TY - JOUR
T1 - Effectiveness of Vaccines and Antiviral Drugs in Preventing Severe and Fatal COVID-19, Hong Kong
AU - Cheung, Yue Yat Harrison
AU - Lau, Eric Ho Yin
AU - Yin, Guosheng
AU - Lin, Yun
AU - Cowling, Benjamin J.
AU - Lam, Kwok Fai
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All rights reserved.
PY - 2024/1
Y1 - 2024/1
N2 - We compared the effectiveness and interactions of molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and 2 vaccines, CoronaVac and Comirnaty, in a large population of inpatients with COVID-19 in Hong Kong. Both the oral antiviral drugs and vaccines were associated with lower risks for all-cause mortality and progression to serious/ critical/fatal conditions (study outcomes). No significant interaction effects were observed between the antiviral drugs and vaccinations; their joint effects were additive. If antiviral drugs were prescribed within 5 days of confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, usage was associated with lower risks for the target outcomes for patients >60, but not <60, years of age; no significant clinical benefit was found if prescribed beyond 5 days. Among patients >80 years of age, 3–4 doses of Comirnaty vaccine were associated with significantly lower risks for target outcomes. Policies should encourage COVID-19 vaccination, and oral antivirals should be made accessible to infected persons within 5 days of confirmed diagnosis.
AB - We compared the effectiveness and interactions of molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and 2 vaccines, CoronaVac and Comirnaty, in a large population of inpatients with COVID-19 in Hong Kong. Both the oral antiviral drugs and vaccines were associated with lower risks for all-cause mortality and progression to serious/ critical/fatal conditions (study outcomes). No significant interaction effects were observed between the antiviral drugs and vaccinations; their joint effects were additive. If antiviral drugs were prescribed within 5 days of confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, usage was associated with lower risks for the target outcomes for patients >60, but not <60, years of age; no significant clinical benefit was found if prescribed beyond 5 days. Among patients >80 years of age, 3–4 doses of Comirnaty vaccine were associated with significantly lower risks for target outcomes. Policies should encourage COVID-19 vaccination, and oral antivirals should be made accessible to infected persons within 5 days of confirmed diagnosis.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85181263724
U2 - 10.3201/eid3001.230414
DO - 10.3201/eid3001.230414
M3 - Article
C2 - 38040664
AN - SCOPUS:85181263724
SN - 1080-6040
VL - 30
SP - 70
EP - 78
JO - Emerging Infectious Diseases
JF - Emerging Infectious Diseases
IS - 1
ER -
