Özet
Abstract
Background: Immunization in the elderly population is critical due to the high frequency of
health outcomes related to COVID-19.
Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness levels of COVID-19 vaccine
schedules in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in the older adult group who received at least
one booster dose.
Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Methods: This study evaluated 8969 adults aged 65 and over in the Sultanbeyli district of
İstanbul. COVID-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction testing data
between January 14, 2021 and December 2, 2022 were obtained from the National Public
Health Management System.
Results: The median age of participants was 71years. The vaccines were mostly administered
as CoronaVac for the first and second doses (81.4% and 82.2%, respectively) and BNT162b2 for
the third and fourth doses (61.8% and 73.1%, respectively). Turkovac was administered only in
booster doses (third dose 0.6%, fourth dose 4.8%). The adjusted relative vaccine effectiveness
(rVE) was found to be 61.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 51.5–69.9) in two doses of inactivated
vaccine and one dose of mRNA vaccine schedule compared to the homolog booster of
CoronaVac primary vaccine schedule. In two booster doses receipts, the adjusted rVE was
found to be 45.4% (95% CI 13.8–65.4) in three doses of inactivated and one dose mRNA vaccine
schedule and 43.0% (95% CI 20.5–59.2) in two doses of inactivated and two doses of mRNA
vaccines schedule compared to the two homolog boosters with CoronaVac primary vaccine
schedule.
Conclusion: In this study, the effectiveness of the mRNA vaccine as a booster dose was higher
than that of the homologous boosters in participants receiving the CoronaVac primary series
for those aged 65 and over.