Real-world effectiveness of BNT162b2 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection among adolescents (12 to 17-year-olds) in Malaysia

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to investigate vaccine effectiveness (VE) against SARS-CoV-2 infections among adolescents aged 12 to 17 years in Malaysia and examine potential VE differences after full vaccination. METHODS: We consolidated data on COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and outcomes for all public school-going adolescents in Malaysia from September 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021, and estimated the VE against SARS-CoV-2 infections during this period. Cases were defined as positive tests, either by reverse transcriptase- PCR (RT-PCR) or rapid antigen (RTK-Ag) testing, while controls were negative tests. Secondarily, we restricted the analysis to all tests performed in December 2021 and compared VE by month of full vaccination. RESULTS: A total of 175,880 eligible tests (53.4% or 93,995 RT-PCR tests) were included. After full vaccination with BNT162b2, VE against SARS-CoV-2 infections was 65.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 64.4, 66.9) over the study period. When restricted to tests in December 2021, VEs for those fully vaccinated in September 2021, October 2021, and November 2021 were comparable (60.6% [95% CI 23.7, 81.5], 56.9% [95% CI 51.1, 62.0], and 65.7% [95% CI 59.8, 70.7] respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Among adolescents, full vaccination with BNT162b2 offered considerable protection against SARS-CoV-2 infections over at least three months without substantial evidence of waning.