Prevalence of Igg Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2 Among the General Population and Healthcare Workers in India, June–July 2021
Indian Council of Medical Research1, World Health Organization2, National Institute of Occupational Health3, Regional Medical Research Centre4, Government Medical College, Srinagar5, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad6, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences7, National Tuberculosis Institute8, Government of India9
TL;DR: Nearly one third of the population of India aged >=6 years is still seronegative and it is necessary to accelerate the coverage of COVID-19 vaccination among adults and continue adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions.
Abstract: Background: India witnessed a severe second wave of COVID-19 during March and June 2021. We did the fourth nationwide serosurvey to estimate prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the general population aged >=6 years and health care workers (HCWs).
Methods: We did a cross-sectional study between 14 June and 6 July 2021 in 700 clusters in the same 70 districts across 21 states/Union Territory. From each district, a minimum of 400 individuals aged >=6 years from general population and 100 HCWs from the district public health facilities were included. The serum samples were tested for the presence of IgG antibodies against S1-RBD and nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 using chemiluminescence immunoassay. We estimated the weighted and test adjusted seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against S1-RBD and/or nucleocapsid protein along with 95% CI.
Findings: Of the 28,975 sera tested, the weighted and test adjusted prevalence of IgG antibodies against S1-RBD and/or nucleocapsid protein among the general population aged >=6 years was 67.6% (95% CI: 66.4 – 68.7). The seroprevalence increased with age and was not different in rural and urban areas. Compared to unvaccinated adults (62.3%, 95% CI: 60.9 – 63.7), seroprevalence was significantly higher among individuals who received one (81.0%, 95% CI: 79.6 - 82.3) and two doses (89.8%, 95% CI: 88.4 - 91.1). The seroprevalence of IgG antibodies among 7,252 health care workers was 85.2% (95% CI: 83.5 - 86.7).
Interpretation: Nearly one third of the population is still seronegative. It is necessary to accelerate the coverage of COVID-19 vaccination among adults and continue adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions.
Funding: Indian Council of Medical Research.
Declaration of Interest: None to declare.
Ethical Approval: The Institutional Human Ethics Committee of the ICMR National Institute of
Epidemiology, Chennai approved the study protocol.
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