates and antibody levels. Methods: The study encompassed 2143 and 2183 individuals in August 2021 and 2022, respectively, with the anti-S1-IgG seropositivity rate escalating from 70.9 â% to 92.1 â%. In 2021, seroprevalence ranged from 49.6 â% (0-15 years) to 82 â% (>60 years). By August 2022, it surpassed 90 â% in most age groups, except 0-15 years (73.8 â%). "Hybrid" immunity (COVID-19+ and Vaccine+) reached 56.6 â% in 2022, or 2.8 times higher than in 2021, exhibiting the highest antibody levels compared to the only vaccinated or previously COVID-19-infected individuals. Conclusion: This study highlights an overall 94 % seroprevalence in the Albanian population in August 2022 and robust "hybrid" immunity, suggesting substantial protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2. The lower immunity in the 0-15 age group underscores the necessity for youth-targeted vaccine campaigns. These findings provide valuable insights for shaping healthcare measures and vaccination policies.
ABSTRACT
Background: This study aims to assess the changes in COVID-19 seroprevalence among the adult urban population of Albania between July and December 2020, when the Wuhan strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus was still prevalent in the country. Methods: Two independent, randomly selected samples of individuals aged 20-70 years residing in Metropolitan Tirana, Albania, were collected in June-July and December 2020. ELISA method was used for serological testing to determine IgG antibodies anti-S1-SARS-CoV-2. Results: The proportion of individuals classified as seropositive in early July was 7.5% (95% CI: 4.3%-10.7%), which increased 6.5 times in late December 2020, reaching 48.2% (95% CI: 44.8%-51.7%). The increasing seroprevalence rates in the study mirrored the trend of detected COVID-19 cases from June to December 2020 in Albania. However, they demonstrate a much higher cumulative incidence of the SARS-COV-2 infection in the community than the reported COVID-19 cases. Conclusion: The rapid increase in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence observed in Tirana City by the end of 2020 was likely a result of several factors, including the very low infection exposure between March-May 2020 when the entire city was in a lockdown, followed by the high susceptibility of the population due to naïve immunity. Despite the high observed seroprevalence at the end of December 2020, COVID-19 incidence continued to increase in Albania through 2021 and 2022 following the new virus variant surges.
