Long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in a population-based pediatric cohort

Abstract During the omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines becoming available, seroprevalence rates rose in children and adolescents. This study investigated the impact of both SARS-CoV-2 infections and vaccinations on the incidence of acute and prolonged symptoms in real...

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Main Authors: Jakob Höppner, Christoph Maier, Anne Schlegtendal, Anna Hoffmann, Astrid Petersmann, Thomas Lücke, Nicole Toepfner, Folke Brinkmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84140-6
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author Jakob Höppner
Christoph Maier
Anne Schlegtendal
Anna Hoffmann
Astrid Petersmann
Thomas Lücke
Nicole Toepfner
Folke Brinkmann
author_facet Jakob Höppner
Christoph Maier
Anne Schlegtendal
Anna Hoffmann
Astrid Petersmann
Thomas Lücke
Nicole Toepfner
Folke Brinkmann
author_sort Jakob Höppner
collection DOAJ
description Abstract During the omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines becoming available, seroprevalence rates rose in children and adolescents. This study investigated the impact of both SARS-CoV-2 infections and vaccinations on the incidence of acute and prolonged symptoms in real-world conditions during the transition from the pandemic to the endemic phase. Participants from a pediatric population based seroprevalence study (CorKID study) were followed up at least two and for almost four years by survey of health status features and symptoms suggestive of post-COVID syndrome (PCS). In a subgroup (n = 259) SARS-CoV-2 antibody serology was further investigated. 789 participants of the original CorKID study cohort (n = 2.121; 37.2%) were included. 67.9% reported at least one SARS-CoV2 infection. 46.6% had received one or more SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations. In the vast majority of serologically tested participants antibodies again SARS-CoV-2 spike (98.9%) or nucleocapsid (93.3%) antigen were detected following infection and/or vaccination. At least 30% experienced one unrecognized SARS-CoV-2 infection. The overall health status was comparable between children, irrespective of SARS-CoV-2 infections and similar to pre-pandemic assessment. However, a subset of young adolescents exhibited a decline in physical performance compared to pre-pandemic conditions. After infection, PCS-like symptoms persisted in 7% of the respondents for more than three months and up to four years. SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated participants (47%) reported 12% less acute flu-like infections other than SARS-CoV-2. Nearly all participants developed SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in this longitudinal study through either vaccination or infection during the Omicron wave. About 7% of participants suffered from PCS symptoms, predominately fatigue and exhaustion. Furthermore, participants who received vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 reported a lower frequency of acute infections during follow-up.
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spelling doaj-art-478549492b3040b59f4a39f891bc1f5f2025-01-26T12:29:52ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111110.1038/s41598-024-84140-6Long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in a population-based pediatric cohortJakob Höppner0Christoph Maier1Anne Schlegtendal2Anna Hoffmann3Astrid Petersmann4Thomas Lücke5Nicole Toepfner6Folke Brinkmann7University Children’s Hospital, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University BochumUniversity Children’s Hospital, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University BochumUniversity Children’s Hospital, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University BochumUniversity Children’s Hospital, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University BochumInstitute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine OldenburgUniversity Children’s Hospital, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University BochumDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität DresdenUniversity Children’s Hospital, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University BochumAbstract During the omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines becoming available, seroprevalence rates rose in children and adolescents. This study investigated the impact of both SARS-CoV-2 infections and vaccinations on the incidence of acute and prolonged symptoms in real-world conditions during the transition from the pandemic to the endemic phase. Participants from a pediatric population based seroprevalence study (CorKID study) were followed up at least two and for almost four years by survey of health status features and symptoms suggestive of post-COVID syndrome (PCS). In a subgroup (n = 259) SARS-CoV-2 antibody serology was further investigated. 789 participants of the original CorKID study cohort (n = 2.121; 37.2%) were included. 67.9% reported at least one SARS-CoV2 infection. 46.6% had received one or more SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations. In the vast majority of serologically tested participants antibodies again SARS-CoV-2 spike (98.9%) or nucleocapsid (93.3%) antigen were detected following infection and/or vaccination. At least 30% experienced one unrecognized SARS-CoV-2 infection. The overall health status was comparable between children, irrespective of SARS-CoV-2 infections and similar to pre-pandemic assessment. However, a subset of young adolescents exhibited a decline in physical performance compared to pre-pandemic conditions. After infection, PCS-like symptoms persisted in 7% of the respondents for more than three months and up to four years. SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated participants (47%) reported 12% less acute flu-like infections other than SARS-CoV-2. Nearly all participants developed SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in this longitudinal study through either vaccination or infection during the Omicron wave. About 7% of participants suffered from PCS symptoms, predominately fatigue and exhaustion. Furthermore, participants who received vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 reported a lower frequency of acute infections during follow-up.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84140-6SARS-CoV-2ChildrenSeroprevalenceFollow-upVaccination
spellingShingle Jakob Höppner
Christoph Maier
Anne Schlegtendal
Anna Hoffmann
Astrid Petersmann
Thomas Lücke
Nicole Toepfner
Folke Brinkmann
Long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in a population-based pediatric cohort
Scientific Reports
SARS-CoV-2
Children
Seroprevalence
Follow-up
Vaccination
title Long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in a population-based pediatric cohort
title_full Long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in a population-based pediatric cohort
title_fullStr Long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in a population-based pediatric cohort
title_full_unstemmed Long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in a population-based pediatric cohort
title_short Long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in a population-based pediatric cohort
title_sort long term effects of sars cov 2 infection and vaccination in a population based pediatric cohort
topic SARS-CoV-2
Children
Seroprevalence
Follow-up
Vaccination
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84140-6
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