tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Open Forum Infect Dis
. 2025 Jan 10;12(1)
fae680.
doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofae680. eCollection 2025 Jan. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antibody Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors in a Large Cohort of US Children
Bozena J Katic[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Aspasia Katragkou[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jessica L Alvitres[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Manisha Gurumurthy[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Charles Li[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Joseph V Schwab[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Uzma N Hasan[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Sunanda Gaur[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Alan S Weller[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Mary C Kennedy[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Cecilia DiPentima[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Claudia Rohan[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Benjamin Richlin[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Dorothy Chu[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Isaura Otero[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Akhil Patel[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Pauline Thomas[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Stephen M Friedman[SUP] 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: Household transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may play a key role in times of increased infection, particularly among children. We aimed to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and identify risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity in children.
Methods: Unvaccinated children aged 18 months to 11 years between August 2022 and June 2023 underwent oral fluid testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Caregivers completed electronic surveys at 4 major healthcare practices in Northern and Central New Jersey. Information was collected on demographics, household size, vaccination status, and prior SARS-CoV-2-related illness. Multivariable logistic regression determined individual and household-level factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity.
Results: A total of 870 children provided tests and corresponding surveys. Children were predominantly Hispanic (37%) or non-Hispanic Black (30%), and on average 5.7 years old. Overall SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity was 68%. Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 positivity include Hispanic or non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity (adjusted odds ratios [aOR], 2.29 and 1.95 vs. White race/ethnicity; P < .01) and later enrollment in the study period. Children from households with ≥1 vaccinated adult were 52% less likely to be antibody positive than those from households with no vaccinated adults (aOR: 0.38, [95% confidence interval 0.2 to 0.69]).
Conclusions: There is high burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection among children over time. Adult vaccination appears to be a protective factor in helping to mitigate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection among children. Increased vaccination of adults in the community can help inform COVID-19 prevention strategies for minors in the household.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence; immunity; vaccination.
. 2025 Jan 10;12(1)
fae680.doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofae680. eCollection 2025 Jan. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antibody Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors in a Large Cohort of US Children
Bozena J Katic[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Aspasia Katragkou[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jessica L Alvitres[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Manisha Gurumurthy[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Charles Li[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Joseph V Schwab[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Uzma N Hasan[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Sunanda Gaur[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Alan S Weller[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Mary C Kennedy[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Cecilia DiPentima[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Claudia Rohan[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Benjamin Richlin[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Dorothy Chu[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Isaura Otero[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Akhil Patel[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Pauline Thomas[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Stephen M Friedman[SUP] 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 39802208
- PMCID: PMC11718515
- DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofae680
Background: Household transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may play a key role in times of increased infection, particularly among children. We aimed to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and identify risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity in children.
Methods: Unvaccinated children aged 18 months to 11 years between August 2022 and June 2023 underwent oral fluid testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Caregivers completed electronic surveys at 4 major healthcare practices in Northern and Central New Jersey. Information was collected on demographics, household size, vaccination status, and prior SARS-CoV-2-related illness. Multivariable logistic regression determined individual and household-level factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity.
Results: A total of 870 children provided tests and corresponding surveys. Children were predominantly Hispanic (37%) or non-Hispanic Black (30%), and on average 5.7 years old. Overall SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity was 68%. Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 positivity include Hispanic or non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity (adjusted odds ratios [aOR], 2.29 and 1.95 vs. White race/ethnicity; P < .01) and later enrollment in the study period. Children from households with ≥1 vaccinated adult were 52% less likely to be antibody positive than those from households with no vaccinated adults (aOR: 0.38, [95% confidence interval 0.2 to 0.69]).
Conclusions: There is high burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection among children over time. Adult vaccination appears to be a protective factor in helping to mitigate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection among children. Increased vaccination of adults in the community can help inform COVID-19 prevention strategies for minors in the household.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence; immunity; vaccination.