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. 2021 Dec 1;63(12):e868-e870.
doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002389.

COVID-19 Vaccination and Asymptomatic Infection: Effect of BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine on the Incidence of COVID-19 and Duration of Sick Leave Among Healthcare Workers

Simone Prato'  1 , Maria Emilia Paladino, Michele Augusto Riva, Michael Belingheri
Affiliations

COVID-19 Vaccination and Asymptomatic Infection: Effect of BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine on the Incidence of COVID-19 and Duration of Sick Leave Among Healthcare Workers

Simone Prato' et al. J Occup Environ Med. .

Abstract

Objective: To determine the incidence of COVID-19 and the duration of sick leave among asymptomatic healthcare workers (HCWs) after vaccination with BNT162b2.

Methods: From October 2020 to March 2021, we determined the incidence of COVID-19 in a cohort of 671 asymptomatic HCWs before and after the vaccination. We also analyzed the days required to obtain a negative RT-PCR result after infection.

Results: Prior to vaccination 105 (15.6%) HCWs were positive. Positive cases were reduced to 42 (7.5%) after the vaccination period (P < 0.0001). A negative RT-PCR was observed at the first control in 80% of vaccinated HCWs and only in 37% before vaccination.

Conclusions: Even in case of asymptomatic infection, vaccinated HCWs have a reduced incidence and a shorter period of sick leave than before vaccination, suggesting vaccination impacts on the sustainability of the health system and labor costs.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Cumulative incidence of COVID-19 before and after Covid-19 vaccination. For the vaccinated group, the dashed line represents the administration of the second dose of vaccine.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Sick leave duration before and after COVID-19 vaccination. The box extends from the 25th to 75th percentiles and the whiskers are drawn down to the 10th percentile and up to the 90th percentile.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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