Impact of vaccines against COVID-19 on the incidence of new SARS-COV2 infections in health care workers of the Province of Buenos Aires

Abstract

Introduction. The vaccination plan of the province of Buenos Aires has prioritized the groups with the highest epidemiological risk, initiating the immunization process on Health Care Worker (HCP). The present work aims to evaluate the impact of vaccination on the mean evolution of new SARS-Cov-2 cases in HCP compared to that of the general population.

Methodology. Information on confirmed cases was obtained from the Sistema Nacional de Vigilancia en Salud, period April/2020 to March/2021. The number of vaccinated used the base of the VacunatePBA system.

Results. As of September, the number of cases begins to decrease more sharply in HCP than in the general population. This trend is consolidated with the beginning of the vaccination plan. By February 2021, 42% of the HCP had been immunized with the first dose and 24% with the second dose. It is observed that, in March, while the number of cases in the General Population increased by 10% compared to February, HCP decreased by 35%. This indicates a significantly more pronounced decrease in HCP (p-value <0.00001).

Discussion. Since the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine at the end of december in different countries, a decrease in the incidence of new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCP has begun to be reported, coinciding with the findings of the present study. Our study provides the first data in the country on the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on HCP.