A study to compare the disease severity between vaccinated and unvaccinated COVID 19 patients in Tumkur city

Abstract

WHO declared coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. COVID-19 vaccines have been rapidly developed and distributed to help fight the pandemic. By January 2021, use of the Covishield vaccine and Covaxin vaccine use was approved. India began its vaccination program on 16 January 2021. The objective of the study is to assess the severity of COVID 19 infection among those vaccinated and unvaccinated as this will help us to assess the efficacy of the vaccines.By Convenient sampling technique the data of all those patients who were admitted in tertiary care centers in Tumkur district during second wave (April-July 2021) of COVID 19 infection were assessed from their medical records. The severity of the COVID 19 infection was assessed by evaluating the CT scores, lymphocyte/ neutrophil ratio, platelet distribution width, medical treatment provided and outcome which was later compared to vaccine status of the patients. Out of 220 patients in the study, 188(85.5%) were not vaccinated, 183(83.2%) had a positive RT PCR report, with most having CT of moderate changes (45.9%). Only 42(19.1%) patients underwent intubation and 28(12.7%) patients died. Using Chi Square test it was seen that those who were not vaccinated had moderate to severe CT scores (P = 0.026).Those who were not vaccinated had a higher chance of developing moderate to severe CT changes, though the death rate was less. Vaccine is found to be efficacious in fighting against COVID-19.