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Herd immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in 10 communities, Qatar

Research Authors
Andrew Jeremijenko, Hiam Chemaitelly, Houssein H Ayoub, Moza Alishaq, Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra, Jameela Ali AA Al Ajmi, Nasser Ali Asad Al Ansari, Zaina Al Kanaani, Abdullatif Al Khal, Einas Al Kuwari, Ahmed Al-Mohammed, Naema Hassan Abdulla Al Molawi, Huda
Research Date
Research Journal
Emerging infectious diseases
Research Vol
27
Research Year
2021
Research_Pages
1343
Research Abstract

We investigated what proportion of the population acquired severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and whether the herd immunity threshold has been reached in 10 communities in Qatar. The study included 4,970 participants during June 21–September 9, 2020. Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detected by using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Seropositivity ranged from 54.9% (95% CI 50.2%–59.4%) to 83.8% (95% CI 79.1%–87.7%) across communities and showed a pooled mean of 66.1% (95% CI 61.5%–70.6%). A range of other epidemiologic measures indicated that active infection is rare, with limited if any sustainable infection transmission for clusters to occur. Only 5 infections were ever severe and 1 was critical in these young communities; infection severity rate of 0.2% (95% CI 0.1%–0.4%). Specific communities in Qatar have or nearly reached herd immunity for SARS-CoV-2 infection: 65%–70% of the population has been infected.