P110 Assessing COVID vaccine related side-effects profile and subsequent staff sickness burden in healthcare workers

IntroductionThe COVID19 national immunisation campaign is well underway across the United Kingdom. A large study reported, side-effects from COVID vaccines are moderately frequent, commonly mild and short-lived in a community setting.1 ObjectivesTo examine the side-effects and staff sickness profile from COVID vaccination in healthcare workers and whether the second COVID vaccine dose (VAX2) led to worsening side-effects or sickness burden, compared to the first dose (VAX1).MethodsSelf-reported questionnaire survey to 1500 consecutive healthcare workers (working for 1 NHS Trust) receiving VAX2 at a single central vaccination site from 29/03/2021 to 23/04/2021. VAX1 data was collected at the appointment and VAX2 data asked to be returned via internal mail 7 days later. Responders were asked to grade symptoms (asymptomatic, mild, moderate or severe) & step scores of 0, 1, 2 & 3 allocated correspondingly to estimate side-effect severity changes following VAX2. Data for baseline demographics & sickness burden collected.ResultsThe response rate for VAX1 was 81% (1213) & VAX2 was 31% (464). Matched data was available for 30% (444). There was 81% female preponderance. Median age was 51 (Range 19–74, IQR 18). Most commonly reported side-effect was injection site pain (83%) followed by fatigue (46%), muscle pain (45%), headache (41%), injection site swelling (32%), injection site redness (27%), joint pain (26%), chills (21%) & fever (17%). The frequency of side-effects was similar with no significant severity change after VAX2. Mean duration of side-effects was alike (2.2 days). 3.6% and 5.6% of responders took time (mean) off work for 3.6 and 1.4 days following VAX1 & VAX2 respectively.Abstract P110 Figure 1ConclusionsOur study demonstrated healthcare workers had moderately frequent side-effects, with no significant exacerbation after VAX2. The side-effects burden was short-lived with minimal impact on workforce during resource constrained times, which suggests future booster doses in healthcare workers should remain safe and can be pursued.ReferenceMenni, et al. Vaccine Side-Effects and SARS-CoV-2 Infection after Vaccination in Users of the COVID Symptom Study App in the UK: A Prospective Observational Study. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2021Apr 27. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00224-3