Health Care Workers’ Sick Leave due to COVID-19 Vaccination in Context With SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Quarantine—A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Survey

Bauernfeind, Stilla; Huppertz, Gunnar; Mueller, Karolina; Hitzenbichler, Florian; Hardmann, Loredana; Pemmerl, Sylvia; Hollnberger, Harald; Sieber, W.; Wettstein, Matthias; Seeliger, Stephan; Kienle, Klaus; Paetzel, Christian; Kutz, Norbert; Daller, Dionys; Zorger, N.; Mohr, Arno; Lampl, Benedikt; Salzberger, Bernd

doi:10.1093/ofid/ofac203

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Several other studies also reported that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have had side effects that have prompted many to limit daily activities or miss work post-vaccination ( 20 , 21 , 36 ). Similar to the results reported here on vaccine types, Cohen et al found a significant difference in the proportion of those who reported needing to miss work after the second dose, with 49.4% of those who received the higher dose mRNA-1273 vaccine needing to miss work, versus 26.2% of those who received BNT162b2 ( 37 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some studies have shown booster doses inducing a significant and sustained increase in anti-SP IgG titers ( 18 ) while others have found a more short-lived impact ( 19 ). Nonetheless, there is a growing body of evidence on the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines and resulting time off work ( 20–22 ), which should not be ignored. The extent of post-vaccination absenteeism is, therefore, an important issue to explore in order to understand the characteristics that are associated with time lost from work, within occupational groups and demographics as well as in respect to vaccination type and timing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vaccination, time lost from work, and COVID-19 infections: a Canadian healthcare worker retrospective cohort study

Okpani

Lockhart

Grant

et al. 2023

Front. Public Health

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The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted hurdles for healthcare delivery and personnel globally. Vaccination has been an important tool for preventing severe illness and death in healthcare workers (HCWs) as well as the public at large. However, vaccination has resulted in some HCWs requiring time off work post-vaccination to recover from adverse events. We aimed to understand which HCWs needed to take time off work post-vaccination, for which vaccine types and sequence, and how post-vaccination absence impacted uptake of booster doses in a cohort of 26,267 Canadian HCWs. By March 31, 2022, more than 98% had received at least two doses of the approved COVID-19 vaccines, following a two-dose mandate. We found that recent vaccination and longer intervals between doses were associated with significantly higher odds of time-loss, whereas being a medical resident and receiving the BNT162b2 vaccine were associated with lower odds. A history of lab-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with lower odds of receiving a booster dose compared with no documented infection, aOR 0.61 (95% CI: 0.55, 0.68). Similarly, taking sick time following the first or second dose was associated with lower odds of receiving a booster dose, aOR 0.83 (95% CI: 0.75, 0.90). As SARS-CoV-2 becomes endemic, the number and timing of additional doses for HCWs requires consideration of prevention of illness as well as service disruption from post-vaccination time-loss. Care should be taken to ensure adequate staffing if many HCWs are being vaccinated, especially for coverage for those who are more likely to need time off to recover.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vaccination, time lost from work, and COVID-19 infections: a Canadian healthcare worker retrospective cohort study

Okpani

Lockhart

Grant

et al. 2023

Front. Public Health

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“…Importantly, we found a protective effect of vaccination against extended sick leave, reducing absenteeism by over 30 days. Other authors have shown that sick-leave due to COVID-19 has much larger impact on lost workforce than sick-leave caused by side-effects of vaccines ( 42 ). Our findings suggest that, even among those who get sick with COVID-19, prior vaccination will reduce absenteeism.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Symptom trajectories of post-COVID sequelae in patients with acute Delta or Omicron infection in Bergen, Norway

Iversen,

Blomberg,

Haug

et al. 2024

Front. Public Health

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IntroductionA substantial proportion of the over 700 million COVID-19 cases world-wide experience long-term symptoms. The objectives of this study were to compare symptom trajectories and risk factors for post-COVID-19 condition after Delta and Omicron infection.MethodsThis study consecutively recruited patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection from November 2021 to March 2022. We recorded demographics, comorbidities, vaccination status, sick leave, and 18 symptoms during acute infection and after 4 months. The primary outcome measures were symptoms during acute infection and after 4 months. Secondary outcome measures were work and school absenteeism.ResultsWe followed a cohort of 1,374 non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Bergen, Norway, at three time points. The median age was 39.8 years and 11% were children <16 years. Common acute upper respiratory symptoms waned during follow-up. Fatigue remained common from acute infection (40%) until after 4 months (37%). Four months post-infection, patients reported increased frequencies of dyspnea (from 15% during acute illness to 25% at 4 months, p < 0.001), cognitive symptoms (from 9 to 32%, p < 0.001) and depression (from 1 to 17%, p < 0.001). Patients infected with Omicron reported less dyspnea (22% versus 27%, p = 0.046) and smell/taste problems (5% versus 19%, p < 0.001) at 4 months follow-up than those with Delta infection. Comorbidities and female sex were risk factors for persistent dyspnea and cognitive symptoms. Ten percent reported sick leave after acute illness, and vaccination reduced the risk of absenteeism (adjusted risk ratio: 0.36, 95% confidence interval: 0.15, 0.72, p = 0.008).ConclusionAt 4 months, home-isolated patients infected with Omicron reported overall comparable symptom burden, but less dyspnea and smell/taste problems than Delta infected patients. Several acute symptoms waned during follow-up. It is worrying that dyspnea, neurocognitive symptoms, and particularly depression, increased significantly during the first 4 months after acute infection. Previous vaccination was protective against prolonged sick leave.

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“…8 To date evidence is insufficient to predict the impact of COVID-19 vaccine-related incapacity on healthcare systems. 9-11…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…8 To date evidence is insufficient to predict the impact of COVID-19 vaccine-related incapacity on healthcare systems. [9][10][11] The main goal of this study was to examine the number of sick days as well as the rate of staff absences after the first, second and third dose of COVID-19 vaccination among HCWs. We also performed a detailed analysis to assess the intake of pro re nata (PRN) medication following vaccinations and examined the impact of vaccine type, gender, age, and profession on the inability to work following COVID-19 vaccination.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inability to work following COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare workers - an important aspect for future booster vaccinations

Reusch

Wagenhäuser

Gabel

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background COVID-19 vaccination is a key prevention strategy to reduce the spread and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections, especially among highly exposed healthcare workers (HCWs). However, vaccine-related inability to work among HCWs could overstrain healthcare systems. Methods This study examined sick leave and intake of pro re nata (PRN) medication after the first, second and third COVID-19 vaccination in HCWs. Subgroup analyses were performed for different vaccines, gender, healthcare professions, and for HCWs aged at least 30 years. Data was collected by using an electronic questionnaire. Findings Among 1,704 HCWs enrolled, in total 595 (34·9%) HCWs were on sick leave following at least one COVID 19 vaccination, leading to a total number of 1,550 sick days. Both the absolute sick days and the rate of HCWs on sick leave significantly increased with each subsequent vaccination. Comparing BNT162b2mRNA and mRNA-1273 the difference in sick leave was not significant after the second dose, but mRNA-1273 induced a significantly longer and more frequent sick leave after the third. Interpretation A considerable number of HCWs have been on sick leave after COVID-19 vaccination, staff absences increase with each additional dose, depend on the vaccine, and vary between HCWs' gender, and profession. In the light of further COVID-19 infection waves and booster vaccinations, there is a risk of additional staff shortages due to post-vaccination inability to work, which could acutely overload healthcare systems and jeopardise patient care. These findings will aid further vaccination campaigns to minimise the impact of staff absences on the healthcare system.

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Health Care Workers’ Sick Leave due to COVID-19 Vaccination in Context With SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Quarantine—A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Survey

Cited by 7 publications

References 24 publications

Vaccination, time lost from work, and COVID-19 infections: a Canadian healthcare worker retrospective cohort study

Vaccination, time lost from work, and COVID-19 infections: a Canadian healthcare worker retrospective cohort study

Symptom trajectories of post-COVID sequelae in patients with acute Delta or Omicron infection in Bergen, Norway

Inability to work following COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare workers - an important aspect for future booster vaccinations

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