Does COVID-19 Vaccine Impact the Soul? A Pre-post Vaccination Comparison of Health Care Workers’ Infection Control Practices and Perspectives

Abstract

Background It is unclear how COVID-19 vaccines have impacted the behavioral and physical infection control practices of health care workers (HCWs), both in the hospital and community. We conducted our study to explore this issue. Methods A comprehensive survey of 4 sections and 40 questions was administered to 146 HCWs 6 months apart, before and after COVID-19 vaccination. Besides demographics, the 4 sections evaluated the “behavioral” and “physical” infection control practices of HCWs in the hospital, infection control precautions in the community and their emotional stress. Each question was scored on a 4-point scale from 0 to 3. Results One hundred four of the HCWs (71%) completed both surveys. Respondents were mostly female, middle-aged nurses. Only 21% were confident that vaccine would prevent them from hospitalization or death. Despite some statistical improvement in some of the perspectives and practices, the intensity scores remained moderate-to-high for majority of the questions after vaccination. The HCWs remained worried about contracting COVID-19 infection in hospital and community, continued zealous precautionary measures, maintained social distancing both inside and outside of the hospital, avoided touching surfaces, and minimized contact with COVID-19 patients (P ≥ 0.08). Their emotional stress also did not improve after vaccination (P > 0.24). Conclusions COVID-19 vaccines have only a modest impact on the physical and behavioral infection control practices and emotional stress of HCWs. Additional measures are needed to influence HCW “souls” so they can reclaim their life of normalcy.