"Abstract
Background: A rise in absenteeism among healthcare workers (HCWs) was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, mostly attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infections. However, evidence suggests that COVID-19 vaccine-related side effects may have also contributed to absenteeism during this period. This study aimed to synthesize the evidence on the prevalence of absenteeism related to COVID-19 vaccine side effects among HCWs...
Results ...
3.3. Prevalence of at Least One Day of Absenteeism Related to COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects Among HCWs
3.6. Other Factors Associated with at Least One Day of Absenteeism Related to COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects Among HCWs
Discussion
After a systematic literature review, we synthesized the latest evidence from 19 observational studies. We reported that 17% of the total vaccination events led to at least one day of absenteeism related to COVID-19 vaccine side effects among HCWs. We reported that female sex (compared to male), the mRNA-1273 vaccine (compared to the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine), and the second vaccination (compared to the first) were positively associated with at least one day of absenteeism related to COVID-19 vaccine side effects among HCWs. We also reported that the prevalence of absenteeism related to COVID-19 vaccine side effects differed between regions among HCWs (Europe, Asia, and the USA). A younger age, heterologous vaccine combinations, and being a physician or being directly involved in patient care were also identified as factors positively associated with reporting at least one day of absenteeism related to COVID-19 vaccine side effects among HCWs...
Our findings contribute to the existing literature by proposing that absenteeism related to COVID-19 vaccine side effects may have been an important component of the increased all-cause absenteeism during the pandemic.
Although the evidence on the relationship between absenteeism related to vaccine side effects among HCWs for vaccines other than COVID-19 is limited, absenteeism related to influenza vaccine side effects appears to be lower compared to that of the COVID-19 vaccine.¨
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