Effectiveness of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccines Among Incarcerated People in California State Prisons: Retrospective Cohort Study. (27th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chin, Elizabeth T; Leidner, David; Zhang, Yifan; Long, Elizabeth; Prince, Lea; Schrag, Stephanie J; Verani, Jennifer R; Wiegand, Ryan E; Alarid-Escudero, Fernando; Goldhaber-Fiebert, Jeremy D; Studdert, David M; Andrews, Jason R; Salomon, Joshua A
• Is Part Of: Clinical infectious diseases. Volume 75:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: e838
• Page End: e845
• Publication Date: 2022-01-27
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- SARS-CoV-2 -- vaccine -- vaccination -- effectiveness; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; 616.905
• DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab1032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1058-4838

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Prisons and jails are high-risk settings for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Vaccines may substantially reduce these risks, but evidence is needed on COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness for incarcerated people, who are confined in large, risky congregate settings. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to estimate effectiveness of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna), against confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections among incarcerated people in California prisons from 22 December 2020 through 1 March 2021. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation provided daily data for all prison residents including demographic, clinical, and carceral characteristics, as well as COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and outcomes. We estimated vaccine effectiveness using multivariable Cox models with time-varying covariates, adjusted for resident characteristics and infection rates across prisons. Results: Among 60 707 cohort members, 49% received at least 1 BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 dose during the study period. Estimated vaccine effectiveness was 74% (95% confidence interval [CI], 64%–82%) from day 14 after first dose until receipt of second dose and 97% (95% CI, 88%–99%) from day 14 after second dose. Effectiveness was similar among the subset of residents who were medically vulnerable: 74% (95% CI, 62%–82%) and 92% (95% CI, 74%–98%) from 14 days after first and second doses, respectively. Conclusions: Consistent with results from randomized trials and observational studies in other populations, mRNA vaccines were highly effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections among incarcerated people. Prioritizing incarcerated people for vaccination, redoubling efforts to boost vaccination, and continuing other ongoing mitigation practices are essential in preventing COVID-19 in this disproportionately affected population. Abstract : This study provides evidence of effectiveness of mRNA vaccines in preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections in incarcerated populations, including among medically vulnerable residents. Estimates in this large congregate population were consistent with results from randomized trials and observational studies in other populations.