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Work Absence Following COVID-19 Vaccination in a Cohort of Healthcare Personnel
Laura E Breeher1, Michael E Wolf, Holly Geyer
1Occupational Health Services, Practice Administration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (Dr Breeher, Dr Tommaso, Hainy, Dr Swift), Division of Preventive, Occupational, and Aerospace Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (Dr Breeher, Dr Wolf, Dr Swift), Occupational Health Services, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona (Dr Geyer), Department of Hospital Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona (Dr Geyer), Employee Health Services, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida (Dr Brinker), Department of Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida (Dr Brinker), Recovery and Claims Services, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (Kohlnhofer).
Objective:
To identify rates of work absence following receipt of COVID-19 vaccine in a cohort of healthcare personnel (HCP).
Methods:
Short-term disability (STD) usage by HCP attributed to side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine was calculated for each vaccine manufacturer, job category, age group, and work region. Analysis was performed for the cohort of HCP during the initial vaccination campaign.
Results:
4.1% of COVID-19 vaccinations generated a STD claim for lost work due to side effects, with increased STD rates after dose 2 than dose 1 (7.4% and 0.9%, respectively). Rates were higher for younger HCP and allied health staff.
Conclusions:
While side effects from mRNA vaccine dose 2 resulted in more work absence, statistically significant geographic differences in STD suggest cultural and staffing factors may impact HCP to utilize STD following vaccination.
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