Sociobehavioural factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against medically attended, symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Philippines: a prospective case-control study (FASCINATE-P study)

Authors

  • Takeshi Arashiro Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan; Center for Surveillance, Immunization, and Epidemiologic Research, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan; World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5215-1500
  • Regina Pascua Berba Hospital Infection Control Unit, Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
  • Joy Potenciano Calayo Department of Laboratory, San Lazaro Hospital, Manila, Philippines
  • Marie Kris San Lazaro Hospital-Nagasaki University Collaborative Research Office and Laboratory, San Lazaro Hospital, Manila, Philippines
  • Reby Marie Garcia San Lazaro Hospital-Nagasaki University Collaborative Research Office and Laboratory, San Lazaro Hospital, Manila, Philippines
  • Shuichi Suzuki San Lazaro Hospital-Nagasaki University Collaborative Research Office and Laboratory, San Lazaro Hospital, Manila, Philippines
  • Cecile Dungog Department of Laboratories, Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
  • Jonathan Rivera Department of Laboratories, Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
  • Greco Mark Malijan San Lazaro Hospital-Nagasaki University Collaborative Research Office and Laboratory, San Lazaro Hospital, Manila, Philippines
  • Kristal An Agrupis San Lazaro Hospital-Nagasaki University Collaborative Research Office and Laboratory, San Lazaro Hospital, Manila, Philippines
  • Mary Jane Salazar San Lazaro Hospital-Nagasaki University Collaborative Research Office and Laboratory, San Lazaro Hospital, Manila, Philippines
  • Mary Ann Salazar San Lazaro Hospital-Nagasaki University Collaborative Research Office and Laboratory, San Lazaro Hospital, Manila, Philippines
  • Jinho Shin World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
  • Martin Hibberd Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  • Koya Ariyoshi School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
  • Chris Smith Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.1.1131

Keywords:

severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 variants, risk factors, vaccine effectiveness, Philippines, case-control studies

Abstract

Objective: We examined sociobehavioural factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and estimated COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Philippines. Such studies are limited in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Asia and the Pacific.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted in two hospitals in Manila, Philippines, from March 2022 to June 2023. Sociobehavioural factors and vaccination history were collected. PCR-positive individuals were cases, while PCR-negative individuals were controls. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were calculated to examine associations between sociobehavioural factors/vaccination and medically attended SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Results: The analysis included 2489 individuals (574 positive cases, 23.1%; 1915 controls, 76.9%; median age [interquartile range]: 35 [27–51] years). Although education and household income were not associated with infection, being a health-care worker was (aOR: 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–2.06). The odds of infection were higher among individuals who attended gatherings of five or more people compared to those who attended smaller gatherings (aOR: 2.58; 95% CI: 1.14–5.83). Absolute vaccine effectiveness for vaccination status was not estimated due to a high risk of bias, for example, unascertained prior infection. Moderate relative vaccine effectiveness for the first booster (32%; 95% CI: -120–79) and the second booster (48%; 95% CI: -23–78) were observed (both with wide CI), albeit with a waning trend after half a year.

Discussion: The higher odds of infection among health-care workers emphasize the importance of infection prevention and control measures. Moderate relative vaccine effectiveness with a waning trend reiterates the need for more efficacious vaccines against symptomatic infection caused by circulating variants and with longer duration of protection.

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Published

15-01-2025

How to Cite

1.
Arashiro T, Berba RP, Calayo JP, Kris M, Garcia RM, Suzuki S, Dungog C, Rivera J, Malijan GM, Agrupis KA, Salazar MJ, Salazar MA, Shin J, Hibberd M, Ariyoshi K, Smith C. Sociobehavioural factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against medically attended, symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Philippines: a prospective case-control study (FASCINATE-P study). Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2025 Jan. 15 [cited 2025 Jan. 18];16(1):12. Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/1131

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Original Research

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