Assessing the COVID-19 vaccination program during the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) epidemic in early 2022, Tokyo

Abstract

Background: Many countries, including high-income nations, struggled to control epidemic waves caused by the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529), which had an antigenically distinct evolution. Evaluating the direct and indirect effects of vaccination during the Omicron waves is essential to assess virus control policies. The present study assessed the population impacts of a vaccination program during the sixth wave caused by BA.1 and BA.2 from January to May 2022, in Tokyo. Methods: We analyzed the primary series and booster vaccination coverages and the confirmed cases stratified by vaccination history. We estimated the number of COVID-19 cases that were directly and indirectly prevented by vaccination. To estimate the direct impact, we used a statistical model that compared risks between unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals. A transmission model employing the renewal process was devised to quantify the total effect, given as the sum of the direct and indirect effects. Results: Assuming that the reporting coverage of cases was 25%, mass vaccination programs, including primary and booster immunizations, directly averted 640,000 COVID-19 cases (95% confidence interval: 624–655). Furthermore, these programs directly and indirectly prevented 8.5 million infections (95% confidence interval: 8.4–8.6). Hypothetical scenarios indicated that we could have expected a 19% or 7% relative reduction in the number of infections, respectively, compared with the observed number of infections, if the booster coverage had been equivalent to that of the second dose or if coverage among people aged 10–49 years had been 10% higher. If the third dose coverage was smaller and comparable to that of the fourth dose, the total number of infections would have increased by 52% compared with the observed number of infections. Conclusions: The population benefit of vaccination via direct and indirect effects was substantial, with an estimated 65% reduction in the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections compared with counterfactual (without vaccination) in Tokyo during the sixth wave caused by BA.1 and BA.2.