key: cord-0773115-8airmbvf
authors: Dunbar, Erin; Godbout, Emily; Pryor, Rachel; Rozycki, Henry J.; Bearman, Gonzalo
title: Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program on healthcare worker infections in an academic hospital
date: 2021-02-10
journal: Infection control and hospital epidemiology
DOI: 10.1017/ice.2021.62
sha: 1c943fcd27c792f5f963a13b25da501fd6193d2c
doc_id: 773115
cord_uid: 8airmbvf

nan

To the Editor-The third wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in a significant rise in hospitalizations and healthcare worker (HCW) severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. After implementing the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination program, despite rising COVID-19 hospitalizations, we promptly observed a decrease in HCW infections.

Our COVID-19 vaccination HCW program began on December 16, 2020, (Pfizer/BioNTech) and December 28, 2020 (Moderna). The COVID-19 cases were identified by nasal swab PCR testing of clinically symptomatic individuals. Six days after beginning employee immunizations, our HCW COVID-19 infection rate decreased by 25%. After 60% of employees received the 1st vaccine dose, the HCW COVID-19 rate decreased by 50% ( Fig. 1) . At 14-28 days and >28 days after their first vaccine dose, HCWs were less likely to have COVID-19 than those who did not receive the vaccine (0.15% and 0.00% vs 0.59%, P = .0002 and .0004, respectively). Concurrently implemented SARS-CoV-2 transmission prevention strategies included the transition from cloth masks to level-3 masks for all employees, mandatory face shields for direct patient care, a restricted visitor policy, and physical space adjustments for improved social distancing.

The Pfizer/BioNTech clinical trial reported a vaccine efficacy of 95% at least 7 days after the second dose and protection as early as 12 days after administration of the first dose. 2 The Moderna vaccine trial observed similar protection prior to the second dose. 3 Our data are consistent with these studies and underscore the prompt benefits of vaccination for the prevention of COVID-19 in the healthcare system even prior to the completion of the second vaccine dose. Our additional infection control strategies are consistent with CDC recommendations 4 and likely further optimized HCW safety.

We present a bundled infection prevention approach including vaccination for the prompt reduction of COVID-19 infection in HCWs. The impact of COVID-19 vaccination in HCWs was observed even prior to completion of the second dose. Wood et al 5 suggest 12 key strategies to promote vaccination, 2 of which are relevant here: increasing observability and countering anecdotal "bad reaction" with "good reaction" vaccine stories. 5 We share our vaccine story to encourage more vaccination-hesitant HCWs to receive immunizations and to receive them earlier.

Reaching herd immunity through vaccination is a crucial next step in ending this pandemic. 

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Safety and efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine

Efficacy and safety of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine

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Beyond politics-promoting COVID-19 vaccination in the United States

Acknowledgments.Financial support. No financial support was provided relevant to this article.

All authors report no conflicts of interest relevant to this article.