Clinical Features of Imported Chinese COVID-19 Patients Following Chinese Inactivated Vaccines Injection Abroad

Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination has been demonstrated as an effective way to reduce the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and only a few vaccinees suffered from SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, limited data concerning the clinical features of these vaccinees infected with SARS-CoV-2 can be identified. Methods We retrospectively collected and analyzed epidemiological and clinical characteristics data of the imported COVID-19 cases who received Chinese inactivated vaccines abroad. Data were extracted from electronic medical records from a designated hospital in the Shaanxi Province of China between March 22 and May 17, 2021. Results Totally, 46 confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection patients were enrolled. The mean age was 40.5 years (range 20-61), 41 (89.1%) are male. Eighteen (39.1%) patients were from Pakistan. Fourteen (30.4%) patients had at least one comorbidity. Forty (87.0%) and 6 cases were fully vaccinated and partly vaccinated. The time interval between vaccination and infection was 88 days (IQR, 33-123), 31 (67.4%) and 15 (32.6%) were asymptomatic and symptomatic cases, respectively. Fever (3/46, 6.5%) was the most common symptom; however, none had a body temperature higher than 38.0℃, and no severe case was observed. Notably, the rate of SARS-CoV-2 shedding discontinuation at 7 days after hospitalization in asymptomatic cases was higher than symptomatic one (93.5% vs 40%, P < 0.0001). Conclusions Individuals who received Chinese inactivated vaccines abroad remain have the probability to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, but all the vaccinees infected with SARS-CoV-2 were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms with favorable clinical outcomes.