Apollo Hospitals’ vital post-vaccination study shows COVID vaccines provide protection in more than 95 per cent of healthcare workers

The study showed that post-vaccination infection (PVI) occurred in only 4.28 per cent of healthcare workers (HCWs) with no incidence of severe infection and no deaths

Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi has released the results of a multi-centre study of healthcare workers (HCWs) across India to evaluate the incidence of post-vaccination infections (PVIs). The study that took place over four and a half months, from 16^th January to 30^th May 2021, covered 31,621 healthcare workers who had received either both doses or the first dose only of the Covishield and Covaxin COVID vaccines.

Commenting on the study, Dr Prathap C Reddy, Founder Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “This study reiterates the fact that our mainstay against COVID-19 is mass vaccination. Vaccines are not only safe, but they also help prevent severe manifestations of COVID-19 and will help save lives. The results of this large study across India make for a compelling case for citizens above the age of 18 to come forth and get vaccinated in order for us as a country to tide over the COVID-19 crisis.”

He added, “With greater availability of the vaccines in the coming weeks, the number of vaccines administered each day should increase. We should aim to vaccinate five million Indians per day consistently. The main conclusions from the study are that post-vaccination infections are usually minor and vaccination helps to prevent severe infection, ICU admissions and death.”

Speaking on the details of the study, Dr K Hariprasad, President – Hospitals Division, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “This is one of the largest cohorts of vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) analysed in the country, so far. The 31,621 HCWs covered under the study were from 43 units of the Apollo Hospitals group across 24 cities in the country. The HCWs covered various categories including doctors, nursing, paramedical as well as support and administrative staff. We thank them for participating in this study, which has helped highlight the role of vaccines in our fight against COVID-19.”

He further said, “While the study emphasises the fact that COVID-19 vaccines are effective, it is important to continue with COVID safe behavior even when fully vaccinated, such as wearing a mask, sanitising hands, maintaining appropriate social distance and avoiding crowds” added Dr Hariprasad.

Dr Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director and Senior Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “The results showed that COVID vaccines provided protection in more than 95 per cent of the recipients and that post-vaccination infection (PVI) occurred in only 4.28 per cent (1,355 / 31,621) of the vaccinated healthcare workers. The finding also showed only 90 cases or 0.28 per cent (90 / 31,621) of cases required hospitalisation, with only three cases 0.009 per cent (03/31,621) requiring ICU admission. The most important finding of the study was that there were no deaths in case of COVID infection after vaccination.”

“Covishield was administered to 28,918 HCWs (91.45 per cent), while 2,703 (8.55 per cent) received Covaxin. 25,907 or 81.9 per cent HCWs were fully vaccinated, having received both doses of the vaccine, while 5,714 or 18.1 per cent had received only the first dose. Out of the fully vaccinated workers, 1,061 or 4.09 per cent reported post-vaccination infections, while 294 or 5.14 per cent of the partly-vaccinated workers tested positive,” Dr Sibal added.

Dr Raju Vaishya, Senior Consultant – Orthopedics, and Joint Replacement Surgeon and one of the key authors of the study, said, “Of the 90 cases who required hospitalisation, 48 were males and 42 were females with the majority i.e., 83 cases being below 50 years of age. Of the three ICU admissions, two were males and one was female, between the ages of 25 to 39 years, with two fully vaccinated and one partially vaccinated. The incidence of PVI in those who had been administered Covishield was 4.32 per cent and in those who had received Covaxin was 3.85 per cent.” The findings of the study are under consideration for publication in a peer-reviewed medical journal.