Table 2 RT-qPCR Ct values in the six pairwise comparisons including all infections.

From: Relative infectiousness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine breakthrough infections, reinfections, and primary infections

Study groupsa

N

Median

Difference in medians

IQR

Mean (95% CI)

SD

Difference in means (95% CI)

p value

Study 1

 Primary infections in unvaccinated individuals

4035

23.6

 

18.5–29.5

24.0 (23.8–24.2)

6.5

  

 BNT162b2-vaccine breakthrough infections

4035

24.7

1.1

19.2–30.9

25.0 (24.8–25.2)

6.6

1.0 (0.7–1.2)

<0.001

Study 2

 Primary infections in unvaccinated individuals

265

28.9

 

20.0–33.5

26.8 (25.9–27.6)

7.1

  

 mRNA-1273-vaccine breakthrough infections

265

32.6

3.7

27.3–34.7

30.3 (29.6–31.0)

5.9

3.5 (2.5–4.5)

<0.001

Study 3

 BNT162b2-vaccine breakthrough infections

227

29.0

 

20.0–33.5

27.1 (26.2–28.0)

6.0

  

 mRNA-1273-vaccine breakthrough infections

227

32.6

3.6

27.3–34.7

30.2 (29.4–31.0)

7.0

3.1 (2.0–4.2)

<0.001

Study 4

 Primary infections in unvaccinated individuals

1686

23.6

 

18.5–29.9

24.2 (23.8–24.5)

6.6

  

 Reinfections in unvaccinated individuals

1686

29.9

6.3

22.3–33.5

27.9 (27.6–28.3)

6.5

3.8 (3.4–4.2)

<0.001

Study 5

 BNT162b2-vaccine breakthrough infections

761

26.4

 

20.2–31.9

26.0 (25.5–26.4)

6.5

  

 Reinfections in unvaccinated individuals

761

29.5

3.1

22.0–33.4

27.7 (27.2–28.1)

6.5

1.7 (1.1–2.3)

<0.001

Study 6

 mRNA-1273-vaccine breakthrough infections

85

31.6

 

24.1–34.2

28.8 (27.3–30.3)

6.8

  

 Reinfections in unvaccinated individuals

85

33.0

1.4

29.4–34.4

30.8 (29.7–32.0)

5.3

2.1 (0.3–3.8)

0.022

  1. RT-qPCR Ct values, for all confirmed infections, regardless of the reason for the RT-qPCR testing, in the six pairwise comparisons between primary infections in unvaccinated individuals, reinfections in unvaccinated individuals, BNT162b2-vaccine breakthrough infections, and mRNA-1273-vaccine breakthrough infections. Paired t-tests were used to compare the difference in means between study groups, with no adjustment for multiple comparisons. Two-sided p values are reported.
  2. Ct cycle threshold, IQR interquartile range, RT-qPCR real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, SD standard deviation.
  3. aStudy groups were matched in a 1:1 ratio by sex, 10-year age group, reason for RT-qPCR testing, and RT-qPCR test calendar week.