Healthcare workers benefit from second dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine: Effects of partial and full vaccination on sick leave duration and symptoms

ABSTRACT Importance In addition to morbidity and mortality of individuals, COVID-19 can affect staffing among organizations. It is important to determine whether vaccination can mitigate this burden. Objective: This study examined the association between COVID-19 vaccination status and time until return to work among 952 healthcare workers (HCW) who tested positive for COVID-19. Design Data were collected prospectively between December 2020 and July 2021. HCW who tested positive for COVID-19 completed an initial interview and were followed until they returned to work. Setting An academic campus in Southern California consisting of two large hospitals and multiple outpatient clinics and other facilities. Participants Clinical and nonclinical HCW who tested positive for COVID-19 during the study period (N=952, mean age=39.2 years, 69% female, 45% Hispanic, 14% white, 14% Asian/Pacific Islander, 5% African American, and 21% other race/ethnicity). Exposure COVID-19 vaccination status (unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or fully vaccinated) Main Outcome Measures Days until return to work, presenting symptom Results Return-to-work time for fully vaccinated HCWs (mean=10.9 days) was significantly shorter than that of partially vaccinated HCWs (15.5 days), which in turn was significantly shorter than that of unvaccinated HCWs (18.0 days). Fully vaccinated HCWs also showed milder symptom profiles compared to partially vaccinated and unvaccinated HCWs. Conclusions and Relevance COVID-19 vaccination has the potential to prevent long absences from work and the adverse financial, staffing, and managerial consequences of these long absences. KEY POINTS Question Do healthcare workers (HCW) who are vaccinated against COVID-19 return to work sooner and experience milder symptoms compared with unvaccinated HCW? Findings Among 952 healthcare workers who tested positive for COVID-19 between December 2020 and July 2021, return-to-work time for fully vaccinated HCWs (mean=10.9 days) was significantly shorter than that of partially vaccinated HCWs (15.5 days), which in turn was significantly shorter than that of unvaccinated HCWs (18.0 days). Fully vaccinated HCWs also showed milder symptom profiles compared to partially vaccinated and unvaccinated HCWs. Meaning COVID-19 vaccination has the potential to prevent long absences from work and the adverse financial, staffing, and managerial consequences of these long absences.