Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

June 10, 2021

Associations of Vaccination and of Prior Infection With Positive PCR Test Results for SARS-CoV-2 in Airline Passengers Arriving in Qatar

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  • Travelers fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (n=10,092) had an 87% lower likelihood of having a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test upon arrival at Hamad International Airport in Qatar between February and April 2021 compared to travelers with no record of vaccination or prior infection matched 1:1 by age, sex, nationality, and date of testing (PCR positivity 0.8% vs 3.7%). Similarly, travelers with a record of prior infection (n=7,694) matched 1:1 to the same cohort of unvaccinated and infection-naïve travelers had an 84% lower likelihood of having a positive PCR test (PCR positivity 1.0% vs 3.8%).  Over 80% of PCR-positive sequenced specimens (n=72) were identified as variants of concern, with 44% identified as the B.1.351 (Beta) variant, 28% as the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant, and 11% as B.1.617 (Delta) variant.

Bertollini et al. (June 9, 2021). Associations of Vaccination and of Prior Infection With Positive PCR Test Results for SARS-CoV-2 in Airline Passengers Arriving in Qatar. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.9970