Impacts of Side Effects to BNT162b2 and the First Dose of ChAdOx1 Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination on Work Productivity, the Need for Medical Attention, and Vaccine Acceptance: A Multicenter Survey on Healthcare Workers in Referral Teaching Hospitals in the Republic of Korea.

Tark Kim,Min Hyok Jeon,Eun Ju Choo,Se Yoon Park,Shinae Yu,Tae Hyong Kim,Eunjung Lee,Jung Wan Park

doi:10.3390/vaccines9060648

Tark Kim, Min Hyok Jeon + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9060648

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Abstract

To establish a successful anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination strategy, it is necessary to take possible tradeoffs into account. We conducted a survey on vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) inthree referral teaching hospitals in the Republic of Korea. We investigated the frequency of vaccination side effects (SEs), the impact on their work productivity, the need for medical attention, and vaccine acceptance. Three groups of HCWs were surveyed: 1406 who had received the first dose of BNT162b2 (BNT162b2#1), 1168 who had received the second dose of BNT162b2 (BNT162b2#2), and 1679 who had received the first dose of ChAdOx1 (ChAdOx1#1). More SEs and impact on work productivity were reported in ChAdOx1#1 than in the other two groups. However, among individuals aged ≥40 years, no significant difference of absence from work was found between ChAdOx1#1 and BN162b2#2 (4.4%, 31/699 vs. 3.0%, 12/405; p = 0.26), and none were hospitalized. Older HCWs in ChAdOx1#1 showed intention to receive the second dose of the vaccine. Although the incidence of SEs and their impacts were greater after the first dose of ChAdOx1 than BNT162b2 in young people, significant impact of SEs seemed to be rare in individuals aged ≥40 years, regardless of the vaccine they received.

Highlights

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) was first detectedin Wuhan, China in December 2019 [1]
We investigated the frequency of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine side effects, their impact on work productivity, the subsequent need for medical attention, and vaccine acceptance among the vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) in three referral teaching hospitals
HCWs were classified as candidates for receiving anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in the first quarter of year 2021 based on the vaccine priority strategy in the Repblic of Korea

Summary

Introduction

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) was first detectedin Wuhan, China in December 2019 [1] It has resulted in 141,057,106 infections and 3,015,043 deaths worldwide as of 18 April 2021 [2]. In the Republic of Korea, healthcare workers (HCWs) in referral hospitals were classified as the first the vaccination priority group. They received either the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine or the ChAdOx1 vaccine. We investigated the frequency of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine side effects, their impact on work productivity, the subsequent need for medical attention, and vaccine acceptance among the vaccinated HCWs in three referral teaching hospitals

Study Design &Population

Survey

Results

50–59 Year-Old