Outcomes of COVID-19 Immunization Among Healthcare Workers
- VernacularTitle:Эрүүл мэндийн байгууллагад ажиллагсдын коронавируст халдварын эсрэг дархлаажуулалтын үр дүн
- Author:
Dashpagam O
1
,
2
;
Davaalkham D
1
;
Burenjargal B
2
;
Tselkhaasuren B
2
;
Baigal V
2
;
Shatar Sh
1
;
Khorolsuren L
1
;
Tsogtsaikhan S
3
Author Information
1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, MNUMS
2. Immunization Department, National Center for Communicable Diseases
3. Department of Immunology, School of Biomedicine, MNUMS
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
SARS СоV-2 infection, SARS СоV-2 vaccine, primary vaccination, booster dose
- From:
Mongolian Journal of Health Sciences
2025;87(3):191-198
- CountryMongolia
- Language:Mongolian
-
Abstract:
Background:The first case of COVID-19 was reported in our country on November
11, 2020. As of 2023, a total of 869,385 cases and 2,128 deaths have been
recorded nationwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended
that countries use 15 vaccines from 11 manufacturers listed for emergency use.
The WHO has advised low-income member states to prioritize vaccinating healthcare
workers and other high-risk populations vulnerable to severe illness and
death from COVID-19. The main goal of the coronavirus vaccination program is to
prevent infection, complications, and death among priority target groups, such as
healthcare workers and other populations at high risk of severe illness. The effectiveness
of the vaccination is measured by its ability to reduce the risk of illness,
hospitalization, and death from COVID-19-related complications among vaccinated
individuals. While extensive research is being conducted globally to develop,
evaluate, and assess the effectiveness and outcomes of COVID-19 vaccines,
there has been limited research focused on these outcomes within our country.
This gap highlights the need for and serves as the basis of the present study.
Аim:To assess the risk of infection, hospitalization, and associated risk factors among
healthcare workers vaccinated against COVID-19, and to examine the factors that
influence these risks.
Materials and Methods:A This follow-up study was conducted over an 80-week
period—at weeks 12, 24, and 48—from February 23, 2021, to December 31, 2022.
The study involved healthcare workers from Ulaanbaatar city and the aimags of
Bayankhongor, Orkhon, Bulgan, Dundgovi, Darkhan-Uul, and Dornod. The study
was conducted over a period of 1.5 years (80 weeks) following the administration
of the first two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Data were collected from participants
at three time points: before vaccination, after the second dose, and after
each booster dose. A structured questionnaire comprising 7 sections and 49 questions
was used for data collection, and the results were analyzed using SPSS version
26.0.
Results:Of the total respondents, 574 (60%) worked in direct contact
with infected individuals in the 'red zone,' while 370 (40%) worked in the 'yellow
zone.' Additionally, 250 participants (27.1%) were healthcare workers from Ulaanbaatar
city, and 674 (72.9%) were from rural areas. In our observational study, the
risk of new infections among healthcare workers increased over time, rising from
38.4% at week 24 to 59.6% by week 80. Hospitalizations also increased during the
follow-up period: 24 cases (2.6%) were recorded at week 12, 160 (17.3%) at week
24, 202 (21.9%) at week 48, and 204 (22.1%) by week 80. Among frontline workers
in rural areas, those in Bayankhongor and Orkhon aimags exhibited a lower
risk of infection compared to their counterparts in other aimags.
Conclusion:In
our follow up study, an increase in the duration since primary immunization was
associated with a higher risk of new infection among workers, rising from 38.4%
at 24 weeks to 59.6% at 80 weeks post-vaccination. Administration of additional
(booster) immunizations was associated with a reduced risk of subsequent infection.
COVID-19 vaccination was associated with a reduced risk of complications
necessitating hospitalization. Employment in rural settings and designated red
zones was identified as a risk factor for incident infections, hospitalizations, and
reinfections.
- Full text:2025052422143589966191-199.pdf
