Dynamics of contact behaviour by self-reported COVID-19 vaccination and infection status during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: an analysis of two large population-based studies
Abstract Background Contact behaviour is crucial to assess and predict transmission of respiratory pathogens like SARS-CoV-2. Contact behaviour has traditionally been assessed in cross-sectional surveys and not as part of longitudinal population-based studies which simultaneously measure infection f...
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2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-04211-x |
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| author | Lena Böff Antonia Bartz Manuela Harries MuSPAD Consortium Group COVIMOD Consortium Group RESPINOW Consortium Group André Karch Annette Aigner Veronika K. Jaeger Berit Lange |
| author_facet | Lena Böff Antonia Bartz Manuela Harries MuSPAD Consortium Group COVIMOD Consortium Group RESPINOW Consortium Group André Karch Annette Aigner Veronika K. Jaeger Berit Lange |
| author_sort | Lena Böff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Contact behaviour is crucial to assess and predict transmission of respiratory pathogens like SARS-CoV-2. Contact behaviour has traditionally been assessed in cross-sectional surveys and not as part of longitudinal population-based studies which simultaneously measure infection frequency and vaccination coverage. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several studies assessed contact behaviour over longer periods and correlated this to data on immunity. This can inform future dynamic modelling. Here, we assess how contact behaviour varied based on SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination status in two large population-based studies in Germany during 2021. Methods We assessed direct encounters, separated into household and non-household contacts, in participants of MuSPAD (n = 12,641), a population-based cohort study, and COVIMOD (n = 31,260), a longitudinal contact survey. We calculated mean numbers of reported contacts and fitted negative binomial mixed-effects models to estimate the impact of immunity status, defined by vaccination or previous infection, on contact numbers; logistic mixed-effects models were used to examine the relationship between contact behaviour and seropositivity due to infection. Results Contact numbers varied over the course of the pandemic from 7.6 to 10.8 per 24 h in MuSPAD and 2.1 to 3.1 per 24 h in COVIMOD. The number of non-household contacts was higher in participants who reported previous infections and vaccinations (contact ratio (CR) MuSPAD: 1.22 (95%CI 0.94–1.60); COVIMOD: 1.35 (CI 1.12–1.62)) compared to unvaccinated and uninfected individuals. Non-household contact numbers were also higher in fully vaccinated participants (MUSPAD: CR 1.15 (CI 1.05–1.26); COVIMOD: 1.43 (CI 1.32–1.56)) compared to unvaccinated individuals. Compared to individuals without household contacts, the odds for seropositivity due to infection were higher among MuSPAD individuals with three or more household contacts (odds ratio (OR) 1.54 (CI 1.12–2.13)) and eleven or more non-household contacts (OR 1.29 (CI 1.01–1.65)). Conclusions Different contact behaviours based on infection and/or vaccination status suggest that public health policies targeting immunity status may influence the contact behaviour of those affected. A combined assessment of self-reported contacts, infections, and vaccinations as well as laboratory-confirmed serostatus in the population can support modelling of the spread of infections. This could help target containment policies and evaluate the impact of public health measures. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d9f3a019c7e24139b81aee894b5b15e2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1741-7015 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| spelling | doaj-art-d9f3a019c7e24139b81aee894b5b15e22025-08-20T04:02:54ZengBMCBMC Medicine1741-70152025-07-0123111510.1186/s12916-025-04211-xDynamics of contact behaviour by self-reported COVID-19 vaccination and infection status during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: an analysis of two large population-based studiesLena Böff0Antonia Bartz1Manuela Harries2MuSPAD Consortium GroupCOVIMOD Consortium GroupRESPINOW Consortium GroupAndré Karch3Annette Aigner4Veronika K. Jaeger5Berit Lange6Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI)Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of MünsterDepartment of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI)Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of MünsterCharité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Biometry and Clinical EpidemiologyInstitute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of MünsterDepartment of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI)Abstract Background Contact behaviour is crucial to assess and predict transmission of respiratory pathogens like SARS-CoV-2. Contact behaviour has traditionally been assessed in cross-sectional surveys and not as part of longitudinal population-based studies which simultaneously measure infection frequency and vaccination coverage. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several studies assessed contact behaviour over longer periods and correlated this to data on immunity. This can inform future dynamic modelling. Here, we assess how contact behaviour varied based on SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination status in two large population-based studies in Germany during 2021. Methods We assessed direct encounters, separated into household and non-household contacts, in participants of MuSPAD (n = 12,641), a population-based cohort study, and COVIMOD (n = 31,260), a longitudinal contact survey. We calculated mean numbers of reported contacts and fitted negative binomial mixed-effects models to estimate the impact of immunity status, defined by vaccination or previous infection, on contact numbers; logistic mixed-effects models were used to examine the relationship between contact behaviour and seropositivity due to infection. Results Contact numbers varied over the course of the pandemic from 7.6 to 10.8 per 24 h in MuSPAD and 2.1 to 3.1 per 24 h in COVIMOD. The number of non-household contacts was higher in participants who reported previous infections and vaccinations (contact ratio (CR) MuSPAD: 1.22 (95%CI 0.94–1.60); COVIMOD: 1.35 (CI 1.12–1.62)) compared to unvaccinated and uninfected individuals. Non-household contact numbers were also higher in fully vaccinated participants (MUSPAD: CR 1.15 (CI 1.05–1.26); COVIMOD: 1.43 (CI 1.32–1.56)) compared to unvaccinated individuals. Compared to individuals without household contacts, the odds for seropositivity due to infection were higher among MuSPAD individuals with three or more household contacts (odds ratio (OR) 1.54 (CI 1.12–2.13)) and eleven or more non-household contacts (OR 1.29 (CI 1.01–1.65)). Conclusions Different contact behaviours based on infection and/or vaccination status suggest that public health policies targeting immunity status may influence the contact behaviour of those affected. A combined assessment of self-reported contacts, infections, and vaccinations as well as laboratory-confirmed serostatus in the population can support modelling of the spread of infections. This could help target containment policies and evaluate the impact of public health measures.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-04211-xSARS-CoV-2Covid-19PandemicSeroprevalence studySocial contact surveySocial contact behaviour |
| spellingShingle | Lena Böff Antonia Bartz Manuela Harries MuSPAD Consortium Group COVIMOD Consortium Group RESPINOW Consortium Group André Karch Annette Aigner Veronika K. Jaeger Berit Lange Dynamics of contact behaviour by self-reported COVID-19 vaccination and infection status during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: an analysis of two large population-based studies BMC Medicine SARS-CoV-2 Covid-19 Pandemic Seroprevalence study Social contact survey Social contact behaviour |
| title | Dynamics of contact behaviour by self-reported COVID-19 vaccination and infection status during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: an analysis of two large population-based studies |
| title_full | Dynamics of contact behaviour by self-reported COVID-19 vaccination and infection status during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: an analysis of two large population-based studies |
| title_fullStr | Dynamics of contact behaviour by self-reported COVID-19 vaccination and infection status during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: an analysis of two large population-based studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamics of contact behaviour by self-reported COVID-19 vaccination and infection status during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: an analysis of two large population-based studies |
| title_short | Dynamics of contact behaviour by self-reported COVID-19 vaccination and infection status during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: an analysis of two large population-based studies |
| title_sort | dynamics of contact behaviour by self reported covid 19 vaccination and infection status during the covid 19 pandemic in germany an analysis of two large population based studies |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 Covid-19 Pandemic Seroprevalence study Social contact survey Social contact behaviour |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-04211-x |
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