Swift coverage with COVID-19 mRNA vaccination has been shown to rapidly control SARS-CoV-2 transmission in long term care facilities.
An interesting preprint published by Salazar and others in MedRxiv reviewed the early effect of administration of the Pfizer MRA vaccine in long term care facilities in Catalonia, Spain.
They monitored subsequent SARS-CoV-2 documented infections and deaths.
They were able to calculate a reduction in SARS-CoV-2 documented infections and deaths as well as the detected country level transmission.
They estimated that once more than 70% of the long term care facility patients were fully vaccinated, 74% of COVID-19 deaths and 75% of all documented infections were prevented.
Furthermore, they showed that detectable transmission was reduced by up to 90%.
Their findings provided evidence that high coverage vaccination is the most effective intervention to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission and death and concluded widespread vaccination is a feasible avenue to control COVID-19 infections and this pandemic.
The London General Practice commends the government on its vaccination programme and encourages all to have vaccination when eligible.
Dr Paul Ettlinger
BM, DRCOG, FRCGP, FRIPH, DOccMed