Herd Immunity against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in 10 Communities, Qatar. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • We investigated what proportion of the population acquired severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and whether the herd immunity threshold has been reached in 10 communities in Qatar. The study included 4,970 participants during June 21-September 9, 2020. Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detected by using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Seropositivity ranged from 54.9% (95% CI 50.2%-59.4%) to 83.8% (95% CI 79.1%-87.7%) across communities and showed a pooled mean of 66.1% (95% CI 61.5%-70.6%). A range of other epidemiologic measures indicated that active infection is rare, with limited if any sustainable infection transmission for clusters to occur. Only 5 infections were ever severe and 1 was critical in these young communities; infection severity rate of 0.2% (95% CI 0.1%-0.4%). Specific communities in Qatar have or nearly reached herd immunity for SARS-CoV-2 infection: 65%-70% of the population has been infected.

authors

  • Jeremijenko, Andrew
  • Chemaitelly, Hiam Souheil
  • Ayoub, Houssein H
  • Alishaq, Moza
  • Abou-Samra, Abdul
  • Al Ajmi, Jameela Ali A A
  • Al Ansari, Nasser Ali Asad
  • Al Kanaani, Zaina
  • Al Khal, Abdullatif
  • Al Kuwari, Einas
  • Al-Mohammed, Ahmed
  • Al Molawi, Naema Hassan Abdulla
  • Al Naomi, Huda Mohamad
  • Butt, Adeel A
  • Coyle, Peter
  • El Kahlout, Reham Awni
  • Gillani, Imtiaz
  • Kaleeckal, Anvar Hassan
  • Masoodi, Naseer Ahmad
  • Thomas, Anil George
  • Nafady-Hego, Hanaa
  • Latif, Ali Nizar
  • Shaik, Riyazuddin Mohammad
  • Younes, Nourah B M
  • Rahim, Hanan F Abdul
  • Yassine, Hadi M
  • Al Kuwari, Mohamed G
  • Al Romaihi, Hamad Eid
  • Al-Thani, Mohamed H
  • Bertollini, Roberto
  • Abu-Raddad, Laith Jamal

publication date

  • May 1, 2021

Research

keywords

  • COVID-19
  • SARS-CoV-2

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC8084480

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85105250705

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1056/NEJMoa2034577

PubMed ID

  • 33900174

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 27

issue

  • 5