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The indirect effect of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination on healthcare workers’ unvaccinated household members

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  • Jussipekka Salo

    (University of Helsinki
    VATT Institute for Economic Research
    Aalto University School of Business, Aalto University
    Helsinki GSE, Economicum)

  • Milla Hägg

    (University of Helsinki
    VATT Institute for Economic Research
    Aalto University School of Business, Aalto University
    Helsinki GSE, Economicum)

  • Mika Kortelainen

    (VATT Institute for Economic Research
    Helsinki GSE, Economicum
    Turku School of Economics
    University of Turku)

  • Tuija Leino

    (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare)

  • Tanja Saxell

    (VATT Institute for Economic Research
    Helsinki GSE, Economicum)

  • Markku Siikanen

    (VATT Institute for Economic Research
    Helsinki GSE, Economicum)

  • Lauri Sääksvuori

    (Tampere University
    University of Turku
    Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Centre for Health and Social Economic)

Abstract

Mass vaccination is effective in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infections among vaccinated individuals. However, it remains unclear how effectively COVID-19 vaccines prevent people from spreading the virus to their close contacts. Using nationwide administrative datasets on SARS-CoV-2 infections, vaccination records, demographics, and unique household IDs, we conducted an observational cohort study to estimate the direct and indirect effectiveness of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines in reducing infections among vaccinated healthcare workers and their unvaccinated household members. Our estimates for adults imply indirect effectiveness of 39.1% (95% CI: −7.1% to 65.3%) two weeks and 39.0% (95% CI: 18.9% to 54.0%) eight weeks after the second dose. We find that the indirect effect of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines within households is smaller for unvaccinated children than for adults and statistically insignificant. Here, we show that mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines are associated with a reduction in SARS-CoV-2 infections not only among vaccinated individuals but also among unvaccinated adult household members in a real-world setting.

Suggested Citation

  • Jussipekka Salo & Milla Hägg & Mika Kortelainen & Tuija Leino & Tanja Saxell & Markku Siikanen & Lauri Sääksvuori, 2022. "The indirect effect of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination on healthcare workers’ unvaccinated household members," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-28825-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28825-4
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