TY - JOUR
T1 - SARS-CoV-2 Seroepidemiological Investigation in Jordan
T2 - Seroprevalence, Herd Immunity, and Vaccination Coverage. A Population-Based National Study
AU - Ali, Sami Sheikh
AU - Kheirallah, Khalid A.
AU - Sharkas, Ghazi
AU - Al-Nusair, Mohammed
AU - Al-Mistarehi, Abdel Hameed
AU - Ghazo, Mahmoud
AU - Zeitawi, Ali
AU - Bellizzi, Saverio
AU - Ramadan, Mohannad
AU - Alsulaiman, Jomana W.
AU - Alzoubi, Hamed
AU - Belbesi, Adel
AU - Allouh, Mohammed Z.
N1 - Funding Information:
The article publishing charges were provided by a grant to M. Z. Allouh from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE (Grant # G00003632).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Sheikh Ali et al.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Background: Population-based serosurveillance is a cornerstone to furthering our understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic at the community levels. In Jordan, four waves (phases) of seroprevalence epidemiological investigations were conducted using representative population-based national samples. This study aims to estimate the population-based seropositivity, herd immunity, and vaccination coverage at the fourth wave. Methods: Multistage sampling technique was implemented to recruit a nationally representative sample for the fourth wave of the seroprevalence investigation (June to August 2021). Electronically collected data utilized a questionnaire on background demo-graphics, chronic diseases, and COVID-19 vaccination history. Also, blood samples were collected to detect the presence of total Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG using Wantai/ELISA assays. Prevalence estimates were presented using percentage and 95% Confidence Intervals (C.I.). Results: There were 8821 participants included in this study, with a mean age of 31.3 years, and 61.7% were females. COVID-19 national seroprevalence and vaccination coverage estimates were 74.1% (95% C.I.: 73.1–74.9%) and 38.4% (95% C.I.: 37.1–39.6%), respectively. Among children, seroprevalence estimates were similar to unvaccinated adults. Among COVID-19 adults, 57.2% were vaccinated. Among vaccinated participants, 91.5% were seropositive, while among unvaccinated, 63.2% were seropositive. By age group, seroprevalence ranged between 53.0% and 86.9%. Seroprevalence estimates were significantly different by gender, vaccination status and dose, and residence. Conclusion: The reported interplay between seropositivity and vaccination coverage estimate seems insufficient to provide herd immunity levels to combat new variants of SARS-CoV-2. Children and healthcare workers seem to be an epidemiologically influential group in spreading COVID-19. As the globe is still grappling with SARS-CoV-2 infection, national seroepidemiological evidence from Jordan calls for more focus on vaccination coverage, especially among epidemiologically vulnerable groups, to optimize herd immunity.
AB - Background: Population-based serosurveillance is a cornerstone to furthering our understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic at the community levels. In Jordan, four waves (phases) of seroprevalence epidemiological investigations were conducted using representative population-based national samples. This study aims to estimate the population-based seropositivity, herd immunity, and vaccination coverage at the fourth wave. Methods: Multistage sampling technique was implemented to recruit a nationally representative sample for the fourth wave of the seroprevalence investigation (June to August 2021). Electronically collected data utilized a questionnaire on background demo-graphics, chronic diseases, and COVID-19 vaccination history. Also, blood samples were collected to detect the presence of total Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG using Wantai/ELISA assays. Prevalence estimates were presented using percentage and 95% Confidence Intervals (C.I.). Results: There were 8821 participants included in this study, with a mean age of 31.3 years, and 61.7% were females. COVID-19 national seroprevalence and vaccination coverage estimates were 74.1% (95% C.I.: 73.1–74.9%) and 38.4% (95% C.I.: 37.1–39.6%), respectively. Among children, seroprevalence estimates were similar to unvaccinated adults. Among COVID-19 adults, 57.2% were vaccinated. Among vaccinated participants, 91.5% were seropositive, while among unvaccinated, 63.2% were seropositive. By age group, seroprevalence ranged between 53.0% and 86.9%. Seroprevalence estimates were significantly different by gender, vaccination status and dose, and residence. Conclusion: The reported interplay between seropositivity and vaccination coverage estimate seems insufficient to provide herd immunity levels to combat new variants of SARS-CoV-2. Children and healthcare workers seem to be an epidemiologically influential group in spreading COVID-19. As the globe is still grappling with SARS-CoV-2 infection, national seroepidemiological evidence from Jordan calls for more focus on vaccination coverage, especially among epidemiologically vulnerable groups, to optimize herd immunity.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Jordan
KW - Middle East
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - herd immunity
KW - seropositivity
KW - seroprevalence
KW - vaccination
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U2 - 10.2147/IJGM.S371711
DO - 10.2147/IJGM.S371711
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85137328060
SN - 1178-7074
VL - 15
SP - 7053
EP - 7062
JO - International Journal of General Medicine
JF - International Journal of General Medicine
ER -
