Covid-19: Most people admitted to hospital after vaccination were infected before immunity could develop, research shows
Elisabeth Mahase
Abstract
Covid-19: Most people admitted to hospital after vaccination were infected before immunity could develop, research shows Elisabeth MahaseThe majority of vaccinated people who were admitted to hospital for covid-19 were probably infected shortly before or around the time of their vaccination, highlighting the importance of maintaining social distancing and understanding that immunity develops over time, researchers have said. 1 The International Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Consortium Clinical Characterisation Protocol (ISARIC4C), which is funded by UK Research and Innovation and the National Institute for Health Research, analysed UK hospital admissions after the start of the covid-19 vaccination rollout.As of 10 April 2021, 3842 of the 99 445 inpatients enrolled in the study had been vaccinated.Looking at symptomatic patients (1823), the researchers found that 40% (729) developed covid-19 symptoms 0-7 days post-vaccination.A further 19% (352) developed symptoms 8-14 days post-vaccination.The median incubation period for SARS-CoV-2 is around five days, meaning it is likely that many of these patients were infected before immunity developed.