Health care workers attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination and the effect on personal and professional life

INTRODUCTION: While the discovery of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine renewed the hope to restore normal life, the attitude of Health Care Workers (HCWs) towards vaccination and its impact on their life are yet to be evaluated. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study from late January to mid-February at the MedStar Health Hospitals in Baltimore, Maryland. Eligible HCWs completed the questionnaires anonymously. The primary outcomes were attitudes of HCWs towards vaccination and the impact on HCWs’ comfort and anxiety in caring for patients, sleep, mood, attendance of social gatherings, and utilization of health clubs, before and after vaccination. RESULT: A total of 300 respondents completed the questionnaires. The mean age was 37.2 years with 37.7% physicians and 45.7% registered nurses. Of the respondents only, 15.7% refused vaccination. The most common reason for refusal was concerns for long-term adverse effects, cited by 59.5%. Following vaccination, comfort level in caring for patients with COVID-19 and other illnesses improved (6.3 (2.8) to 8.2 (2.0), p < 0.005, and 8.4 (2.4) to 9.1 (1.0), p < 0.005, respectively). Additionally, a significant decrease in anxiety was noted in HCWs caring for patients with COVID-19 and other illnesses (5.0 (3.3) vs. 3.5 (3.2), p < 0.005 and 2.7 (3.3) vs. 2.3 (3.4), p = 0.001, respectively). Significant improvement in mood scores (6.9 (2.4) vs. 7.7 (2.1), p < 0.005) and comfort level at social gatherings (4.3 (3.2) vs. 6.3 (3.0), p < 0.005) were also noted. CONCLUSION: Vaccination against COVID-19 resulted in overall improvement in HCWs physical and mental wellbeing.