Sociobehavioural factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against medically attended, symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Philippines: a prospective case-control study (FASCINATE-P study)
10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.1.1131
- Author:
Takeshi Arashiro
1
,
2
,
3
,
4
,
5
;
Regina Pascua Berba
6
;
Joy Potenciano Calayo
7
;
Marie Kris
8
;
Reby Marie Garcia
8
;
Shuichi Suzuki
8
;
Cecile Dungog
9
;
Jonathan Rivera
9
;
Greco Mark Malijan
8
;
Kristal An Agrupis
8
;
Mary Jane Salazar
8
;
Mary Ann Salazar
8
;
Jinho Shin
10
;
Martin Hibberd
1
;
Koya Ariyoshi
11
;
Chris Smith
1
,
2
Author Information
1. Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2. School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
3. Center for Surveillance, Immunization, and Epidemiologic Research, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
4. Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
5. World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
6. Hospital Infection Control Unit, Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
7. Department of Laboratory, San Lazaro Hospital, Manila, Philippines
8. San Lazaro Hospital-Nagasaki University Collaborative Research Office and Laboratory, San Lazaro Hospital, Manila, Philippines
9. Department of Laboratories, Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
10. World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
11. School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response
2025;16(1):49-60
- CountryWHO-WPRO
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective: We examined sociobehavioural factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and estimated COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Philippines. Such studies are limited in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Asia and the Pacific.
Methods: A case-control study was conducted in two hospitals in Manila, Philippines, from March 2022 to June 2023. Sociobehavioural factors and vaccination history were collected. PCR-positive individuals were cases, while PCR-negative individuals were controls. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were calculated to examine associations between sociobehavioural factors/vaccination and medically attended SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Results: The analysis included 2489 individuals (574 positive cases, 23.1%; 1915 controls, 76.9%; median age [interquartile range]: 35 [27–51] years). Although education and household income were not associated with infection, being a health-care worker was (aOR: 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–2.06). The odds of infection were higher among individuals who attended gatherings of five or more people compared to those who attended smaller gatherings (aOR: 2.58; 95% CI: 1.14–5.83). Absolute vaccine effectiveness for vaccination status was not estimated due to a high risk of bias, for example, unascertained prior infection. Moderate relative vaccine effectiveness for the first booster (32%; 95% CI: -120–79) and the second booster (48%; 95% CI: -23–78) were observed (both with wide CI), albeit with a waning trend after half a year.
Discussion: The higher odds of infection among health-care workers emphasize the importance of infection prevention and control measures. Moderate relative vaccine effectiveness with a waning trend reiterates the need for more efficacious vaccines against symptomatic infection caused by circulating variants and with longer duration of protection.
- Full text:202504101339521758wpsar-15-1131 Arashiro FINAL.pdf
