Vaccination against the SARS-COV-2 virus has a definitive role to play in reducing the positivity rate amongst dentists during the second wave across all age groups.
India’s first study to assess the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing infection among dental practitioners during the second wave of the pandemic in India got published by 4 senior academics- 3 senior specialist dentists (oral and maxillofacial surgeons, oral pathologist, public health dentist) and Community Medicine specialist from ESIC Dental College, New Delhi and SGT University, Gurugram, Haryana respectively.
Study objectives:
Primary: To assess whether vaccination against the SARS-COV-2 virus has helped to reduce the positivity rate amongst dentists during the second wave
Secondary: To assess whether
Vaccination protects against COVID-19 across all age groups
Vaccination leads to less severe symptoms in vaccinated persons
2 dose of vaccine leads to less severe symptoms compared to 1 dose
Single-dose of vaccine is as effective as the two-dose regime in preventing COVID-19 infection
The vaccine is effective in preventing COVID-19 in persons with comorbidities
COVISHIELD is more effective than COVAXIN in preventing infection or vice versa
Methodology:
Sample Size (N): 4,493 dentists from 26 states & 7 Union Territories (UT’s) across India
Study Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire-based online survey
Time Duration: 29 April – 1 May 2021
State and UT-wise distribution of Respondents
No.
Region-wise
Total: 4493
1
West
1953 (43.5%)
2
South
1255 (28%)
3
North
611 (13.6%)
4
East + Centre
288 (6.4%)
5
Union Territories (UT)
268 (6%)
6
North East
118 (2.6%)
No.
West
Total: 1953
1
Maharashtra
1495
2
Gujarat
367
3
Rajasthan
82
4
Goa
9
No.
South
Total: 1255
1
Karnataka
587
2
Andhra Pradesh (AP)
265
3
Telangana
215
4
Tamil Nadu (TN)
95
5
Kerala
93
No.
North
Total: 611
1
Uttar Pradesh (UP)
322
2
Punjab
135
3
Haryana
97
4
Bihar
22
5
Himachal Pradesh (HP)
19
6
Uttarakhand
16
No.
East + Centre
Total: 288
1
West Bengal (WB)
149
2
Madhya Pradesh (MP)
49
3
Jharkhand
47
4
Chhattisgarh
33
5
Odisha
10
No.
Union Territory (UT)
Total: 268
1
New Delhi
200
2
Chandigarh
41
3
Jammu & Kashmir (J&K)
13
4
Puducherry
10
5
Lakshadweep
2
6
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
1
7
Dadra and Nagar Haveli
1
No.
North East (NE)
Total: 118
1
Tripura
89
2
Sikkim
14
3
Assam
8
4
Meghalaya
4
5
Arunachal Pradesh
2
6
Mizoram
1
Age-wise Distribution
74% of dentists were below 45 years
Age Range
Total: 4493
25-35 years
1719 (38%)
35-45 years
1625 (36%)
45-55 years
888 (20%)
55-65 years
192 (4.3%)
65-75 years
64 (1.4%)
75-85 years
5 (0.3%)
Age-wise Distribution of Co-morbidities
81% of dentists had no co-morbidities
No comorbidities: 80% were below 45 years
Age Range
Comorbidities
No comorbidities
Below 45 years
425
2919
Above 45 years
425
724
Total – 4,493
850 (19%)
3643 (81%)
Results/Findings:
Whether Vaccine protects against COVID-19 across ALL age groups
Total 88% of dentists were vaccinated with at least 1 dose of either COVISHIELD/COVAXIN
86% (N=2862) of dentists below the age of 45 years were vaccinated
96% (N=1100) dentists above the age of 45 years were vaccinated
Age Range
Vaccinated
Non-vaccinated
Below 45 years
2862
482
Above 45 years
1100
49
Total – 4,493
3962 (88%)
531 (12%)
COVID-19 Vaccination v/s positivity rate
9% of dentists became COVID-19 +VE in spite of taking vaccination
15% of dentists became COVID-19 +VE in the un-vaccinated group
All ages
COVID-19 +ve
COVID-19 -ve
Vaccinated
364
3598
Unvaccinated
78
453
Total – 4,493
442 (10%)
4051 (90%)
Effectivity of COVISHIELD v/s COVAXIN in preventing COVID-19 infection
5% took Serum Institute’s COVISHIELD, of which 9.5% contracted COVID-19
5% took Bharat Biotech’s COVAXIN, of which 8.4% contracted COVID-19
Type of Vaccine
COVID-19 +ve
COVID-19 -ve
Covishield
339
3324
Covaxin
25
274
Total – 3,962
364 (20%)
3598 (80%)
Whether 1 dose of vaccine is as effective as 2 doses in preventing COVID-19 infection
1 dose : 8.2% turned COVID-19 +ve
2 dose : 10% turned COVID-19 +ve
All ages
COVID-19 +ve
COVID-19 -ve
Dose 1
128
1431
Dose 2
236
2151
Total – 3,962
364 (20%)
3582 (80%)
Effect of Vaccine in preventing COVID-19 in persons with comorbidities
Without comorbidities: 10% became COVID-19 positive
With comorbidities: 8% became COVID-19 positive
All ages
COVID-19 +VE
COVID-19 -VE
Without comorbidities
370
3273
With comorbidities
72
778
Total – 4,493
442 (10%)
4,051 (90%)
Whether vaccination leads to less severe symptoms in vaccinated persons
In vaccinated group : 82% Mild & 16% Moderate
In non-vaccinated group : 79% Mild & 21% Moderate
All ages
Mild symptoms
Moderate/Severe
Vaccinated +ve
286
62
Unvaccinated +ve
56
15
Total – 419
342 (82%)
77 (18%)
Whether 2 doses of vaccine leads to less severe symptoms compared to 1 dose
Mild symptoms: 84% who received 2 doses of vaccine & 80% who received 1 dose of vaccine
All ages
Mild symptoms
Moderate/Severe
Dose 1
102
26
Dose 2
184
36
Total – 348
286 (82%)
62 (18%)
Conclusion:
Vaccination against the SARS-COV-2 virus has a definitive role to play in reducing the positivity rate amongst dentists during the second wave across all age groups.
A single dose of vaccine seems to be as effective as two doses of vaccine in preventing infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Vaccines seem to be equally effective against infection in dentists with co-morbidities as in healthy dentists.
There is no relation between the type of vaccine administered and the positivity rate among vaccinated dentists.
Dr. Divyesh Mundra (BDS) completed his Masters in Public Health (MPH) Administration from the School of Health Systems Studies (SHSS), Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. He is a healthcare management professional having 5 years of diverse experience across hospital administration, patient advocacy, public health policy, and implementation of public health programs. Divyesh actively tweets on challenges confronting the Indian healthcare system including medical and dental education.
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Detailed information very useful to all for future course.
very nice study!!! informative n useful results..thank you