1. Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Gamma lineage introduction and COVID-19 vaccination on the epidemiological landscape of a Brazilian city.
- Author
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Banho CA, Sacchetto L, Campos GRF, Bittar C, Possebon FS, Ullmann LS, Marques BC, da Silva GCD, Moraes MM, Parra MCP, Negri AF, Boldrin AC, Barcelos MD, Dos Santos TMIL, Milhim BHGA, Rocha LC, Dourado FS, Dos Santos AL, Ciconi VB, Patuto C, Versiani AF, da Silva RA, de Oliveira Lobl EE, Hernandes VM, Zini N, Pacca CC, Estofolete CF, Ferreira HL, Rahal P, Araújo JP Jr, Cohen JA, Kerr CC, Althouse BM, Vasilakis N, and Nogueira ML
- Abstract
Background: The emergence of the Brazilian variant of concern, Gamma lineage (P.1), impacted the epidemiological profile of COVID-19 cases due to its higher transmissibility rate and immune evasion ability., Methods: We sequenced 305 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genomes and performed phylogenetic analyses to identify introduction events and the circulating lineages. Additionally, we use epidemiological data of COVID-19 cases, severe cases, and deaths to measure the impact of vaccination coverage and mortality risk., Results: Here we show that Gamma introduction in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, was followed by the displacement of seven circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and a rapid increase in prevalence two months after its first detection in January 2021. Moreover, Gamma variant is associated with increased mortality risk and severity of COVID-19 cases in younger age groups, which corresponds to the unvaccinated population at the time., Conclusions: Our findings highlight the beneficial effects of vaccination indicated by a pronounced reduction of severe cases and deaths in immunized individuals, reinforcing the need for rapid and massive vaccination., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2022.)
- Published
- 2022
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