Early effectiveness of BNT162b2 Covid-19 vaccine in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare personnel in six Israeli hospitals (CoVEHPI)

Mark A. Katz; Efrat Bron Harlev; Bibiana Chazan; Michal Chowers; David Greenberg; Alon Peretz; Sagi Tshori; Joseph Levy; Mili Yacobi; Avital Hirsch; Doron Amichay; Ronit Weinberger; Anat Ben Dor; Elena Keren Taraday; Dana Reznik; Chen Barazani Chayat; Dana Sagas; Haim Ben Zvi; Rita Berdinstein; Gloria Rashid; Yonat Shemer Avni; Michal Mandelboim; Neta Zuckerman; Nir Rainy; Amichay Akriv; Noa Dagan; Eldad Kepten; Noam Barda; Ran D. Balicer

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.11.092

Early effectiveness of BNT162b2 Covid-19 vaccine in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare personnel in six Israeli hospitals (CoVEHPI)

Mark A. Katz, Efrat Bron Harlev, Bibiana Chazan, Michal Chowers, David Greenberg, Alon Peretz, Sagi Tshori, Joseph Levy, Mili Yacobi, Avital Hirsch, Doron Amichay, Ronit Weinberger, Anat Ben Dor, Elena Keren Taraday, Dana Reznik, Chen Barazani Chayat, Dana Sagas, Haim Ben Zvi, Rita Berdinstein, Gloria RashidYonat Shemer Avni, Michal Mandelboim, Neta Zuckerman, Nir Rainy, Amichay Akriv, Noa Dagan, Eldad Kepten, Noam Barda, Ran D. Balicer

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Methodologically rigorous studies on Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection are critically needed to inform national and global policy on Covid-19 vaccine use. In Israel, healthcare personnel (HCP) were initially prioritized for Covid-19 vaccination, creating an ideal setting to evaluate early real-world VE in a closely monitored population. Methods: We conducted a prospective study among HCP in 6 hospitals to estimate the effectiveness of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants filled out weekly symptom questionnaires, provided weekly nasal specimens, and three serology samples – at enrollment, 30 days and 90 days. We estimated VE against PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection using the Cox Proportional Hazards model and against a combined PCR/serology endpoint using Fisher's exact test. Results: Of the 1567 HCP enrolled between December 27, 2020 and February 15, 2021, 1250 previously uninfected participants were included in the primary analysis; 998 (79.8%) were vaccinated with their first dose prior to or at enrollment, all with Pfizer BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. There were four PCR-positive events among vaccinated participants, and nine among unvaccinated participants. Adjusted two-dose VE against any PCR-confirmed infection was 94.5% (95% CI: 82.6%-98.2%); adjusted two-dose VE against a combined endpoint of PCR and seroconversion for a 60-day follow-up period was 94.5% (95% CI: 63.0%-99.0%). Five PCR-positive samples from study participants were sequenced; all were alpha variant. Conclusions: Our prospective VE study of HCP in Israel with rigorous weekly surveillance found very high VE for two doses of Pfizer BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection in recently vaccinated HCP during a period of predominant alpha variant circulation. Funding: Clalit Health Services.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	512-520
Number of pages	9
Journal	Vaccine
Volume	40
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.11.092
State	Published - 24 Jan 2022
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Nadav Raviv and Ilan Gofer from Clalit Research Institute, Innovation Division for helping with the data collection throughout the study, Sydney Krispin from Clalit Research Institute, Innovation Division for helping with the manuscript submission. We also thank Arnold Monto, Emily Martin, Josh Petrie and Ryan Malosh from University of Michigan School of Public Health for providing input on the analysis plan. We thank Yossef Rosemberg from Clalit Central laboratory for his help with the serology testing. We thank Svetlana Rothe, Ranin Wahab, Tamar Amar and Tal Eylon from Rabin Medical Center, Anna Yanovskay, Carmel Kasher, Merav Strauss and Hana Kahanov Edelstein from Ha'Emek Medical Center, Ayman Fadeela and Galit Carmon from Meir Medical Center, Iris Greenbaum, Nataliya Kyrylyshyn, Yosfit Yosefa Mussa, Abeer Bdeer, Inbar Gesua Abu from Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Ayelet Sherman, Shlomit shick, Lihi Geler and Hana Leiba from Kaplan Medical Center, Orli Zamir- Barashi and the pediatric infectious disease unit from Soroka University Medical Center for recruiting participants, collecting samples and following-up on participant questionnaires during the study. We thank the Israeli Ministry of Health for providing serology kits for the 30-day and 90-day serology tests. We also thank all the participants for their contribution throughout the study.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Molecular Medicine
Immunology and Microbiology (all)
Veterinary (all)
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Infectious Diseases

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.11.092

Cite this

Katz, M. A., Harlev, E. B., Chazan, B., Chowers, M., Greenberg, D., Peretz, A., Tshori, S., Levy, J., Yacobi, M., Hirsch, A., Amichay, D., Weinberger, R., Dor, A. B., Taraday, E. K., Reznik, D., Chayat, C. B., Sagas, D., Zvi, H. B., Berdinstein, R., ... Balicer, R. D. (2022). Early effectiveness of BNT162b2 Covid-19 vaccine in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare personnel in six Israeli hospitals (CoVEHPI). Vaccine, 40(3), 512-520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.11.092

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title = "Early effectiveness of BNT162b2 Covid-19 vaccine in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare personnel in six Israeli hospitals (CoVEHPI)",

abstract = "Background: Methodologically rigorous studies on Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection are critically needed to inform national and global policy on Covid-19 vaccine use. In Israel, healthcare personnel (HCP) were initially prioritized for Covid-19 vaccination, creating an ideal setting to evaluate early real-world VE in a closely monitored population. Methods: We conducted a prospective study among HCP in 6 hospitals to estimate the effectiveness of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants filled out weekly symptom questionnaires, provided weekly nasal specimens, and three serology samples – at enrollment, 30 days and 90 days. We estimated VE against PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection using the Cox Proportional Hazards model and against a combined PCR/serology endpoint using Fisher's exact test. Results: Of the 1567 HCP enrolled between December 27, 2020 and February 15, 2021, 1250 previously uninfected participants were included in the primary analysis; 998 (79.8%) were vaccinated with their first dose prior to or at enrollment, all with Pfizer BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. There were four PCR-positive events among vaccinated participants, and nine among unvaccinated participants. Adjusted two-dose VE against any PCR-confirmed infection was 94.5% (95% CI: 82.6%-98.2%); adjusted two-dose VE against a combined endpoint of PCR and seroconversion for a 60-day follow-up period was 94.5% (95% CI: 63.0%-99.0%). Five PCR-positive samples from study participants were sequenced; all were alpha variant. Conclusions: Our prospective VE study of HCP in Israel with rigorous weekly surveillance found very high VE for two doses of Pfizer BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection in recently vaccinated HCP during a period of predominant alpha variant circulation. Funding: Clalit Health Services.",

author = "Katz, {Mark A.} and Harlev, {Efrat Bron} and Bibiana Chazan and Michal Chowers and David Greenberg and Alon Peretz and Sagi Tshori and Joseph Levy and Mili Yacobi and Avital Hirsch and Doron Amichay and Ronit Weinberger and Dor, {Anat Ben} and Taraday, {Elena Keren} and Dana Reznik and Chayat, {Chen Barazani} and Dana Sagas and Zvi, {Haim Ben} and Rita Berdinstein and Gloria Rashid and Avni, {Yonat Shemer} and Michal Mandelboim and Neta Zuckerman and Nir Rainy and Amichay Akriv and Noa Dagan and Eldad Kepten and Noam Barda and Balicer, {Ran D.}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank Nadav Raviv and Ilan Gofer from Clalit Research Institute, Innovation Division for helping with the data collection throughout the study, Sydney Krispin from Clalit Research Institute, Innovation Division for helping with the manuscript submission. We also thank Arnold Monto, Emily Martin, Josh Petrie and Ryan Malosh from University of Michigan School of Public Health for providing input on the analysis plan. We thank Yossef Rosemberg from Clalit Central laboratory for his help with the serology testing. We thank Svetlana Rothe, Ranin Wahab, Tamar Amar and Tal Eylon from Rabin Medical Center, Anna Yanovskay, Carmel Kasher, Merav Strauss and Hana Kahanov Edelstein from Ha'Emek Medical Center, Ayman Fadeela and Galit Carmon from Meir Medical Center, Iris Greenbaum, Nataliya Kyrylyshyn, Yosfit Yosefa Mussa, Abeer Bdeer, Inbar Gesua Abu from Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Ayelet Sherman, Shlomit shick, Lihi Geler and Hana Leiba from Kaplan Medical Center, Orli Zamir- Barashi and the pediatric infectious disease unit from Soroka University Medical Center for recruiting participants, collecting samples and following-up on participant questionnaires during the study. We thank the Israeli Ministry of Health for providing serology kits for the 30-day and 90-day serology tests. We also thank all the participants for their contribution throughout the study. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Elsevier Ltd",

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doi = "10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.11.092",

language = "English",

volume = "40",

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Katz, MA, Harlev, EB, Chazan, B, Chowers, M, Greenberg, D, Peretz, A, Tshori, S, Levy, J, Yacobi, M, Hirsch, A, Amichay, D, Weinberger, R, Dor, AB, Taraday, EK, Reznik, D, Chayat, CB, Sagas, D, Zvi, HB, Berdinstein, R, Rashid, G, Avni, YS, Mandelboim, M, Zuckerman, N, Rainy, N, Akriv, A, Dagan, N, Kepten, E, Barda, N & Balicer, RD 2022, 'Early effectiveness of BNT162b2 Covid-19 vaccine in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare personnel in six Israeli hospitals (CoVEHPI)', Vaccine, vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 512-520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.11.092

TY - JOUR

T1 - Early effectiveness of BNT162b2 Covid-19 vaccine in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare personnel in six Israeli hospitals (CoVEHPI)

AU - Katz, Mark A.

AU - Harlev, Efrat Bron

AU - Chazan, Bibiana

AU - Chowers, Michal

AU - Greenberg, David

AU - Peretz, Alon

AU - Tshori, Sagi

AU - Levy, Joseph

AU - Yacobi, Mili

AU - Hirsch, Avital

AU - Amichay, Doron

AU - Weinberger, Ronit

AU - Dor, Anat Ben

AU - Taraday, Elena Keren

AU - Reznik, Dana

AU - Chayat, Chen Barazani

AU - Sagas, Dana

AU - Zvi, Haim Ben

AU - Berdinstein, Rita

AU - Rashid, Gloria

AU - Avni, Yonat Shemer

AU - Mandelboim, Michal

AU - Zuckerman, Neta

AU - Rainy, Nir

AU - Akriv, Amichay

AU - Dagan, Noa

AU - Kepten, Eldad

AU - Barda, Noam

AU - Balicer, Ran D.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Nadav Raviv and Ilan Gofer from Clalit Research Institute, Innovation Division for helping with the data collection throughout the study, Sydney Krispin from Clalit Research Institute, Innovation Division for helping with the manuscript submission. We also thank Arnold Monto, Emily Martin, Josh Petrie and Ryan Malosh from University of Michigan School of Public Health for providing input on the analysis plan. We thank Yossef Rosemberg from Clalit Central laboratory for his help with the serology testing. We thank Svetlana Rothe, Ranin Wahab, Tamar Amar and Tal Eylon from Rabin Medical Center, Anna Yanovskay, Carmel Kasher, Merav Strauss and Hana Kahanov Edelstein from Ha'Emek Medical Center, Ayman Fadeela and Galit Carmon from Meir Medical Center, Iris Greenbaum, Nataliya Kyrylyshyn, Yosfit Yosefa Mussa, Abeer Bdeer, Inbar Gesua Abu from Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Ayelet Sherman, Shlomit shick, Lihi Geler and Hana Leiba from Kaplan Medical Center, Orli Zamir- Barashi and the pediatric infectious disease unit from Soroka University Medical Center for recruiting participants, collecting samples and following-up on participant questionnaires during the study. We thank the Israeli Ministry of Health for providing serology kits for the 30-day and 90-day serology tests. We also thank all the participants for their contribution throughout the study. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier Ltd

PY - 2022/1/24

Y1 - 2022/1/24

N2 - Background: Methodologically rigorous studies on Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection are critically needed to inform national and global policy on Covid-19 vaccine use. In Israel, healthcare personnel (HCP) were initially prioritized for Covid-19 vaccination, creating an ideal setting to evaluate early real-world VE in a closely monitored population. Methods: We conducted a prospective study among HCP in 6 hospitals to estimate the effectiveness of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants filled out weekly symptom questionnaires, provided weekly nasal specimens, and three serology samples – at enrollment, 30 days and 90 days. We estimated VE against PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection using the Cox Proportional Hazards model and against a combined PCR/serology endpoint using Fisher's exact test. Results: Of the 1567 HCP enrolled between December 27, 2020 and February 15, 2021, 1250 previously uninfected participants were included in the primary analysis; 998 (79.8%) were vaccinated with their first dose prior to or at enrollment, all with Pfizer BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. There were four PCR-positive events among vaccinated participants, and nine among unvaccinated participants. Adjusted two-dose VE against any PCR-confirmed infection was 94.5% (95% CI: 82.6%-98.2%); adjusted two-dose VE against a combined endpoint of PCR and seroconversion for a 60-day follow-up period was 94.5% (95% CI: 63.0%-99.0%). Five PCR-positive samples from study participants were sequenced; all were alpha variant. Conclusions: Our prospective VE study of HCP in Israel with rigorous weekly surveillance found very high VE for two doses of Pfizer BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection in recently vaccinated HCP during a period of predominant alpha variant circulation. Funding: Clalit Health Services.

AB - Background: Methodologically rigorous studies on Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection are critically needed to inform national and global policy on Covid-19 vaccine use. In Israel, healthcare personnel (HCP) were initially prioritized for Covid-19 vaccination, creating an ideal setting to evaluate early real-world VE in a closely monitored population. Methods: We conducted a prospective study among HCP in 6 hospitals to estimate the effectiveness of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants filled out weekly symptom questionnaires, provided weekly nasal specimens, and three serology samples – at enrollment, 30 days and 90 days. We estimated VE against PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection using the Cox Proportional Hazards model and against a combined PCR/serology endpoint using Fisher's exact test. Results: Of the 1567 HCP enrolled between December 27, 2020 and February 15, 2021, 1250 previously uninfected participants were included in the primary analysis; 998 (79.8%) were vaccinated with their first dose prior to or at enrollment, all with Pfizer BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. There were four PCR-positive events among vaccinated participants, and nine among unvaccinated participants. Adjusted two-dose VE against any PCR-confirmed infection was 94.5% (95% CI: 82.6%-98.2%); adjusted two-dose VE against a combined endpoint of PCR and seroconversion for a 60-day follow-up period was 94.5% (95% CI: 63.0%-99.0%). Five PCR-positive samples from study participants were sequenced; all were alpha variant. Conclusions: Our prospective VE study of HCP in Israel with rigorous weekly surveillance found very high VE for two doses of Pfizer BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection in recently vaccinated HCP during a period of predominant alpha variant circulation. Funding: Clalit Health Services.

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DO - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.11.092

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ER -

Early effectiveness of BNT162b2 Covid-19 vaccine in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare personnel in six Israeli hospitals (CoVEHPI)

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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