Open Forum Infect Dis
. 2021 Nov 6;9(1):ofab553.
doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofab553. eCollection 2022 Jan.
In-depth Characterization of Vaccine Breakthrough Infections With SARS-CoV-2 Among Health Care Workers in a Dutch Academic Medical Center
Lidewij W Rümke 1 , Femke C Groenveld 1 , Yvonne M G van Os 2 , Patrique Praest 1 , Anniek A N Tanja 1 , Dorien T C M de Jong 1 , Jori Symons 1 , Rob Schuurman 1 , Tessa Reinders 1 , L Marije Hofstra 1 , Stefan Nierkens 3 , Steven F T Thijsen 4 , Michiel Heron 4 , Robert-Jan Lebbink 1 , Jeffrey M Beekman 5 6 , Monique Nijhuis 1 , Annemarie M J Wensing 1
Affiliations
- PMID: 34988250
- PMCID: PMC8714358
- DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofab553
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection after coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination raises concerns about the emergence of vaccine escape variants. Here we characterize 14 breakthrough infections among 5860 fully vaccinated Dutch health care workers ≥14 days after the final dose of vaccination with either BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, or Ad26.COV2.S. These breakthrough infections presented with regular B.1.1.7 (Alpha) and B.1.617.2 (Delta) variants and high viral loads, despite normal vaccine-induced B- and T-cell immune responses detected by live virus neutralization assays and ELISpot. High-risk exposure settings, such as in households, indicate a potential risk of viral transmission despite full vaccination.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; immunity; postvaccination infection; vaccine breakthrough.