OUTCOME OF VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED COVID-19 PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL AT PUDUCHERRY

Abstract

In India, COVID 19 vaccination campaign was started with the Health Care Workers (HCWs) who were directly involved in care of COVID 19 patients w.e.f January 16,2021 using two vaccines; Covisheild (manufactured by Serum Institute of India) and Covaxin (manufactured by Bharat Biotech Limited)  and given in two doses 12-16 weeks and 4 -6 weeks apart respectively.Later the vaccination was introduced among vulnerable population.Starting 1^st May,2021 the eligible age for vaccination was expanded to cover all adults above 18 years.At present (May 1,2021) about 268 million people in India have been fully vaccinated.Symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID 19 infections have been reported after COVID 19 vaccination but adequate data regarding breakthrough infections are not available.The efficacy of each vaccine varies. The Covaxin and Covishield have a reported efficacy rate of approximately 81% and 70%, respectively (2).Since COVID 19 vaccines do  not offer 100% protection,breakthrough infections are noted even after vaccination.A vaccine Breakthrough infection is defined as the detection of SARS-Co-2 RNA or antigen in a respiratory specimen collected from a person ≥14 days after receipt of all recommended doses of an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine (3).Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) reported breakthrough infection after completing two doses of Covaxin and Covishield of 0.13% and 0.07% respectively(4).Similar study conducted in Apollo hospital ,India reported the incidence of COVID 19 breakthrough infection of 97.8% in vaccinated Health Care Workers and in only 0.06% patients ,hospitalization was need. Vaccination markedly reduced adverse outcomes, with non-ICU hospitalizations, ICU hospitalizations, and deaths decreasing by 63.5%,65.6% and 69.3%  respectively, across the same period(5).Unvaccinated individuals had a higher ICU admission rate and case fatality rate compared to fully /partially vaccinated (6).This study is aimed to compare the morbidity and mortality among vaccinated and unvaccinated COVID 19 patients admitted in a tertiary care hospital at Puducherry during the second wave of COVID 19.