BNT162b2 Effectiveness Against Delta and Omicron Variants of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Adolescents Aged 12–17 Years, by Dosing Interval and Duration
Iulia Gabriela Ionescu, Danuta M. Skowronski, Chantal Sauvageau, Erica Chuang, Manale Ouakki, Shin Hye Kim, Gaston De Serres
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Two- and 3-dose BNT162b2 vaccine effectiveness (VE) against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, including Delta and Omicron variants, was assessed among adolescents in Canada, where first and second doses were spaced longer than the manufacturer-specified 3-week interval. METHODS: Test-negative design estimated VE against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection ≥14 days after vaccination among 12-17-year-olds in Quebec and British Columbia, Canada, between 5 September 2021 and 30 April 2022 (epidemiological weeks 36-17). VE was explored by the interval between first and second doses, time since the second dose, and with a third dose. RESULTS: The VE against Delta was ≥90% until at least 5 months after the second dose. The VE against Omicron decreased from about 65%-75% at 2-3 weeks to ≤50% by the third month after vaccination, restored to approximately 65% by a third dose. Although confidence intervals overlapped, VE against Omicron was about 5%-7% higher (absolute) when first and second doses were spaced ≥8 versus 3-4 weeks apart. CONCLUSIONS: In adolescents, 2 BNT162b2 doses provided strong and sustained protection against Delta but reduced and rapidly waning VE against Omicron. A longer interval between first and second doses and a third dose marginally improved Omicron protection.