Vaccines (Dec 2022)

SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Unvaccinated Adults in Thailand in November 2021

  • Surakameth Mahasirimongkol,
  • Ballang Uppapong,
  • Wiroj Puangtubtim,
  • Panadda Dhepakson,
  • Parnuphan Panyajai,
  • Naphatcha Thawong,
  • Nadthanan Pinyosukhee,
  • Archawin Rojanawiwat,
  • Nuanjun Wichukchinda,
  • Sakulrat Soonthorncharttrawat,
  • Kanisorn Larpardisorn,
  • Sumet Amonyingcharoen,
  • Kritchai Juntaped,
  • Tassanee Chaiyakum,
  • Chayada Tongkamsen,
  • Jeerapa Srilaket,
  • Jiratikamon Chipatoom,
  • Rattanawadee Wichajarn,
  • Nutchanat Chatchawankanpanich,
  • Lapasrada Pattarapreeyakul,
  • Porntip Chaiya,
  • Kaveewan Mongkolsiri,
  • Suthida Tuntigumthon,
  • Kritsamon Sophondilok,
  • Nalinee Saengtong,
  • Kodcharad Jongpitisub,
  • Supakit Sirilak

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10122169
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 12
p. 2169

Abstract

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Between the first case of COVID-19 in January 2020 and the end of 2021, Thailand experienced four waves of the epidemic. The third and fourth waves were caused by the alpha and delta strains from April 2021 to November 2021. Serosurveillance studies provide snapshots of the true scale of the outbreak, including the asymptomatic infections that could not be fully captured by a hospital-based case detection system. We aimed to investigate the distribution of SARs-CoV-2 seroprevalence in unvaccinated adults after the delta wave outbreak. From November to December 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional survey study in 12 public health areas (PHAs) across Thailand. A total of 26,717 blood samples were collected and tested for SARs-CoV-2 antibodies (anti-S IgG) using a qualitative immunoassay. The results showed that seropositive prevalence in this cohort was 1.4% (95% CI: 1.24 to 1.52). The lowest prevalence was in the northern region (PHA 1) and in central Thailand (PHA 3) at 0.4% (95% CI: 0.15 to 0.95), while the highest was in the southern region of Thailand (PHA 12) at 5.8% (95% CI: 4.48 to 7.29). This seropositive prevalence was strikingly lower than the reports from other countries. Our serosurveillance results suggest that the vaccination of unvaccinated groups should be accelerated, especially in the public health areas with the lowest seroprevalence.

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