Ke M, Soothill G, Wilson K, Swietlik S, Leckie A, Sutherland R. Descriptive study of COVID-19 vaccinations and infections within an NHS workforce.
Occup Med (Lond) 2024;
74:120-127. [PMID:
38029429 DOI:
10.1093/occmed/kqad126]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Healthcare workers were a priority group for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination during the pandemic. Occupational exposure may account for some of the increased risk faced.
AIMS
Describe COVID-19 vaccine uptake and infection rates in staff across a large NHS board in Scotland to better understand occupational risk during the pandemic.
METHODS
Descriptive cross-sectional study. Demographic data were extracted on 5 August 2021 from 26 058 members of staff. COVID-19 vaccination status and positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results were extracted on two separate dates to describe the timeline of staff infections between March 2020 and January 2022.
RESULTS
There was high uptake of all three vaccine doses across all demographic groups in hospital staff. PCR positivity decreased with increasing age and Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation score. Staff and nosocomial COVID-19 infections followed peaks in community infection rates.
CONCLUSIONS
NHS Lothian is a typical NHS workforce with good vaccine uptake. Beyond very early cases, there seems to be minimal evidence of occupational acquisition of COVID-19. The large number of nosocomial infections at the start of the pandemic may, in fact, reflect lack of community testing at this time. Despite protection from high vaccine coverage, job type and good Infection Prevention and Control practices, it seems that staff remain at high risk of catching the highly transmissible omicron variant from the community rather than work.
Collapse