Determining the Incidence of Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Among Early Recipients of COVID-19 Vaccines (DISCOVER-COVID-19): A Prospective Cohort Study of Healthcare Workers Before, During and After Vaccination
Crystal M. North, Amy K. Barczak, Robert H. Goldstein, Brian C. Healy, Dianne M. Finkelstein, Delaney D Ding, Andy Kim, Julie Boucau, Bennett Shaw, Rebecca F. Gilbert, Tammy D. Vyas, Zahra Reynolds, Katherine J. Siddle, Bronwyn MacInnis, James Regan, James P. Flynn, Manish C. Choudhary, Jatin M. Vyas, Karl Laskowski, Anand S. Dighe, Jacob E. Lemieux, Jonathan Z. Li, Lindsey R. Baden, Mark J. Siedner, Ann E. Woolley, Chana A. Sacks
Abstract
The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination on viral characteristics of breakthrough infections is unknown. In this prospective cohort study, incidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection decreased following vaccination. Although asymptomatic positive tests were observed following vaccination, the higher cycle thresholds, repeat negative tests, and inability to culture virus raise questions about their clinical significance.