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

OBJECTIVE: 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. 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. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study. METHODS: Data were collected between December 2020 and July 2021 at an academic campus in Southern California consisting of two large hospitals and multiple outpatient clinics and other facilities. 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) completed an initial interview and were followed until they returned to work. We assessed associations between COVID-19 vaccination status (unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or fully vaccinated) and outcomes (days until return to work and 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. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 vaccination has the potential to prevent long absences from work and the adverse financial, staffing, and managerial consequences of these long absences.