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Publications

Journal Article Epublish

PubMed: 39595768 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21111501

Recent Vaccination Against SARS-CoV-2 Is Associated with Less Severe Disease in Working-Age Adults.

Int J Environ Res Public Health 21(11)

Authors: Kailey Fischer, Joanne M Langley, Robyn Harrison, Samira Mubareka, Jeya Nadarajah, Marek Smieja, Louis Valiquette, Curtis Cooper, Jeff Powis, Ccs Working Group, Allison McGeer, Brenda L Coleman

Affiliations

  • Sinai Health, 600 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada.
  • Canadian Center for Vaccinology, Dalhousie University, IWK and Nova Scotia Health, 5850 University Ave, Halifax, NS B3K 6R8, Canada.
  • Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alberta, 8440 112 St, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada.
  • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada.
  • Oak Valley Health, 381 Church St, Markham, ON L3P 13P, Canada.
  • St. Joseph's Healthcare, 50 Charlton Ave East, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada.
  • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, 2500 Bd de l'université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada.
  • Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 75 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
  • Michael Garron Hospital, 825 Coxwell Avenue Toronto, ON M4C 3E7, Canada.
  • School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada.
  • Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Cir, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Essential workers, including those working in healthcare and education, are at higher risk of exposure to communicable diseases, including SARS-CoV-2. Reducing the rates of infection is important for their personal health and for the ongoing safe operation of essential services.

METHODS

Data from participants in two prospective cohort studies who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in 2020 through 2023 were used to determine whether vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is associated with the severity of symptoms in working-age adults.

RESULTS

SARS-CoV-2-positive tests (N = 3757) were reported by 3093 participants (mean: 1.2 per person); 1229 (33%) illnesses did not interfere with regular activities, 1926 (51%) made participants too unwell for regular activities, and 602 (16%) required participant bed rest. Compared with vaccine receipt more than 12 months earlier, receipt within six months of an infection was associated with lower risk ratios for more severe illness (too unwell: 0.69 and bed rest: 0.67) compared with being able to conduct regular activities. More recent vaccination was also associated with lower odds reporting of systemic symptoms (fever, myalgia, arthralgia) and fewer solicited symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Staying current with COVID-19 vaccinations should continue to be recommended since receiving a recent immunization lessened the severity of illness. Also, as symptoms of COVID-19 are now largely similar to other respiratory viruses, practitioners need to use this evidence to inform diagnostic testing and return-to-work policies.

MeSH

Environmental Exposure, Sars-Cov-2, Vaccines, Vaccination, Signs And Symptoms, Work, Bed Rest, Beds, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus, Infections

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