Increasing risk of breakthrough COVID-19 in outbreaks with high attack rates in European long-term care facilities, July to October 2021

Euro Surveill. 2021 Dec;26(49):2101070. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.49.2101070.

Abstract

We collected data from 10 EU/EEA countries on 240 COVID-19 outbreaks occurring from July-October 2021 in long-term care facilities with high vaccination coverage. Among 17,268 residents, 3,832 (22.2%) COVID-19 cases were reported. Median attack rate was 18.9% (country range: 2.8-52.4%), 17.4% of cases were hospitalised, 10.2% died. In fully vaccinated residents, adjusted relative risk for COVID-19 increased with outbreak attack rate. Findings highlight the importance of early outbreak detection and rapid containment through effective infection prevention and control measures.

Keywords: COVID-19; long-term care facilities; outbreaks; vaccines.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Long-Term Care
  • SARS-CoV-2