Vaccine published a research article by Crèvecoeur and colleagues on the efficiency of COVID-19 vaccination with regard to COVID-19 outbreaks in Flemish long-term care facilities for elderly. Data were derived from the online COVID-19 surveillance for all 842 long-term care facilities (Flemish Health Authority); individual-level outbreak surveillance data for 15 selected facilities; and general population data from the COVID-19 incidence surveillance (Sciensano). Results indicate that two-dose vaccination was highly efficient in preventing and containing COVID-19 outbreaks in Flemish long-term care facilities during the first half of 2021. After vaccination, fewer and shorter outbreaks were observed among fewer residents. During these out-breaks, vaccinated and unvaccinated residents were equally likely to test positive, but positive vaccinated residents were less likely to develop severe symptoms. In contrast, unvaccinated health care workers in these facilities were more likely to test positive.

The full article is available via: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.09.028