Abstract
Background
SARS-CoV-2 remains a significant public health issue in Ethiopia, where data on reinfection rates, immune responses, and transmission patterns remain limited. This study aimed to analyse antibody responses, reinfection rates and their determinants, and evaluate the seasonality of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Ethiopia.
Table 1:
Baseline characteristics of study participants
Figure 1:
SARSCoV-2 reinfection rate among healthcare workers and community members in Ethiopia (October 2022 to December 2024).
Methods
A longitudinal study was conducted from October 2022 to December 2024 involving 500 healthcare workers (HCWs) and 500 community members. Data collection included baseline questionnaires, quarterly SARS-CoV-2 anti-nucleoside and anti-spike antibody monitoring, annual Interferon-Gamma Release Assays, and neutralization assays against various variants. Reinfection was defined serologically. Nasopharyngeal swab of those with symptoms was tested for respiratory pathogens using Multiplex Real-Time PCR.
Results
Only 49.1% of the participants have ever received COVID-19 vaccine. At baseline, 97.8% of the participants had evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Reinfection was frequent, with peaks observed during months of December to February each year. Overall, 91.3% of the participants were reinfected at least once during the follow-up. HCWs exhibited lower odds of reinfection compared to community members (OR=0.73; 95% CI: 0.585–0.907; p=0.005). Vaccination lowered reinfection risk by ∼30%, with 2-dose (OR=0.7; 95% CI: 0.537–0.900; p=0.006) and 3-dose (OR=0.68; 95% CI: 0.478–0.971; p=0.034) recipients having reduced odds compared to unvaccinated individuals. Neutralization assays indicated that antibody responses varied by SARS-CoV-2 variant, vaccine type, number of doses, and history of reinfection. Individuals experiencing reinfection showed higher subsequent neutralization activity, particularly against newer variants. Neutralizing activity generally increased over the 2-year study period, likely due to repeated infections.
Conclusion
This study reveals high SARS-CoV-2 reinfection rates with some seasonal variability. Vaccination provides protection against reinfection. The findings indicate the need for enhanced surveillance, continued vaccination, particularly for high-risk groups, and robust pandemic preparedness strategies tailored to the Ethiopian context.
Disclosures
All Authors: No reported disclosures