Symptom monitoring after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in a large integrated healthcare system: Separating symptoms from severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. (2nd October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shenoy, Erica S.; Wickner, Paige G.; West, Lauren R.; Banerji, Aleena; Blumenthal, Kimberly G.; Centi, Amanda J.; Gottlieb, Andrew; Hashimoto, Dean M.; Kim, Esther; Kim, Marvel; Lee, Hang; Simpson, Lynn A.; Landman, Adam B.
• Is Part Of: Infection control and hospital epidemiology. Volume 43:Number 10(2022)
• Page Start: 1439
• Page End: 1446
• Publication Date: 2022-10-02
• Subjects: Nosocomial infections -- Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Health facilities -- Sanitation -- Periodicals; Hospital buildings -- Sanitation -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Hospitals -- Periodicals; Infection Control -- Periodicals; 614.44
• DOI: 10.1017/ice.2021.449
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0899-823X

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To describe the incidence of systemic overlap and typical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms in healthcare personnel (HCP) following COVID-19 vaccination and association of reported symptoms with diagnosis of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the context of public health recommendations regarding work exclusion. Design: This prospective cohort study was conducted between December 16, 2020, and March 14, 2021, with HCP who had received at least 1 dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Setting: Large healthcare system in New England. Interventions: HCP were prompted to complete a symptom survey for 3 days after each vaccination. Reported symptoms generated automated guidance regarding symptom management, SARS-CoV-2 testing requirements, and work restrictions. Overlap symptoms (ie, fever, fatigue, myalgias, arthralgias, or headache) were categorized as either lower or higher severity. Typical COVID-19 symptoms included sore throat, cough, nasal congestion or rhinorrhea, shortness of breath, ageusia and anosmia. Results: Among 64, 187 HCP, a postvaccination electronic survey had response rates of 83% after dose 1 and 77% after dose 2. Report of ≥3 lower-severity overlap symptoms, ≥1 higher-severity overlap symptoms, or at least 1 typical COVID-19 symptom after dose 1 was associated with increased likelihood of testing positive. HCP with prior COVID-19 infection were significantly more likely to report severe overlap symptoms after dose 1. Conclusions: Reported overlap symptoms were common; however, only report of ≥3 low-severity overlap symptoms, at least 1 higher-severity overlap symptom, or any typical COVID-19 symptom were associated with infection. Work-related restrictions for overlap symptoms should be reconsidered.