COVID vaccination prevented infection and reduced health care worker absenteeism during the second wave, studies find

Rapid deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine from December 2020 avoided infection of NHS hospital workers facing UK patients and reduced virus-related absenteeism during the second wave of the pandemic. .. BMJ.

Another study found that both Pfizer BioNTech and the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine provide strong protection against COVID-19-related hospitalizations and healthcare worker hospitalizations. Researchers hope that the results of these findings can be used to guide further preventative and control measures.

The authors of the study used data from the OpenSAFELY research platform to compare the efficacy of the Pfizer BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines against infections in UK healthcare and social welfare workers. 317,341 participants were vaccinated between January 4, 2021 and February 28, 2021.

The results showed no substantial difference in infection rate or COVID-19-related hospitalization and hospitalization between the two vaccines, indicating strong protection from both vaccines. The results of these findings provide insights into SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare and social welfare professionals.

Healthcare workers were one of the first groups eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccination from December 2020. Although primary health care workers were prioritized during deployment, different coverages between groups of health care workers may have created exposure and protection disparities. Labor force.

In another study, researchers found that the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection among health care workers in susceptible hospitals during the second wave of the United Kingdom from September 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. , Risk factors, and the effects of vaccines were investigated. Data from a SARS-CoV-2 Immunity and Reinfection Assessment (SIREN) study of 18,283 clinical, support, and management staff with no previous evidence of infection, recruited from 105 NHS hospital trusts in the United Kingdom.

Participants completed a survey of demographic, household, and occupational characteristics at the time of registration. Subsequent questionnaires were completed every two weeks, including information about whether or not they were vaccinated.

During the study period, PCR tests were performed every two weeks and antibody tests were performed monthly. Researchers found that 13% (2353) of participants were infected during the second wave, after considering demographic, household, and occupational factors.

According to the authors of the study, infection peaked in late December 2020 and then declined from January 2021. This is in line with the rapid vaccination rate of healthcare workers and the national blockade.

Multiple factors include being under the age of 25, living in a household of 5 or more people, being frequently exposed to COVID-19 patients, and working in an emergency department or inpatient ward. It has been found to increase the likelihood of wave infection. Set up and be a healthcare assistant.

The time to first vaccination was found to be strongly associated with infection. Every day without vaccination increased the chances of infection for participants by 2%.

Simulations of mathematical models have shown that without prompt vaccination provided through rollouts, an additional 10% of health care workers in all hospitals facing patients would have been infected. In addition, according to a survey, the absence of staff due to COVID-19 could have been 69% higher without rollouts.

The authors focused on the limits of their research. Given the observational nature of the study, the cause could not be identified. Another limitation was the lack of details needed to investigate variations in hospital infection prevention and management policies.

However, the authors argue that SIREN is a large study suitable for investigating the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the hospital workforce.

The study “strengthens the importance of vaccination among healthcare professionals during the critical wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the United Kingdom,” they wrote.

“A deeper understanding of transmission dynamics between healthcare professionals, especially according to role and setting, provides NHS trusts that protect their workforce and patients from SARS-CoV-2 infection and potentially other seasonal winter viruses. Will support, “the author concludes.

reference

The COVID vaccine avoided infection in 10% of the medical staff facing the patient during the second wave. Eurek Alert. news release. July 20, 2022. Accessed on July 22, 2022. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/959208