TY - JOUR
T1 - COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) hospitalisations associated with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in Ghana, June 2022 to March 2024
AU - Amoako, Nicholas
AU - Cohuet, Sandra
AU - Adjei, Michael Rockson
AU - Gurry, Celine
AU - Oduro, Abraham
AU - Agyapong, Prince Darko
AU - Musah, Osei
AU - Asante, Ivy Asantewaa
AU - Awuah, Anthony Afum-Adjei
AU - Ayivor-Djanie, Reuben
AU - Duedu, Kwabena Obeng
AU - Kenu, Ernest
AU - Adjei, George Obeng
AU - Owusu-Dabo, Ellis
AU - Amuasi, John
AU - Asiedu-Bekoe, Franklin
AU - Laryea, Dennis
AU - Kasolo, Francis
AU - Ohene, Sally-Ann
AU - Rose, Angela M.C.
AU - Nardone, Anthony
AU - Archibald, Worwui Kwame
AU - Humphreys, James
AU - Ampofo, William
AU - Owusu-Agyei, Seth
AU - Mwenda, Jason Mathiu
AU - Asante, Kwaku Poku
PY - 2026/2/17
Y1 - 2026/2/17
N2 - Background The use of vaccines to urgently respond to the COVID-19 pandemic generated the need for monitoring vaccine effectiveness in the context of new viral variants and changing epidemiology. This study measured the COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in hospitalised patients diagnosed with severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) in Ghana. Methods This was a test-negative, case-control study, among patients aged ≥15 years, attending 32 hospitals that participate in influenza surveillance system between June 2022 and March 2024. Naso-and oropharyngeal swabs were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR. Medical and vaccination data were obtained. VE was estimated as one minus adjusted odds of vaccination among participants, expressed as a percentage, and the reference was either unvaccinated cases (absolute VE) or unvaccinated plus those vaccinated >12 months prior to symptom onset (annual VE). Results Of 1974 SARI patients, 1796 (91%) were enrolled, including 929/1796 males (52%) and 867/1796 females (48%); 41% were above 60 years old. At least one chronic medical condition was reported in 167/1796 (9%) participants. A total of 118/1796 (7%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, of whom 29 (25%) have received at least one dose of vaccine (Sputnik V, Vaxzevria, JCovden, or Comirnaty). Of the 1678 (93%) who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, 412 (25%) received at least one dose of vaccine. Among pregnant women (n = 50), 5 (10%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 Absolute and annual VE against COVID-19 SARI hospitalization were respectively 22% (95% CI, −107–70) and 19% (95% CI, −113%–50%) for last dose of vaccine received up to 179 days prior but waned after 6 months. Conclusion COVID-19 vaccines may have prevented COVID-19-associated SARI hospitalizations in the first 6 months over the study period in Ghana, and a pattern of protective effective was observed, consistent with report from other settings, although effect estimates were imprecise.
AB - Background The use of vaccines to urgently respond to the COVID-19 pandemic generated the need for monitoring vaccine effectiveness in the context of new viral variants and changing epidemiology. This study measured the COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in hospitalised patients diagnosed with severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) in Ghana. Methods This was a test-negative, case-control study, among patients aged ≥15 years, attending 32 hospitals that participate in influenza surveillance system between June 2022 and March 2024. Naso-and oropharyngeal swabs were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR. Medical and vaccination data were obtained. VE was estimated as one minus adjusted odds of vaccination among participants, expressed as a percentage, and the reference was either unvaccinated cases (absolute VE) or unvaccinated plus those vaccinated >12 months prior to symptom onset (annual VE). Results Of 1974 SARI patients, 1796 (91%) were enrolled, including 929/1796 males (52%) and 867/1796 females (48%); 41% were above 60 years old. At least one chronic medical condition was reported in 167/1796 (9%) participants. A total of 118/1796 (7%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, of whom 29 (25%) have received at least one dose of vaccine (Sputnik V, Vaxzevria, JCovden, or Comirnaty). Of the 1678 (93%) who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, 412 (25%) received at least one dose of vaccine. Among pregnant women (n = 50), 5 (10%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 Absolute and annual VE against COVID-19 SARI hospitalization were respectively 22% (95% CI, −107–70) and 19% (95% CI, −113%–50%) for last dose of vaccine received up to 179 days prior but waned after 6 months. Conclusion COVID-19 vaccines may have prevented COVID-19-associated SARI hospitalizations in the first 6 months over the study period in Ghana, and a pattern of protective effective was observed, consistent with report from other settings, although effect estimates were imprecise.
KW - COVID-19
KW - SARI hospitalization
KW - Vaccine effectiveness
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - Ghana
UR - https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/16901/
U2 - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128310
DO - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128310
M3 - Article
SN - 0264-410X
JO - Vaccine
JF - Vaccine
ER -