Effect of COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign in Belgian Nursing Homes on COVID-19 Cases, Hospital Admissions, and Deaths among Residents

Viruses. 2022 Jun 22;14(7):1359. doi: 10.3390/v14071359.

Abstract

In view of the grave situation during the first two waves of SARS-CoV-2 virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2), nursing homes (NHs) were prioritised for vaccination once vaccines became available in Belgium. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) vaccination campaign on COVID-19 cases, hospital admissions, and deaths among residents living in Belgian NHs. All 1545 Belgian NHs were invited to participate in a COVID-19 surveillance program. In Belgium, before vaccination, COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates were driven by the situation in the NHs. Shortly after the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, and later the booster campaign, the number of hospital admissions and deaths among NH residents dropped, while clear peaks could be observed among the general population. The impact of vaccination on virus circulation was less effective than expected. However, due to the high vaccination coverage, NH residents remain well protected against hospital admission and death due to COVID-19 more than one year after being vaccinated.

Keywords: Belgium; COVID-19; epidemiology; nursing homes; surveillance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Belgium / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Immunization Programs
  • Influenza Vaccines*
  • Influenza, Human*
  • Nursing Homes
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Influenza Vaccines

Grants and funding

This surveillance program was co-organised by the Healthcare-associated infections and Antibiotic resistance service (www.nsih.be, accessed on 4 May 2022) and the mortality team (BE-MOMO) from Sciensano, partially funded by the federal (Belgian Antibiotic Policy Coordination Committee, Royal Decree 22 June 2017) and the regional health authorities (Agentschap Zorg en Gezondheid, funding number 21-11681 and Agence pour une Vie de Qualité, funding number 2021/118/MP/SA/C). This funding concerns core funding that Sciensano receives from these institutes for the follow-up of relevant health topics in Belgium.