Mary Wilson
Well-known member
09/Jan/2025
https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.1.2400037
Mercuri Elisabetta, Schmid Lorenz, Poethko-Müller Christina, Schlaud Martin, Kußmaul Cânâ, Ordonez-Cruickshank Ana, Haller Sebastian, Rexroth Ute, Hamouda Osamah, Schaade Lars, Wieler Lothar H, Gößwald Antje, Schaffrath Rosario Angelika , on behalf of the RKI-SOEP-2 Study Group.
Background: The first Corona Monitoring Nationwide
(RKI-SOEP) study (October 2020−February 2021) found
a low pre-vaccine SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence
(2.1%) in the German adult population (≥ 18 years).
Aim: The objective of this second RKI-SOEP (RKI-
SOEP-2) study in November 2021−March 2022 was to
estimate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2-specific anti-
spike and/or anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) IgG antibodies
(combined seroprevalence), past infection based on
infection-induced seroprevalence (anti-N), and basic
immunisation (at least two antigen contacts through
vaccination or infection) in individuals aged ≥ 14 years.
We also aimed to estimate under-reporting of infec-
tions.
Methods: Dried blood-spot specimens from a
population-based sample embedded in a dynamic
cohort, the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), were sero-
logically analysed. Resulting serological data and self-
reports via a questionnaire from the same individuals
were used to estimate prevalences. Results: Combined
seroprevalence was 90.7% (95% CI: 89.7%–91.6%)
without correction and 94.6% (95% CI: 93.6%–95.7%)
with correction for sensitivity/specificity and anti-
body waning. While one in nine individuals had been
infected (11.3%; 95% CI: 9.1%–13.5%), nine in 10 had a
basic immunisation (90%; 95% CI: 88.9–90.9%), pri-
marily due to vaccination. Population-weighted esti-
mates differed by age, region, and socioeconomic
deprivation. The under-reporting factor was estimated
as 1.55 (95% CI: 1.3–1.8).
Conclusions: When the SARS-
CoV-2-Omicron wave was beginning, most people had
been vaccinated, infected, or both. Large-scale vacci-
nation, but not a high infection rate, was able to fill
the immunity gap, especially in ≥ 65 year-olds who are
known to be at higher risk of severe COVID-19. Our
data point towards the need for targeted socioeco-
nomically, demographically and regionally stratified
mitigation strategies, including measures to enhance
vaccine uptake.
https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.1.2400037
https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.1.2400037
Mercuri Elisabetta, Schmid Lorenz, Poethko-Müller Christina, Schlaud Martin, Kußmaul Cânâ, Ordonez-Cruickshank Ana, Haller Sebastian, Rexroth Ute, Hamouda Osamah, Schaade Lars, Wieler Lothar H, Gößwald Antje, Schaffrath Rosario Angelika , on behalf of the RKI-SOEP-2 Study Group.
Background: The first Corona Monitoring Nationwide
(RKI-SOEP) study (October 2020−February 2021) found
a low pre-vaccine SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence
(2.1%) in the German adult population (≥ 18 years).
Aim: The objective of this second RKI-SOEP (RKI-
SOEP-2) study in November 2021−March 2022 was to
estimate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2-specific anti-
spike and/or anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) IgG antibodies
(combined seroprevalence), past infection based on
infection-induced seroprevalence (anti-N), and basic
immunisation (at least two antigen contacts through
vaccination or infection) in individuals aged ≥ 14 years.
We also aimed to estimate under-reporting of infec-
tions.
Methods: Dried blood-spot specimens from a
population-based sample embedded in a dynamic
cohort, the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), were sero-
logically analysed. Resulting serological data and self-
reports via a questionnaire from the same individuals
were used to estimate prevalences. Results: Combined
seroprevalence was 90.7% (95% CI: 89.7%–91.6%)
without correction and 94.6% (95% CI: 93.6%–95.7%)
with correction for sensitivity/specificity and anti-
body waning. While one in nine individuals had been
infected (11.3%; 95% CI: 9.1%–13.5%), nine in 10 had a
basic immunisation (90%; 95% CI: 88.9–90.9%), pri-
marily due to vaccination. Population-weighted esti-
mates differed by age, region, and socioeconomic
deprivation. The under-reporting factor was estimated
as 1.55 (95% CI: 1.3–1.8).
Conclusions: When the SARS-
CoV-2-Omicron wave was beginning, most people had
been vaccinated, infected, or both. Large-scale vacci-
nation, but not a high infection rate, was able to fill
the immunity gap, especially in ≥ 65 year-olds who are
known to be at higher risk of severe COVID-19. Our
data point towards the need for targeted socioeco-
nomically, demographically and regionally stratified
mitigation strategies, including measures to enhance
vaccine uptake.
https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.1.2400037
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