Covid-19 Breakthrough Infections in Vaccinated Health Care Workers
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the high efficacy of the BNT162b2 messenger RNA vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), rare breakthrough infections have been reported, including infections among health care workers. Data are needed to characterize these infections and define correlates of breakthrough and infectivity. METHODS: At the largest medical center in Israel, we identified breakthrough infections by performing extensive evaluations of health care workers who were symptomatic (including mild symptoms) or had known infection exposure. These evaluations included epidemiologic investigations, repeat reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assays, antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic testing (Ag-RDT), serologic assays, and genomic sequencing. Correlates of breakthrough infection were assessed in a case-control analysis. We matched patients with breakthrough infection who had antibody titers obtained within a week before SARS-CoV-2 detection (peri-infection period) with four to five uninfected controls and used generalized estimating equations to predict the geometric mean titers among cases and controls and the ratio between the titers in the two groups. We also assessed the correlation between neutralizing antibody titers and N gene cycle threshold (Ct) values with respect to infectivity. RESULTS: Among 1497 fully vaccinated health care workers for whom RT-PCR data were available, 39 SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections were documented. Neutralizing antibody titers in case patients during the peri-infection period were lower than those in matched uninfected controls (case-to-control ratio, 0.361; 95% confidence interval, 0.165 to 0.787). Higher peri-infection neutralizing antibody titers were associated with lower infectivity (higher Ct values). Most breakthrough cases were mild or asymptomatic, although 19% had persistent symptoms (>6 weeks). The B.1.1.7 (alpha) variant was found in 85% of samples tested. A total of 74% of case patients had a high viral load (Ct value, <30) at some point during their infection; however, of these patients, only 17 (59%) had a positive result on concurrent Ag-RDT. No secondary infections were documented. CONCLUSIONS: Among fully vaccinated health care workers, the occurrence of breakthrough infections with SARS-CoV-2 was correlated with neutralizing antibody titers during the peri-infection period. Most breakthrough infections were mild or asymptomatic, although persistent symptoms did occur.
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- Findingown data
No secondary infections were detected among household contacts of 31 cases, including 10 case patients and their 27 household members.
“Among the 31 cases for whom data regarding household transmission (including symptoms and RT-PCR results) were available, no secondary infections were detected, including 10 case patients and their 27 household members in whom the health care worker was the only index case patient.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The contact tracing for in-hospital and household contacts was complete enough to detect any secondary infections.
- Findingown data
Most breakthrough infections among the health care workers were mild or asymptomatic.
“Most breakthrough cases were mild or asymptomatic, although 19% had persistent symptoms (>6 weeks).”
- Also stated in: § Breakthrough Infections · plain
“Of all the workers with breakthrough infection, 26 (67%) had mild symptoms at some stage, and none required hospitalization. The remaining 13 workers (33% of all cases) were asymptomatic during the duration of infection; of these workers, 6 were defined as borderline cases, since they had an N gene Ct value of more than 35 on repeat testing.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Also stated in: § Breakthrough Infections · plain
- Findingown data
The breakthrough infection rate among fully vaccinated health care workers was 0.4%.
“We found a low rate of breakthrough infection (0.4%).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Peri-infection S-specific IgG antibody levels were lower in breakthrough cases than in controls (predicted ratio, 0.514; 95% CI, 0.282 to 0.937).
“The observed and predicted GMTs of peri-infection S-specific IgG antibody levels in breakthrough infection cases were lower than that in controls, with a predicted ratio of 0.514 (95% CI, 0.282 to 0.937) (Figure 2C).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
74% of breakthrough case patients had a high viral load (Ct value <30) at some point during infection.
“A total of 74% of case patients had a high viral load (Ct value, <30) at some point during their infection; however, of these patients, only 17 (59%) had a positive result on concurrent Ag-RDT.”
- Also stated in: § Verification Testing and Secondary Infections · plain
“A total of 29 case patients (74%) had a Ct value of less than 30 at some point during their infection.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Also stated in: § Verification Testing and Secondary Infections · plain
- Findingown data
The difference in peak titers of neutralizing and IgG antibodies between cases and controls was more strongly associated with risk of infection than the difference in peri-infection titers.
“We found that the difference in the peak titers of neutralizing and IgG antibodies between cases and controls was more strongly associated with the risk of infection than the difference in the peri-infection titers.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The B.1.1.7 (alpha) variant was found in 85% of tested breakthrough samples.
“The B.1.1.7 (alpha) variant was found in 85% of samples tested.”
- Also stated in: § Verification Testing and Secondary Infections · plain
“Of the 33 isolates that were tested for a variant of concern, 28 (85%) were identified as the B.1.1.7 variant, by either multiplex PCR assay or genomic sequencing.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Also stated in: § Verification Testing and Secondary Infections · plain
- Findingown data
In a subgroup analysis excluding borderline cases, the peak neutralizing antibody case-to-control ratio was 0.114 (95% CI, 0.042 to 0.309).
“In the subgroup analysis in which borderline cases were excluded, the ratio was 0.114 (95% CI, 0.042 to 0.309).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
Higher peri-infection neutralizing antibody titers were associated with lower infectivity, as indicated by higher N gene Ct values (slope, 171.2; 95% CI, 62.9 to 279.4).
“Higher peri-infection neutralizing antibody titers were associated with lower infectivity (higher Ct values).”
- Also stated in: § Case–Control Analysis · plain
“Peri-infection neutralizing antibody titers in the breakthrough cases were associated with higher N gene Ct values (i.e., a lower viral RNA copy number) (slope of regression line, 171.2; 95% CI, 62.9 to 279.4) (Figure 3).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Also stated in: § Case–Control Analysis · plain
- Findingown data
None of the breakthrough case patients required hospitalization.
“Of all the workers with breakthrough infection, 26 (67%) had mild symptoms at some stage, and none required hospitalization.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
19% of breakthrough case patients reported persistent symptoms lasting more than 6 weeks.
“Most breakthrough cases were mild or asymptomatic, although 19% had persistent symptoms (>6 weeks).”
- Also stated in: § Breakthrough Infections · plain
“At 6 weeks after their diagnosis, 19% reported having “long Covid-19” symptoms, which included a prolonged loss of smell, persistent cough, fatigue, weakness, dyspnea, or myalgia.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Also stated in: § Breakthrough Infections · plain
- Findingown data
Peak IgG antibody levels were lower in breakthrough cases than in controls (ratio, 0.507; 95% CI, 0.260 to 0.989).
“The observed and predicted peak IgG GMTs in cases were also somewhat lower than those in controls (0.507; 95% CI, 0.260 to 0.989) (Figure 2D).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
In a subgroup analysis excluding borderline cases, the case-to-control ratio of peri-infection neutralizing antibody titers was 0.353 (95% CI, 0.185 to 0.674).
“In a subgroup analysis in which the borderline cases were excluded, the ratio was 0.353 (95% CI, 0.185 to 0.674).”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
In the study cohort of 1,497 fully vaccinated health care workers tested by RT-PCR, 39 breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections were detected.
“Among 1497 fully vaccinated health care workers for whom RT-PCR data were available, 39 SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections were documented.”
- Also stated in: § Breakthrough Infections · plain
“Among 11,453 fully vaccinated health care workers, 1497 (13.1%) underwent RT-PCR testing during the study period. Of the tested workers, 39 breakthrough cases were detected.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Also stated in: § Breakthrough Infections · plain
- Findingown data
Neutralizing antibody titers during the peri-infection period were lower in breakthrough cases than in matched uninfected controls, with a case-to-control ratio of 0.361 (95% CI, 0.165 to 0.787).
“Neutralizing antibody titers in case patients during the peri-infection period were lower than those in matched uninfected controls (case-to-control ratio, 0.361; 95% confidence interval, 0.165 to 0.787).”
- Also stated in: § Case–Control Analysis · plain
“The predicted GMT of peri-infection neutralizing antibody titers was 192.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 67.6 to 549.8) for cases and 533.7 (95% CI, 408.1 to 698.0) for controls, for a predicted case-to-control ratio of neutralizing antibody titers of 0.361 (95% CI, 0.165 to 0.787) (Table 1 and Figure 2A).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The matched controls were uninfected at the time of antibody measurement.
- Also stated in: § Case–Control Analysis · plain
- Findingown data
Peak neutralizing antibody titers within the first month after the second vaccine dose were lower in breakthrough cases than in controls (ratio, 0.148; 95% CI, 0.040 to 0.548).
“A peak neutralizing antibody titer within the first month after the second vaccine dose was available for only 12 of the breakthrough cases; the GEE predicted peak neutralizing antibody titer was 152.2 (95% CI, 30.5 to 759.3) in 12 cases and 1027.5 (95% CI, 761.6 to 1386.2) in 56 controls, for a ratio of 0.148 (95% CI, 0.040 to 0.548) (Figure 2B).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
Among breakthrough case patients with Ct <30, 59% (17 of 29) had a positive concurrent Ag-RDT result.
“A total of 74% of case patients had a high viral load (Ct value, <30) at some point during their infection; however, of these patients, only 17 (59%) had a positive result on concurrent Ag-RDT.”
- Also stated in: § Verification Testing and Secondary Infections · plain
“However, of these workers, only 17 (59%) had positive results on a concurrent Ag-RDT.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Also stated in: § Verification Testing and Secondary Infections · plain
- Findingown data
The correlation between neutralizing antibody levels and breakthrough infections was stronger than that for IgG antibodies.
“In this study, the correlation between levels of neutralizing antibodies and breakthrough infections was stronger than that for IgG antibodies.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
31% of infected workers reported residual symptoms 14 days after diagnosis.
“On follow-up questioning, 31% of all infected workers reported having residual symptoms 14 days after their diagnosis.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
No secondary SARS-CoV-2 infections were documented among contacts of the breakthrough cases.
“No secondary infections were documented.”
- Also stated in: § Verification Testing and Secondary Infections · plain
“Thorough epidemiologic investigations of data regarding in-hospital contact tracing did not detect any cases of transmission from infected health care workers (secondary infections) among the 39 primary infections.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Rests on an assumption: The contact tracing for in-hospital and household contacts was complete enough to detect any secondary infections.
- Also stated in: § Verification Testing and Secondary Infections · plain
- Interpretationown data
The study's data support the correlate of protection that neutralizing antibodies correlate with protection.
“Here, we report data on persons in a vaccinated population that support this correlate of protection.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: The presence of neutralizing antibodies correlates with protection from reinfection with SARS-CoV-2.
- Interpretationown data
A decrease in titer of either antibody, rather than in peak titer, may not accurately predict a decrease in protection.
“Thus, a decrease in the titer of either of these antibodies (rather than in the peak titer) may not accurately predict a decrease in protection.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
The findings suggest that breakthrough isolates do not reflect selection pressure toward particular immunity-evading variants.
“These findings suggest that breakthrough isolates do not reflect selection pressure toward particular immunity-evading variants.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
The 6 case patients with Ct >35 probably had never been infectious.
“Ten workers (26%) had an N gene Ct value of more than 30 throughout the entire period; 6 of these workers had values of more than 35 and probably had never been infectious.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisecitation
Reports from California, New York, and Massachusetts showed that the distribution of variants of concern in breakthrough infections was similar to that in the general unvaccinated population.
“This finding is in line with reports from California, New York, and Massachusetts23-25 showing that the distribution of variants of concern in breakthrough infections was similar to that in the general unvaccinated population.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [23] Jacobson KB, Pinsky BA, Rath MEM, et al. Post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infections and incidence of the B.1.427/B.1.429 variant among healthcare personnel at a northern California academic medical center. April 24, 2021 (https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.14.21255431v2). preprint. PMC8344553 34137815
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites [24] Thompson CN, Hughes S, Ngai S, et al. Rapid emergence and epidemiologic characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.526 variant — New York City, New York, January 1–April 5, 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2021; 70: 712- 716. 33983915 PMC8118150 source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [25] Bouton TC, Lodi S, Turcinovic J, et al. COVID-19 vaccine impact on rates of SARS-CoV-2 cases and post vaccination strain sequences among healthcare workers at an urban academic medical center: a prospective cohort study. April 27, 2021 (https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.30.21254655v2). preprint. PMC8500299 34646910
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Premisecitation
The neutralization level is highly predictive of immune protection.
“Recently, Khoury et al.20 and Earle et al.21 determined that the neutralization level is highly predictive of immune protection in comparing population values from vaccine efficacy and immunogenicity trials.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [20] Khoury DS, Cromer D, Reynaldi A, et al. Neutralizing antibody levels are highly predictive of immune protection from symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nat Med 2021 May 17 (Epub ahead of print). 34002089 source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [21] Earle KA, Ambrosino DM, Fiore-Gartland A, et al. Evidence for antibody as a protective correlate for COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine 2021; 39: 4423- 4428.. 34210573 PMC8142841 source
Not checked in the free run.
- Interpretationown data
Low titers of neutralizing antibody and S-specific IgG antibody may serve as markers of breakthrough infection.
“Most important, we found that low titers of neutralizing antibody and S-specific IgG antibody may serve as markers of breakthrough infection.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- The authors state this as an assumption: The presence of neutralizing antibodies correlates with protection from reinfection with SARS-CoV-2.
- Premisecitation
No correlate of protection from breakthrough infection had been reported before this study.
“To date, no correlate of protection from breakthrough infection has been reported.9”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [9] Krammer F. Correlates of protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Lancet 2021; 397: 1421- 1423. 33844964 PMC8040540 source
Not checked in the free run.
- Premisecitation
The BNT162b2 vaccine has been highly effective in preventing clinically significant Covid-19.
“Since its rollout in late 2020 in Israel, the BNT162b2 messenger RNA vaccine (Pfizer–BioNTech) has been highly effective in preventing clinically significant coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).1-3”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [1] Haas EJ, Angulo FJ, McLaughlin JM, et al. Impact and effectiveness of mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations, and deaths following a nationwide vaccination campaign in Israel: an observational study using national surveillance data. Lancet 2021; 397: 1819- 1829. 33964222 PMC8099315 source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [2] Polack FP, Thomas SJ, Kitchin N, et al. Safety and efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine. N Engl J Med 2020; 383: 2603- 2615. 33301246 PMC7745181 source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [3] Dagan N, Barda N, Kepten E, et al. BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine in a nationwide mass vaccination setting. N Engl J Med 2021; 384: 1412- 1423. 33626250 PMC7944975 source
Not checked in the free run.
- Interpretationown data
The peak antibody titers also correlated with protection, despite the low number of cases.
“Our results suggest that the peak antibody titers also correlated with protection, despite the low number of cases in our study.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Study design and conductown data
The study could not determine a specific protective titer for either serologic measure because of the relatively small cohort.
“Yet in this relatively small cohort, we could not determine a specific protective titer for either serologic measure that was tested.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
The distribution of B.1.1.7 in breakthrough cases was similar to its prevalence in the community.
“We identified the B.1.1.7 variant in 85% of cases, similar to its prevalence in the community.1,16”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [1] Haas EJ, Angulo FJ, McLaughlin JM, et al. Impact and effectiveness of mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations, and deaths following a nationwide vaccination campaign in Israel: an observational study using national surveillance data. Lancet 2021; 397: 1819- 1829. 33964222 PMC8099315 source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [16] Kustin T, Harel N, Finkel U, et al. Evidence for increased breakthrough rates of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in BNT162b2-mRNA-vaccinated individuals. Nat Med 2021 June 14 (Epub ahead of print). 34127854 PMC8363499 source
Not checked in the free run.
- Interpretationown data
Most infected health care workers had N gene Ct values suggesting they had been infectious at some point.
“Most of the infected health care workers had N gene Ct values that suggested they had been infectious at some point.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
Breakthrough infections have emerged in a small percentage of vaccine recipients in other countries and health care institutions.
“However, breakthrough infections have emerged in a small percentage of vaccine recipients, a phenomenon that has been described in other countries and health care institutions.6-8”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [6] Stephenson J. COVID-19 vaccinations in nursing home residents and staff give robust protection, though breakthrough infections still possible. JAMA Health Forum 2021; 2(4): e211195- e211195 (https://jamanetwork.com/channels/health-forum/fullarticle/2779436). 36218817 source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [7] Tyagi K, Ghosh A, Nair D, et al. Breakthrough COVID19 infections after vaccinations in healthcare and other workers in a chronic care medical facility in New Delhi, India. Diabetes Metab Syndr 2021; 15: 1007- 1008. 33991805 PMC8091733 source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [8] Hacisuleyman E, Hale C, Saito Y, et al. Vaccine breakthrough infections with SARS-CoV-2 variants. N Engl J Med 2021; 384: 2212- 2218. 33882219 PMC8117968 source
Not checked in the free run.
- Study design and conductreasoning
The study may have missed asymptomatic cases because it did not conduct surveillance testing.
“Third, we may have missed asymptomatic cases despite the intensive effort to test all exposed health care workers, since we did not conduct surveillance testing.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Study design and conductown data
The number of breakthrough cases in the study was relatively small.
“First, even though we provide extensive documentation of a cohort of breakthrough infections, the numbers of cases were relatively small.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Interpretationnone given
If contamination of peri-infection titers by infection were substantial, the result would likely be biased toward the null hypothesis of no relationship between antibody titers and breakthrough infection.
“If such contamination were substantial, the result would likely be biased toward the null hypothesis of no relationship between antibody titers and breakthrough infection.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
The lack of exposure matching may have led to an underestimation of the difference in protection between cases and controls.
“This factor may have led to an underestimation of the difference in protection between cases and controls.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
- Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 9
- May combine two claims. 17
- The quote only partly states this claim. 1
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Findingown data13.1% of fully vaccinated health care workers underwent RT-PCR testing during the study period.
“Among 11,453 fully vaccinated health care workers, 1497 (13.1%) underwent RT-PCR testing during the study period.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataPostinfection N-specific IgG antibodies were assessed in 22 of 39 case patients (56%) on days 8 to 72 after first positive RT-PCR; 4 (18%) had no immune response.
“Data regarding postinfection N-specific IgG antibodies were available for 22 of 39 case patients (56%) on days 8 to 72 after the first positive result on RT-PCR assay. Of these workers, 4 (18%) did not have an immune response, as detected by negative results on N-specific IgG antibody testing.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataIn all 37 case patients with source data, the suspected source of infection was an unvaccinated person; in 21 (57%) it was a household member.
“In all 37 case patients for whom data were available regarding the source of infection, the suspected source was an unvaccinated person; in 21 patients (57%), this person was a household member.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataIn 11 of 37 case patients (30%), the suspected source was an unvaccinated fellow health care worker or patient; 7 of these 11 were linked to a nosocomial outbreak of the B.1.1.7 variant.
“In 11 of 37 case patients (30%), the suspected source was an unvaccinated fellow health care worker or patient; in 7 of the 11 case patients, the infection was caused by a nosocomial outbreak of the B.1.1.7 (alpha) variant.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe cohort included health care workers who were mostly young and healthy, and all breakthrough cases were mild.
“Furthermore, our cohort included health care workers who were mostly young and healthy, and all breakthrough cases were mild.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.
Findingown dataPeri-infection neutralizing antibody test results were available for 22 breakthrough cases, and the case-control analysis included these 22 cases and 104 matched controls.
“The results of peri-infection neutralizing antibody tests were available for 22 breakthrough cases.”
- Also stated in: § Case–Control Analysis · plain
“In total, 22 breakthrough cases and their 104 matched controls were included in the case–control analysis.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim- Also stated in: § Case–Control Analysis · plain
May combine two claims.
Findingown data26% of breakthrough case patients had an N gene Ct value >30 throughout infection, and 6 of these had values >35.
“Ten workers (26%) had an N gene Ct value of more than 30 throughout the entire period; 6 of these workers had values of more than 35 and probably had never been infectious.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe test positivity in the study was 2.6%, with more than 38 persons tested per positive case.
“More than 38 persons were tested for every positive case that was detected, for a test positivity of 2.6%.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Interpretationown dataThe breakthrough cases were less contagious than unvaccinated persons, as supported by no secondary infections and previous reports.
“However, no secondary infections were traced back to any of the breakthrough cases, which supports the inference that these workers were less contagious than unvaccinated persons, as has been reported previously.4,5,17,18”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 4 sources checked- cites [4] Regev-Yochay G, Amit S, Bergwerk M, et al. Decreased infectivity following BNT162b2 vaccination: a prospective cohort study in Israel. Lancet Reg Health Eur 2021; 7: 100150- 100150. 34250518 PMC8261633 source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [5] Petter E, Mor O, Zuckerman N, et al. Initial real world evidence for lower viral load of individuals who have been vaccinated by BNT162b2. February 8, 2021 (https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.02.08.21251329v1). preprint. source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [17] Pratò S, Paladino ME, Riva MA, Deni M, Belingheri M. SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk to household and family contacts by vaccinated healthcare workers. J Occup Environ Med 2021; 63(7): e474- e476. 34184663 PMC8247537 source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [18] Shah ASV, Gribben C, Bishop J, et al. Effect of vaccination on transmission of COVID-19: an observational study in healthcare workers and their households. March 21, 2021 (https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.11.21253275v1). preprint.
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Rests on an assumption: The contact tracing for in-hospital and household contacts was complete enough to detect any secondary infections.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
PremisecitationAt the time of the study, B.1.1.7 was the most widespread variant in Israel and accounted for up to 94.5% of SARS-CoV-2 isolates.
“At the time of this study, the B.1.1.7 variant was the most widespread variant in Israel and accounted for up to 94.5% of SARS-CoV-2 isolates.1,16”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [1] Haas EJ, Angulo FJ, McLaughlin JM, et al. Impact and effectiveness of mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations, and deaths following a nationwide vaccination campaign in Israel: an observational study using national surveillance data. Lancet 2021; 397: 1819- 1829. 33964222 PMC8099315 source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [16] Kustin T, Harel N, Finkel U, et al. Evidence for increased breakthrough rates of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in BNT162b2-mRNA-vaccinated individuals. Nat Med 2021 June 14 (Epub ahead of print). 34127854 PMC8363499 source
Not checked in the free run.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
Study design and conductown dataRepeat RT-PCR assays were performed for all case patients with initial N gene Ct >30 to verify that the initial test was not taken too early.
“Repeat RT-PCR assays were performed on samples obtained from most of the infected workers and for all case patients with an initial N gene Ct value of more than 30 to verify that the initial test was not taken too early, before the worker had become infectious.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
PremisecitationReports have been published in which certain variants of concern were more prevalent in breakthrough infections.
“In contrast, reports in which certain variants of concern were more prevalent in breakthrough infections have been published as well.8,16,26”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [8] Hacisuleyman E, Hale C, Saito Y, et al. Vaccine breakthrough infections with SARS-CoV-2 variants. N Engl J Med 2021; 384: 2212- 2218. 33882219 PMC8117968 source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [16] Kustin T, Harel N, Finkel U, et al. Evidence for increased breakthrough rates of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in BNT162b2-mRNA-vaccinated individuals. Nat Med 2021 June 14 (Epub ahead of print). 34127854 PMC8363499 source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [26] Philomina J B, Jolly B, John N, et al. Genomic survey of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine breakthrough infections in healthcare workers from Kerala, India. J Infect 2021 May 25 (Epub ahead of print). 34044037 PMC8143909 source
Not checked in the free run.
May combine two claims.
PremisecitationVaccine-induced immunity is greatly protective against clinical disease but somewhat less protective against infection and infectivity.
“This result may eventually be even more important, since vaccine-induced immunity has been shown to be greatly protective against clinical disease but somewhat less protective against both infection and infectivity.4”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [4] Regev-Yochay G, Amit S, Bergwerk M, et al. Decreased infectivity following BNT162b2 vaccination: a prospective cohort study in Israel. Lancet Reg Health Eur 2021; 7: 100150- 100150. 34250518 PMC8261633 source
Not checked in the free run.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
Study design and conductown dataThe study matched each breakthrough case with four or five uninfected controls on sex, age, interval between second vaccine dose and serologic testing, and immunosuppression status.
“For each breakthrough case, we matched samples that had been obtained from four or five uninfected controls according to the following variables: sex, age, the interval between the second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine and serologic testing, and immunosuppression status.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Study design and conductnone givenA case-control ratio of 1:4 or 1:5 was selected to maximize statistical power.
“A case–control ratio of 1:4 or 1:5 was selected to maximize the statistical power of the study.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Study design and conductown dataThe study performed a sensitivity analysis with a different order of covariates in the matching algorithm to confirm robustness.
“To further confirm the robustness of our matching criteria, we performed a sensitivity analysis with a different order of covariates in the matching algorithm that used a uniform age criterion and did not match for sex.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimMay combine two claims.
Study design and conductown dataIn 13 case patients with both values, peri-infection antibody titers were lower than previous peak titers, indicating that day-of-diagnosis titers were probably representative of peri-infection titers.
“In all cases, peri-infection titers were lower than the previous peak titers, indicating that the titers that were obtained on the day of diagnosis were probably representative of peri-infection titers (Fig. S2).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
InterpretationreasoningAt least in some cases, the vaccine protected against symptomatic disease but not against infection.
“This factor suggests that at least in some cases, the vaccine protected against symptomatic disease but not against infection.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Interpretationown dataThe finding that peak titer differences were more strongly associated with risk is consistent with the hypothesis that postvaccination neutralizing antibody titer is a marker of overall immune response and suggests a possible role for IgG titer.
“This finding was consistent with the hypothesis that the neutralizing antibody titer after vaccination is a marker of overall immune response and suggested a possible role for the IgG titer.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
PremisecitationThe BNT162b2 vaccine reduces the incidence of asymptomatic infection and associated infectivity.
“The vaccine has also been shown to reduce the incidence of asymptomatic infection and the associated infectivity.4,5”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked- cites [4] Regev-Yochay G, Amit S, Bergwerk M, et al. Decreased infectivity following BNT162b2 vaccination: a prospective cohort study in Israel. Lancet Reg Health Eur 2021; 7: 100150- 100150. 34250518 PMC8261633 source
Not checked in the free run.
- cites [5] Petter E, Mor O, Zuckerman N, et al. Initial real world evidence for lower viral load of individuals who have been vaccinated by BNT162b2. February 8, 2021 (https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.02.08.21251329v1). preprint. source
Not checked in the free run.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Premisecitation95% of vaccinated health care workers had a neutralizing antibody titer >256 within 2 weeks after the second BNT162b2 dose.
“We have previously reported that 95% of vaccinated health care workers were found to have a neutralizing antibody titer of more than 256 within 2 weeks after the second BNT162b2 vaccine dose.11”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [11] Lustig Y, Sapir E, Regev-Yochay G, et al. BNT162b2 vaccine-induced immune responses and dynamics vary among age groups, sex and co-morbidities: a longitudinal prospective cohort study. March 4, 2021 (https://ssrn.com/abstract=3790408). preprint. source
Not checked in the free run.
May combine two claims.
Study design and conductown dataThe cohort represented mostly young and healthy persons, and all breakthrough infections were mild and did not require hospitalization; therefore the study could not determine the correlate of protection from severe infection or infection in vulnerable older persons with coexisting illnesses.
“Second, this cohort represents mostly young and healthy persons, and all breakthrough infections were mild and did not require hospitalization. Thus, we could not determine the correlate of protection from severe infection or infection in vulnerable populations of older persons with coexisting illnesses.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Interpretationown dataRare breakthrough infections carry an infectious potential and create a special challenge because they are often asymptomatic and may pose a risk to vulnerable populations.
“In this study, we found that although the BNT162b2 vaccine is extremely effective, rare breakthrough infections carry an infectious potential and create a special challenge, since such infections are often asymptomatic and may pose a risk to vulnerable populations.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Study design and conductown dataControls were not matched according to testing or exposure, only according to timing of serologic testing in vaccinated, uninfected health care workers; therefore the study could not control for differences in exposure risk.
“Fourth, the controls were not matched according to testing or exposure but only according to the timing of serologic testing in vaccinated, uninfected health care workers. Thus, we could not control for differences in the risk of exposure to Covid-19.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Study design and conductnone givenThe study was not designed to address the question of variants of concern in breakthrough infections.
“Our study was not designed to address this question regarding variants of concern in breakthrough infections.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
The authors state this as an assumption.
The presence of neutralizing antibodies correlates with protection from reinfection with SARS-CoV-2.
“The assumption that the presence of neutralizing antibodies would correlate with protection from reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 has been supported by studies comparing the incidence of infection between seropositive and seronegative persons.9,19”
The paper relies on this without support.
The contact tracing for in-hospital and household contacts was complete enough to detect any secondary infections.
“Thorough epidemiologic investigations of data regarding in-hospital contact tracing did not detect any cases of transmission from infected health care workers (secondary infections) among the 39 primary infections.”
“Among the 31 cases for whom data regarding household transmission (including symptoms and RT-PCR results) were available, no secondary infections were detected, including 10 case patients and their 27 household members in whom the health care worker was the only index case patient.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The matched controls were uninfected at the time of antibody measurement.
“We matched patients with breakthrough infection who had antibody titers obtained within a week before SARS-CoV-2 detection (peri-infection period) with four to five uninfected controls”
“For each breakthrough case, we matched samples that had been obtained from four or five uninfected controls according to the following variables: sex, age, the interval between the second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine and serologic testing, and immunosuppression status.”
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Neutralizing antibodies can serve as a correlate of protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
“A correlation between neutralizing antibody titers and infectivity was recently reported6 and suggested that although the specific threshold titer that can predict breakthrough infection is still undefined, neutralizing antibodies may be used as a correlate of protection.”
From Waning Immune Humoral Response to BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine over 6 Months (2021) · cites this paper as [6]
Neutralizing antibodies have been shown to correlate with protection against SARS-CoV-2.
“Neutralizing antibodies have been shown to correlate with protection.6,15”
From Waning Immune Humoral Response to BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine over 6 Months (2021) · cites this paper as [6]
In previously reported work, breakthrough infection among BNT162b2-vaccinated people was correlated with neutralizing antibody titers.
“We recently reported that breakthrough infection in BNT162b2-vaccinated persons was correlated with neutralizing antibody titers.6”
From Waning Immune Humoral Response to BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine over 6 Months (2021) · cites this paper as [6]
No citation lists for this paper
No citation lists for this paper yet — checked again daily.
References 25 · Cited by 1,345
Research works printed but not linked: 3
- Shah ASV Gribben C Bishop J et al. Effect of vaccination on transmission of COVID-19: an observational study in healthcare workers and their households. March 21 2021 (https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.11.21253275v1). preprint. · DOI
- Jacobson KB Pinsky BA Rath MEM et al. Post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infections and incidence of the B.1.427/B.1.429 variant among healthcare personnel at a northern California academic medical center. April 24 2021 (https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.14.21255431v2). preprint. · DOI · Paper page
- Bouton TC Lodi S Turcinovic J et al. COVID-19 vaccine impact on rates of SARS-CoV-2 cases and post vaccination strain sequences among healthcare workers at an urban academic medical center: a prospective cohort study. April 27 2021 (https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.30.21254655v2). preprint. · DOI · Paper page
- Authors
- Bergwerk, M., Gonen, T., Lustig, Y., Amit, S., Lipsitch, M., Cohen, C., Mandelboim, M., Levin, E. G., Rubin, C., Indenbaum, V., Tal, I., Zavitan, M., Zuckerman, N., Bar-Chaim, A., Kreiss, Y., & Regev-Yochay, G.
- Affiliations
- Tel Aviv University (IL)
- From the Infection Prevention and Control Unit (M.B., T.G., C.C., E.G.L., C.R., I.T., M.Z., G.R.-Y.), the Department of Clinical Microbiology (S.A.), General Management (Y.K.), and the Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Authority, Ministry of Health (Y.L., M.M., V.I., N.Z.), Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv (T.G., Y.L., M.M., E.G.L., Y.K., G.R.-Y.), and the Laboratory Wing, Asaf Harofe Medical Center, Be’er Ya’akov (A.B.-C.) — all in Israel; St. George’s School of Medicine of London and Faculty of Medicine, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus (M.B.); and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston (M.L.).
- ORCID
- Venue
- New England Journal of Medicine
- Publisher
- Massachusetts Medical Society
- Published
- 2021-10-14
- Volume
- 385
- Issue
- 16
- Pages
- 1474-1484
- ISSN
- 0028-4793 (ISSN-L)
- 1533-4406
- PMC
- PMC8362591
- OpenAlex
- W3184172540
- Cited by
- 1,345
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 55 · 2024: 138 · 2023: 262 · 2022: 641 · 2021: 226 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 101.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- New England Journal of Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ImmPort
- Funders
- National Cancer Institute (U01CA261277)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Modeling and Simulation › COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Keywords
- COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, breakthrough infection, BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, healthcare workers, neutralizing antibody titer, vaccine efficacy, viral load, B.1.1.7 variant, asymptomatic infection, persistent symptoms, infectivity, antibody waning
- MeSH terms
- COVID-19, COVID-19 Vaccines, COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing, BNT162 Vaccine, Breakthrough Infections, Adult, Female, Health Personnel, Humans, Israel, Male, Middle Aged, Case-Control Studies, Treatment Failure, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Asymptomatic Diseases
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Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-06.
Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-06.
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