Investigating the frequency of infection with covid-19 after vaccination in medical personnel according to their epidemiological characteristics, department of service, and history of chronic diseases(A study in the west of Iran)

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 strains all over the world has caused concerns about this infection and the effectiveness of the vaccines produced to cope with the resulting pandemic. The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of infection with covid-19 after vaccination, according to their epidemiological characteristics, department of service, and history of chronic diseases. Method(s) In the present cross-sectional study, all the vaccinated healthcare workers working in Shahid Rahimi Hospital in Khorramabad city were included in the study using a census method and were examined in terms of covid-19 infection after covid-19 vaccination. In the present study, all individuals with a positive PCR test or CT scan findings consistent with covid-19 were considered as new infections after vaccination. The required data were collected through a multi-part questionnaire, including the variables of age, gender, occupation, body mass index, chronic disease records, and PCR test results. Data were analyzed using SPSS-23 statistical software. Result(s) After vaccination, the rate of re-infection with covid-19 (according to the definitive result of the PCR test) was 13% in the study subjects. According to the results of the chi-square test, the difference in the frequency of re-infection with covid-19 after vaccination in the subjects was statistically significant based on age (pv=0.019) and gender (pv=0.007), but it was not statistically significant based on body mass index (pv=0.31). Despite the highest frequency of re-infection with covid-19 after vaccination in nurses (16.1%) compared to service workers (5%) and physicians (7.7%), this difference was not statistically significant (pv=0.619) and there was no correlation between the type of occupation of the people and re-infection with Covid-19 after vaccination in the studied people. The difference in the frequency of infection with covid-19 after vaccination in the study subjects was statistically significant based on department of service (pv= 0.019) and history of chronic diseases (pv=0.029). The frequency of re-infection with covid-19 after vaccination was 24.3% in people who had a history of chronic disease and 11.4% in people who did not have a history of chronic disease. Conclusion(s) The healthcare workers providing medical services in hospitals are among the high-risk groups for infection with covid-19 owing to their type of occupation and work environment. Copyright © 2022, Anka Publishers. All rights reserved.