A retrospective study of the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha Variant: Epidemiological profile and impact of vaccination in Morocco. | ||||
| Microbes and Infectious Diseases | ||||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 07 July 2025 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/mid.2025.390711.2845 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
Youssef IKKEN   1, 2; Souad El HASSANI3; Mounir RACHID 4; Samia Boussaa 5; Bouchra ASSARAG6; Majdouline OBTEL 1; Abdelghafour MARFAK 6
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| 1Laboratory of Biostatistics, Clinical Research and Epidemiology and Laboratory of Community Health, Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, Department of Public health / Pedagogy and Research Unit of Public Health, Department of Public health research team, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco. | ||||
| 2Research Team, ISPITS - Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques in Rabat, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Rabat, Morocco. | ||||
| 3Public Health and Epidemiological Surveillance Team, Regional Department of Health and Social Protection, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Rabat, Morocco. | ||||
| 4Laboratory of Earthworm, Improving Soil Productivity and Environment (LAPSE), Faculty of Sciences of Rabat, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco | ||||
| 5ISPITS - Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques in Rabat, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Rabat, Morocco. | ||||
| 6National School of Public Health, Rabat, Morocco. | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: The SARS-CoV-2 Alpha Variant, a Variant of Concern, was first identified in Morocco on 29 December 2020. Aim: This study aimed to delineate the epidemiological profile and evaluate the impact of vaccination status on patients infected with the Alpha Variant during the COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco. Methods: A retrospective analytical study was conducted in the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra Region, central Morocco, encompassing all reported cases of the Alpha Variant. Data, anonymized and compiled in Excel, were processed using SPSS software. Results: A total of 545 patients with the Alpha Variant were registered. The mean age was 38±18 years, with a male/female sex ratio of 0.73 (230/315). The average cumulative incidence of new cases over a period of 4 months and 7 days reached 25.32 per million inhabitants. Among the cohort, 81 patients (14.86%) were vaccinated, compared to 464 (85.14%) unvaccinated individuals. The overall recovery and fatality rates were 99.45% and 0.55%, respectively. Conclusion: Our analysis revealed that patients older than 38 years with comorbidities faced a significantly elevated risk of developing symptoms upon contracting the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant (e.g., for comorbidities: OR = 5.03, 95% CI: [2.70; 9.37], p < 0.0001). Conversely, receiving a second dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine demonstrated a protective effect against adverse outcomes, including reduced symptomatology (OR = 0.40, 95% CI: [0.16; 1.06], p = 0.06), hospitalization, and attenuated disease severity. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine; Dose-Effects vaccine; Epidemiologic Profile; SARS-CoV-2 Alpha Variant; Symptomatology | ||||
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