In a recent study led by a researcher from the National Public Health Organization in Athens, it was found that COVID-19 caused more absenteeism among Greek healthcare personnel (HCP) with low vaccine uptake in 2022 and 2023 than the flu. The study, published in the American Journal of Infection Control, tested symptomatic HCP for COVID-19 and flu at four hospitals from November 2022 to May 2023 to determine the number of missed workdays for each disease. During this period, the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant was predominant.
Of the HCP tested, only 9.2% were fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 90.8% were partially vaccinated. Flu vaccination coverage was even lower at 23.1%. The study found that HCP with the flu were less likely to be up to date with their flu vaccine compared to unvaccinated workers who had COVID-19. In total, there were 734 cases of COVID-19 and 93 cases of flu among the 5,752 HCP tested. An average of 5.8 workdays were missed due to COVID-19, compared to 3.6 days for the flu.
The research highlighted that HCP with COVID-19 were absent for an average of 1.91 more days than those with the flu due to differences in clinical course and absenteeism policies between the two diseases. The authors attribute this difference primarily to seasonal strains of influenza being milder than COVID-19 and suggest that HCP diagnosed with COVID-19 typically took a five-day leave in Greece while there were no specific recommendations for HCP with influenza.
Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of both COVID-19 and flu vaccination in protecting the health of HCP and preventing absenteeism in healthcare services. It underscores the need for healthcare professionals to stay current with their vaccinations to avoid missing workdays due to these diseases.
In summary, a recent observational study led by a researcher from Athens found that COVID-19 caused more absenteeism among Greek healthcare personnel (HCP) than influenza during low vaccine uptake periods in Greece’s hospitals from November 2022 to May 2023 due primarily to differences in clinical course and absenteeism policies between these two diseases.
The study emphasizes that both COVID-19 and flu vaccination are critical in protecting healthcare professionals’ health and preventing absenteeism during these times.
It is essential that medical staff prioritize staying current on their vaccinations as they have a crucial role in keeping themselves healthy while serving others during these times of uncertainty and concern about infectious diseases like COVID-19 and influenza.
This research highlights how important it is for healthcare providers worldwide to remain vigilant about vaccination rates as they continue working tirelessly on behalf of their patients’ safety during uncertain times when infectious diseases are prevalent around us all – whether it’s influenza or any other pandemic or outbreaks yet unknown but inevitable at some point or another
