Vaccination rate and symptoms of long COVID among dental teams in Germany
Abstract Although COVID-19 is no longer a global public health threat, its consequences persist, with long COVID affecting at least 10% of patients and manifesting in various organ systems. National and international health agencies promoted vaccination to enhance population immunity, prioritizing h...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96670-8 |
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| author | Maria Mksoud Till Ittermann Birte Holtfreter Andreas Söhnel Carmen Söhnel Alexander Welk Sebastian Paris Florentina Sophie Melzow Annette Wiegand Philipp Kanzow Andrea Rau Stefan Kindler Thomas Kocher |
| author_facet | Maria Mksoud Till Ittermann Birte Holtfreter Andreas Söhnel Carmen Söhnel Alexander Welk Sebastian Paris Florentina Sophie Melzow Annette Wiegand Philipp Kanzow Andrea Rau Stefan Kindler Thomas Kocher |
| author_sort | Maria Mksoud |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Although COVID-19 is no longer a global public health threat, its consequences persist, with long COVID affecting at least 10% of patients and manifesting in various organ systems. National and international health agencies promoted vaccination to enhance population immunity, prioritizing healthcare personnel due to their high occupational risk. In a previous study, we found that the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission among dental teams in Germany was not higher than in the general population. This follow-up investigation aims to assess the vaccination status and the prevalence and severity of long COVID symptoms among dental teams in Germany. As part of a follow-up investigation involving the original cohort, 267 team members from 186 German dental practices previously included in the initial study completed an online questionnaire. The questionnaire covered three topics: (1) vaccination status, (2) confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, and (3) self-reported long COVID symptoms. One hundred and seventy-two dentists (64.4%), 74 dental assistants (27.7%) and 21 dental hygienists (7.9%) completed the questionnaire. In total, 245 participants (91.8%) were at least once vaccinated. A COVID-19 infection after January 1st 2021 was reported by 146 (54.7%) participants, of which 33 participants (22.6%) suffered from long COVID symptoms. Our results showed lower vaccination rates among dental auxiliary personnel compared to dentists (95.9% vs. 84.2%). Individuals with long COVID symptoms were more often dental assistants (48.5% vs. 29.2%) or dental hygienists (15.2% vs. 8.0%) than dentists (36.4% vs. 62.8%) compared to the group not reporting long COVID symptoms (p = 0.025). In addition, it is unlikely that dental healthcare personnel are more prone to experiencing more severe symptoms compared to the general population. Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is likely to help against symptoms of long COVID. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4fc40923015c4cfcad89ff7a0daeec08 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-4fc40923015c4cfcad89ff7a0daeec082025-08-20T02:19:55ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-011511810.1038/s41598-025-96670-8Vaccination rate and symptoms of long COVID among dental teams in GermanyMaria Mksoud0Till Ittermann1Birte Holtfreter2Andreas Söhnel3Carmen Söhnel4Alexander Welk5Sebastian Paris6Florentina Sophie Melzow7Annette Wiegand8Philipp Kanzow9Andrea Rau10Stefan Kindler11Thomas Kocher12Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery, University Medicine GreifswaldInstitute for Community Medicine, University Medicine GreifswaldDepartment of Restorative Dentistry, Periodontology and Endodontology, University Medicine GreifswaldDepartment of Prosthodontics, Gerodontology and Biomaterials, University Medicine GreifswaldDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery, University Medicine GreifswaldDepartment of Restorative Dentistry, Periodontology and Endodontology, University Medicine GreifswaldDepartment of Operative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, University Medicine BerlinDepartment of Operative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, University Medicine BerlinDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Cariology, University Medical Center GöttingenDepartment of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Cariology, University Medical Center GöttingenDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery, University Medicine GreifswaldDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery, University Medicine GreifswaldDepartment of Restorative Dentistry, Periodontology and Endodontology, University Medicine GreifswaldAbstract Although COVID-19 is no longer a global public health threat, its consequences persist, with long COVID affecting at least 10% of patients and manifesting in various organ systems. National and international health agencies promoted vaccination to enhance population immunity, prioritizing healthcare personnel due to their high occupational risk. In a previous study, we found that the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission among dental teams in Germany was not higher than in the general population. This follow-up investigation aims to assess the vaccination status and the prevalence and severity of long COVID symptoms among dental teams in Germany. As part of a follow-up investigation involving the original cohort, 267 team members from 186 German dental practices previously included in the initial study completed an online questionnaire. The questionnaire covered three topics: (1) vaccination status, (2) confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, and (3) self-reported long COVID symptoms. One hundred and seventy-two dentists (64.4%), 74 dental assistants (27.7%) and 21 dental hygienists (7.9%) completed the questionnaire. In total, 245 participants (91.8%) were at least once vaccinated. A COVID-19 infection after January 1st 2021 was reported by 146 (54.7%) participants, of which 33 participants (22.6%) suffered from long COVID symptoms. Our results showed lower vaccination rates among dental auxiliary personnel compared to dentists (95.9% vs. 84.2%). Individuals with long COVID symptoms were more often dental assistants (48.5% vs. 29.2%) or dental hygienists (15.2% vs. 8.0%) than dentists (36.4% vs. 62.8%) compared to the group not reporting long COVID symptoms (p = 0.025). In addition, it is unlikely that dental healthcare personnel are more prone to experiencing more severe symptoms compared to the general population. Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is likely to help against symptoms of long COVID.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96670-8SARS-CoV-2Long COVIDOccupational riskDentistryPublic health |
| spellingShingle | Maria Mksoud Till Ittermann Birte Holtfreter Andreas Söhnel Carmen Söhnel Alexander Welk Sebastian Paris Florentina Sophie Melzow Annette Wiegand Philipp Kanzow Andrea Rau Stefan Kindler Thomas Kocher Vaccination rate and symptoms of long COVID among dental teams in Germany Scientific Reports SARS-CoV-2 Long COVID Occupational risk Dentistry Public health |
| title | Vaccination rate and symptoms of long COVID among dental teams in Germany |
| title_full | Vaccination rate and symptoms of long COVID among dental teams in Germany |
| title_fullStr | Vaccination rate and symptoms of long COVID among dental teams in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vaccination rate and symptoms of long COVID among dental teams in Germany |
| title_short | Vaccination rate and symptoms of long COVID among dental teams in Germany |
| title_sort | vaccination rate and symptoms of long covid among dental teams in germany |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 Long COVID Occupational risk Dentistry Public health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96670-8 |
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