COVID-19 in the post-vaccination era: Who is at risk of severe disease?

Abstract

Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 began in December 2020 and with this strategy, the course of the pandemic would be modified. BNT162b2 (Pfizer–BioNTech), mRNA-1273 (Moderna), and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (Oxford–AstraZeneca) were the main vaccines that demonstrated a reduction in hospitalization and death from SARS-CoV-2 in clinical trials. Post-vaccination infection by COVID-19 is called breakthrough infection. Breakthrough infection is more frequent in health workers, and smokers, and critical illness is more frequent in patients with advanced age, and cardiovascular disease. Following vaccination efforts around the world, the incidence of severe COVID-19 infection has decreased, declaring the end of the pandemic by the World Health Organization. However, efforts to keep vaccination active, especially in at-risk populations, must continue.