COVID-19 Breakthrough Cases: A Descriptive Study from Pakistan Naval Hospitals

• Published in: Pakistan Armed Forces medical journal Vol. 75; no. SUPPL-5; pp. S679 - S683
• Main Authors: Noor, Chaudhry Muhammad Qamar Ul Haq, Alamgir, Wasim, Ahmad, Gulnaz, Channa, Muhammad Aslam, Rafique, Muhammad Usman, Ahmed, Afaq
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rawalpindi Army Medical Corps 31.07.2025
• Subjects: Age; Antigens; Asymptomatic; Cold storage; COVID-19 vaccines; Fatalities; Immune response; Immunity (Disease); Infections; Pandemics; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; United States > US; Pakistan
• ISSN: 0030-9648; 2411-8842
• DOI: 10.51253/pafmj.v75iSUPPL-5.7533

Objective: To measure the frequency of COVID-19 breakthrough infection in entitled vaccinated clientele of Pakistan Navy.Study Design: Prospective longitudinal studyPlace and Duration of Study: Naval Hospitals at Islamabad and Karachi Pakistan, from Mar to Aug 2021.Methodology: Who received 04 types of vaccine including Sinopharm (n=18,246), Sinovac (n=10,716), Cansino (n=20,250) and Sputnik vaccine (n=20,000). These individuals were monitored over time for development of COVID-19 infection. Vaccine breakthrough case is defined as an individual who has SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen detected on a respiratory specimen collected ≥14 days after completing the authorized SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The data was collected by the record maintained in hospital statistics office. The data was entered, stored and managed in the central data base as maintained at public health department.Results: Out of the total 69592 individuals who were inoculated 0.15% (i.e., n=111) cases developed COVID-19 breakthrough infection. Cinopharm showed highest number of breakthrough cases 79(0.43%), Sinovac 19(0.17%), Cansino 07(0.034%) and Sputnik 6(0.0003%). Age wise the highest recorded cases were belonging to less than 39 years followed by 37 cases among individual aging 40 to 65 years, 08 cases in individuals age between 66 to 75 years and 10 cases were diagnosed in people having more than 75 years of age.Conclusion: Sinopharm vaccination was associated with highest frequency of breakthrough COVID-19 infection. While Sputnik showed the least number of breakthrough COVID-19 infection cases.