COVID-19 Breakthrough Infection Among Vaccinated Population in the United Arab Emirates
Nihar Ranjan Dash, Hiba Jawdat Barqawi, Anas A. Obaideen, Hanae Qousae Al Chame, Kamel A. Samara, Rama Qadri, Salma Eldesouki
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite significant efforts to contain the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic through mass vaccination, numerous nations throughout the world have recorded breakout infections. The incidence and severity of COVID-19 breakthrough infections in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remain unknown despite extensive COVID-19 vaccine coverage. The goal of this research is to establish the characteristics of COVID-19 breakthrough infections in the UAE's vaccinated population. METHODS: Between February and March 2022, we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in the UAE with 1533 participants to examine the characteristics of COVID-19 breakthrough infection among the vaccinated population. RESULTS: The vaccination coverage was 97.97%, and the COVID-19 breakthrough infection rate was 32.1%, requiring hospitalization in 7.7% of cases. The bulk of the 492 COVID-19 breakthrough infections reported was among young adults (67%), with the majority experiencing mild to moderate symptoms (70.7%) or remaining asymptomatic (21.5%). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 breakthrough infection were reported in younger age, male sex, non-healthcare professions, vaccination with inactivated whole virus vaccine (Sinopharm), and not receiving a booster dose. Information on breakthrough infection in the UAE might influence public health decisions and motivate measures such as providing additional booster doses of the vaccines to the people.