SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Germany: results from the second wave of the RKI-SOEP study: Elisabetta Mercuri

INTRODUCTION: The first wave of the “Corona Monitoring bundesweit” (RKI-SOEP) study showed that shortly before the start of the German vaccination program only about 2% of adults (> 18 years) had already experienced SARS-CoV-2 infection and more than half of these cases had been detected and notified. The objectives of the second wave of this study are to further investigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Germanýs population aged over 14 years. It aims to determine the seroprevalence of infection- and vaccine-induced IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Finally, it examines health, demographic and socioeconomic risk and protective factors for infection and vaccine acceptance. METHODS: From November 2021 to February 2022, the second wave of this cross-sectional study collected biospecimens (capillary blood samples) and interview data, including information on infection and vaccination, from a nationwide population sample drawn from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP). The dried self-collected blood samples were then analyzed for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies by Euroimmun ELISA assay. RESULTS: Based on preliminary, unweighted data of around 11,000 participants aged >14 years (52% response rate), we expect the final seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies to be in the range of 80 to 90%. Thus, around 10 to 20% of the German population may still be susceptible to a severe disease progression because they are neither infected nor vaccinated. Final results, weighted for non-response and adjusted for test sensitivity and specificity, will be presented. CONCLUSIONS: The RKI-SOEP-2 study will be pivotal in both, contributing to an improved understanding of SARS-CoV-2 propagation in different regional and sub-group settings and in identifying vulnerable target groups that need to be protected against future infections. KEY MESSAGES: • Dried blood self-sampling in a nationwide sample is a robust tool to estimate seroprevalence at a population level. • As of February 2022, presumably 80 to 90% of the German population has previously been infected and/or vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2.