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The prevention of SARS-CoV-2 acquisition and transmission among healthcare workers is an ongoing challenge. Vaccination has been introduced to mitigate these risks. Vaccine uptake varies among healthcare workers in the absence of vaccine mandates. We investigated engagement with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among healthcare workers and identified characteristics associated with lower vaccine uptake. This multi-site cross-sectional study recruited n = 1260 healthcare workers in both clinical and non-clinical roles over a three-month period from November 2022. Participants reported their engagement with the primary SARS-CoV-2 vaccination programme and subsequent booster programmes, as well as providing demographic, occupational and personal medical history information. Multivariable linear regression identified characteristics associated with vaccine uptake. Engagement with vaccination programmes was high, with 88% of participants receiving at least one booster dose after primary vaccination course. Younger age and female sex were associated with reduced vaccine uptake. Healthcare workers in non-clinical roles also had reduced vaccine uptake. These findings should inform vaccination strategies across healthcare settings and target populations with reduced vaccine uptake directly, in particular young, female, and non-clinical healthcare workers, both for SARS-CoV-2 and other healthcare-associated vaccine-preventable infections.
RESUMEN
We highlight the need for planning for mass workforce absentees as we prepare for subsequent surges. We suggest a multicomponent intervention including guiding return dates more by symptomatology and fitness for work rather than infectivity status.
RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Health systems worldwide have had to prepare for a surge in volume in both the outpatient and inpatient settings since the emergence of COVID-19. Early international healthcare experiences showed approximately 80% of patients with COVID-19 had mild disease and therfore could be managed as outpatients. However, SARS-CoV-2 can cause a biphasic illness with those affected experiencing a clinical deterioration usually seen after day 4 of illness. OBJECTIVE: We created an online tool with the primary objective of allowing for virtual disease triage among the increasing number of outpatients diagnosed with COVID-19 at our hospital. Secondary aims included COVID-19 education and the promotion of official COVID-19 information among these outpatients, and analysis of reported symptomatology. METHODS: Outpatients with acute COVID-19 disease received text messages from the hospital containing a link to an online symptom check-in tool which they were invited to complete. RESULTS: 296 unique participants (72%) from 413 contacted by text completed the online check-in tool at least once, generating 831 responses from 1324 texts sent. 83% of text recipients and 91% of unique participants were healthcare workers. 7% of responses to the tool were from participants who admitted to a slight worsening of their symptoms during follow-up. Fatigue was the most commonly reported symptom overall (79%), followed by headache (72%). Fatigue, headache and myalgia were the most frequently reported symptoms in the first 3 days of illness. 8% of responses generated in the first 7 days of illness did not report any of the cardinal symptoms (fever, cough, dyspnoea, taste/smell disturbance) of COVID-19. Participants found the tool to be useful and easy to use, describing it as 'helpful' and 'reassuring' in a follow-up feedback survey (n=140). 93% said they would use such a tool in the future. 39% reported ongoing fatigue, 16% reported ongoing smell disturbance and 14% reported ongoing dyspnoea after 6 months. CONCLUSION: The online symptom check-in tool was found to be acceptable to participants and saw high levels of engagement and satisfaction. Symptomatology findings highlight the variety and persistence of symptoms experienced by those with confirmed COVID-19 disease.