SARS-CoV-2 Variants Distribution and Infections in Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Hospitalized Individuals in the Dominican Republic.

Authors

  • Robert Paulino-Ramirez Instituto de Medicina Tropical & Salud Global, UNIBE Research Hub, Universidad Iberoamericana, Santo Domingo,Dominican Republic
  • Rita Rojas-Fermin Infectious Disease Department, Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud (HGPS), Distrito Nacional, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
  • Paula Cuevas Instituto de Medicina Tropical & Salud Global, Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE), Santo Domingo 22333, Dominican Republic
  • Leandro Tapia Instituto de Medicina Tropical & Salud Global, UNIBE Research Hub, Universidad Iberoamericana, Santo Domingo,Dominican Republic
  • Alejandro Vallejo Degaudenzi Laboratorio Biotecnológico TIOTE BIOTECH, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
  • Sayira Mueses Instituto de Medicina Tropical & Salud Global, UNIBE Research Hub, Universidad Iberoamericana, Santo Domingo,Dominican Republic
  • Victor Virgilio Calderón Laboratorio Biotecnológico TIOTE BIOTECH, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
  • Maridania Jabier Instituto de Medicina Tropical & Salud Global, UNIBE Research Hub, Universidad Iberoamericana, Santo Domingo,Dominican Republic
  • Anel Guzman-Marte Microbiology Laboratory, Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud (HGPS), Distrito Nacional, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
  • Gilda Tolari-Jacobo Microbiology Laboratory, Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud (HGPS), Distrito Nacional, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
  • Ingrid Ruiz Instituto de Medicina Tropical & Salud Global, UNIBE Research Hub, Universidad Iberoamericana, Santo Domingo,Dominican Republic
  • Ann Sanchez-Marmolejos Clinical Research Department, Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud (HGPS), Distrito Nacional, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
  • Gabriella Cuevas Lantigua Clinical Research Department, Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud (HGPS), Distrito Nacional, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31005/iajmh.v5i.244

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2, Dominican Republic, Vaccines, Comorbidities, Variants, Breaktrhough infections

Abstract

First cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the Dominican Republic (DR) were reported in early 2020. During the first trimester of 2021 a national vaccination campaign was deployed, including whole-virus inactivated, adenovirus-based, and mRNA vaccines platforms. To better understand the effectiveness and efficiency of vaccines to reduce COVID-19 related deaths, among vaccinated (2-doses), unvaccinated and partially vaccinated (1-doses), and SARS-CoV-2 variants we analyzed clinical and molecular data obtained from breakthrough infections in hospitalized individuals. Samples from SARS-CoV-2 infected hospitalized patients were collected for viral sequencing. During the study period, we analyzed the data of thirty-three (n=33) COVID-19 case-patients from June to September 2021. Studied cases reported receiving a whole-virus attenuated vaccine (CoronaVac) in 36.8%. The survival rate among two-dose vaccinated individuals was 73% (95% CI, 70.8 to 74.2) compared to 65% in unvaccinated individuals. Molecular variant analysis of variant circulation among infections was initially due to B.1.621 (Mu) and rapidly shifting to B.1.617 (Delta) variants. No differences in outcomes between Mu, Iota, or Delta infections were observed. This suggests that VOIs can also have a deleterious impact on vaccinated individuals.

Author Biography

Robert Paulino-Ramirez, Instituto de Medicina Tropical & Salud Global, UNIBE Research Hub, Universidad Iberoamericana, Santo Domingo,Dominican Republic

Principal Investigator at the Instituto de Medicina Tropical & Salud Global, Universidad Iberoamericana in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Medical Virology and Tropical Diseases specialist. Research interests: HIV/AIDS, retroviruses, emergin pathogens, and global health. 

Published

2022-12-10 — Updated on 2023-01-15

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How to Cite

Paulino-Ramirez, R., Rojas-Fermin, R. ., Cuevas, P., Tapia, L., Vallejo Degaudenzi, A., Mueses, S., Calderón, V. V., Jabier, M., Guzman-Marte, A., Tolari-Jacobo, G., Ruiz, I., Sanchez-Marmolejos, A., & Cuevas Lantigua, G. (2023). SARS-CoV-2 Variants Distribution and Infections in Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Hospitalized Individuals in the Dominican Republic. InterAmerican Journal of Medicine and Health, 5, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.31005/iajmh.v5i.244 (Original work published December 10, 2022)

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Original Articles

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