Factors influencing healthcare worker symptomatic respiratory infection and vaccine uptake during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period
Abstract Objective: Investigate the factors associated with symptomatic respiratory infection and uptake of seasonal SARS-CoV-2 and influenza vaccine amongst healthcare workers (HCWs). Design: Longitudinal prospective multi-center study. Setting: Two tertiary healthcare centers in Ireland. P...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2732494X25100946/type/journal_article |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849762592629719040 |
|---|---|
| author | Liam Townsend Lisa Domegan Wenzhou Wang Siobhan Quirke PRECISE Steering Group Colm Bergin Catherine Fleming |
| author_facet | Liam Townsend Lisa Domegan Wenzhou Wang Siobhan Quirke PRECISE Steering Group Colm Bergin Catherine Fleming |
| author_sort | Liam Townsend |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
Objective:
Investigate the factors associated with symptomatic respiratory infection and uptake of seasonal SARS-CoV-2 and influenza vaccine amongst healthcare workers (HCWs).
Design:
Longitudinal prospective multi-center study.
Setting:
Two tertiary healthcare centers in Ireland.
Participants:
N = 893 self-selected HCWs across all disciplines.
Methods:
Monthly self-reported questionnaires from September 2024 to February 2025 completed by all participants, providing infection symptoms, self-testing for COVID-19 and receipt of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 or influenza in the preceding 30 days. Additional data collected included comorbidities, known diagnosis of Long COVID, demographic data, prior infection and vaccination status, and healthcare role. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed the factors associated with symptom development, self-testing, and vaccine uptake.
Results:
Symptomatic respiratory illness was reported by n = 321 (36%) of participants during the study period, with a preexisting diagnosis of Long COVID associated with developing symptoms. Testing for COVID-19 was performed by 63% (n = 202) of symptomatic individuals, with a shorter duration since prior infection the only significant predictor of self-testing. Vaccine uptake was variable, with 37% receiving influenza and 22% receiving SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for that period. Older age and shorter interval since previous vaccine were associated with increased uptake of both vaccines, while men were more likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Conclusions:
In the postpandemic period, self-reported symptomatic respiratory infections remain common amongst HCWs. The legacy of the pandemic influences this, with a preexisting diagnosis of Long COVID associated with increased symptom burden, while low vaccination rates and understanding the factors associated with this present a challenge to ongoing risk mitigation.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d6fcfa2f5cac43e494215c45b289d6d9 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2732-494X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-d6fcfa2f5cac43e494215c45b289d6d92025-08-20T03:05:42ZengCambridge University PressAntimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology2732-494X2025-01-01510.1017/ash.2025.10094Factors influencing healthcare worker symptomatic respiratory infection and vaccine uptake during the post-COVID-19 pandemic periodLiam Townsend0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7089-0665Lisa Domegan1Wenzhou Wang2https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8333-3429Siobhan Quirke3PRECISE Steering GroupColm Bergin4Catherine Fleming5https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0548-6430Department of Infectious Diseases, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandHealth Protection Surveillance Centre Dublin, Dublin, IrelandRoyal College of Surgeons Ireland, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Infectious Diseases, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Infectious Diseases, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland Abstract Objective: Investigate the factors associated with symptomatic respiratory infection and uptake of seasonal SARS-CoV-2 and influenza vaccine amongst healthcare workers (HCWs). Design: Longitudinal prospective multi-center study. Setting: Two tertiary healthcare centers in Ireland. Participants: N = 893 self-selected HCWs across all disciplines. Methods: Monthly self-reported questionnaires from September 2024 to February 2025 completed by all participants, providing infection symptoms, self-testing for COVID-19 and receipt of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 or influenza in the preceding 30 days. Additional data collected included comorbidities, known diagnosis of Long COVID, demographic data, prior infection and vaccination status, and healthcare role. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed the factors associated with symptom development, self-testing, and vaccine uptake. Results: Symptomatic respiratory illness was reported by n = 321 (36%) of participants during the study period, with a preexisting diagnosis of Long COVID associated with developing symptoms. Testing for COVID-19 was performed by 63% (n = 202) of symptomatic individuals, with a shorter duration since prior infection the only significant predictor of self-testing. Vaccine uptake was variable, with 37% receiving influenza and 22% receiving SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for that period. Older age and shorter interval since previous vaccine were associated with increased uptake of both vaccines, while men were more likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Conclusions: In the postpandemic period, self-reported symptomatic respiratory infections remain common amongst HCWs. The legacy of the pandemic influences this, with a preexisting diagnosis of Long COVID associated with increased symptom burden, while low vaccination rates and understanding the factors associated with this present a challenge to ongoing risk mitigation. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2732494X25100946/type/journal_article |
| spellingShingle | Liam Townsend Lisa Domegan Wenzhou Wang Siobhan Quirke PRECISE Steering Group Colm Bergin Catherine Fleming Factors influencing healthcare worker symptomatic respiratory infection and vaccine uptake during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology |
| title | Factors influencing healthcare worker symptomatic respiratory infection and vaccine uptake during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period |
| title_full | Factors influencing healthcare worker symptomatic respiratory infection and vaccine uptake during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period |
| title_fullStr | Factors influencing healthcare worker symptomatic respiratory infection and vaccine uptake during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors influencing healthcare worker symptomatic respiratory infection and vaccine uptake during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period |
| title_short | Factors influencing healthcare worker symptomatic respiratory infection and vaccine uptake during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period |
| title_sort | factors influencing healthcare worker symptomatic respiratory infection and vaccine uptake during the post covid 19 pandemic period |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2732494X25100946/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT liamtownsend factorsinfluencinghealthcareworkersymptomaticrespiratoryinfectionandvaccineuptakeduringthepostcovid19pandemicperiod AT lisadomegan factorsinfluencinghealthcareworkersymptomaticrespiratoryinfectionandvaccineuptakeduringthepostcovid19pandemicperiod AT wenzhouwang factorsinfluencinghealthcareworkersymptomaticrespiratoryinfectionandvaccineuptakeduringthepostcovid19pandemicperiod AT siobhanquirke factorsinfluencinghealthcareworkersymptomaticrespiratoryinfectionandvaccineuptakeduringthepostcovid19pandemicperiod AT precisesteeringgroup factorsinfluencinghealthcareworkersymptomaticrespiratoryinfectionandvaccineuptakeduringthepostcovid19pandemicperiod AT colmbergin factorsinfluencinghealthcareworkersymptomaticrespiratoryinfectionandvaccineuptakeduringthepostcovid19pandemicperiod AT catherinefleming factorsinfluencinghealthcareworkersymptomaticrespiratoryinfectionandvaccineuptakeduringthepostcovid19pandemicperiod |