Simone Scheithauer1, Anna Bludau2, Stephanie Heinemann3,4, Martina Anton5, Percy Knolle5,6,7. 1. Institut für Krankenhaushygiene und Infektiologie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075, Göttingen, Deutschland. 2. Institut für Krankenhaushygiene und Infektiologie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075, Göttingen, Deutschland. anna.bludau@med.uni-goettingen.de. 3. Lokale Task Force Netzwerk Universitätsmedizin (NUM), Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Deutschland. 4. Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Deutschland. 5. Institut für Molekulare Immunologie und Experimentelle Onkologie, Fakultät für Medizin, Universitätsklinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, München, Deutschland. 6. Standort München, Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, München, Deutschland. 7. Lokale Task Force Netzwerk Universitätsmedizin (NUM), Fakultät für Medizin, Technische Universität München, München, Deutschland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM: At the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Germany, employees in medical facilities were prioritised for vaccination against SARS-CoV‑2 due to the high risk of exposure and contact with vulnerable groups. Hospitals were therefore encouraged to organise and implement the vaccination of their employees as soon as possible. The aim of the study was to record the practice regarding the vaccination strategy for employees in German hospitals. METHODS: In a self-developed cross-sectional study, infection control practitioners of all German university hospitals as well as non-university hospitals in Lower Saxony and Bavaria were surveyed in March 2021. The data were stratified according to the characteristics of university hospitals and non-university hospitals. RESULTS: Of 416 invitations sent out, 100 questionnaires (university hospitals: 33; non-university hospitals: 67) were completed. University hospitals reported greater vaccination capacity than non-university hospitals, but a limiting factor was uncertain vaccine supply. Vaccination information campaigns were planned or had already been conducted in 89% of clinics. About two-thirds of the respondents (70%) said they did not plan to conduct antibody tests on vaccinated employees. A follow-up of vaccinated employees to detect possible SARS-CoV‑2 infections by PCR was planned by 41% of the respondents. In case of detection of SARS-CoV‑2 infection, 72% of the respondents had planned further diagnostic procedures. DISCUSSION: All hospitals were able to achieve rapid implementation of COVID-19 vaccination of their employees. At the time of the survey, there was also much uncertainty regarding the management of breakthrough infections as well as the need for booster vaccinations.
BACKGROUND AND AIM: At the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Germany, employees in medical facilities were prioritised for vaccination against SARS-CoV‑2 due to the high risk of exposure and contact with vulnerable groups. Hospitals were therefore encouraged to organise and implement the vaccination of their employees as soon as possible. The aim of the study was to record the practice regarding the vaccination strategy for employees in German hospitals. METHODS: In a self-developed cross-sectional study, infection control practitioners of all German university hospitals as well as non-university hospitals in Lower Saxony and Bavaria were surveyed in March 2021. The data were stratified according to the characteristics of university hospitals and non-university hospitals. RESULTS: Of 416 invitations sent out, 100 questionnaires (university hospitals: 33; non-university hospitals: 67) were completed. University hospitals reported greater vaccination capacity than non-university hospitals, but a limiting factor was uncertain vaccine supply. Vaccination information campaigns were planned or had already been conducted in 89% of clinics. About two-thirds of the respondents (70%) said they did not plan to conduct antibody tests on vaccinated employees. A follow-up of vaccinated employees to detect possible SARS-CoV‑2 infections by PCR was planned by 41% of the respondents. In case of detection of SARS-CoV‑2 infection, 72% of the respondents had planned further diagnostic procedures. DISCUSSION: All hospitals were able to achieve rapid implementation of COVID-19 vaccination of their employees. At the time of the survey, there was also much uncertainty regarding the management of breakthrough infections as well as the need for booster vaccinations.
Authors: Paul R Wratil; Marcel Stern; Alina Priller; Annika Willmann; Giovanni Almanzar; Emanuel Vogel; Martin Feuerherd; Cho-Chin Cheng; Sarah Yazici; Catharina Christa; Samuel Jeske; Gaia Lupoli; Tim Vogt; Manuel Albanese; Ernesto Mejías-Pérez; Stefan Bauernfried; Natalia Graf; Hrvoje Mijocevic; Martin Vu; Kathrin Tinnefeld; Jochen Wettengel; Dieter Hoffmann; Maximilian Muenchhoff; Christopher Daechert; Helga Mairhofer; Stefan Krebs; Volker Fingerle; Alexander Graf; Philipp Steininger; Helmut Blum; Veit Hornung; Bernhard Liebl; Klaus Überla; Martina Prelog; Percy Knolle; Oliver T Keppler; Ulrike Protzer Journal: Nat Med Date: 2022-01-28 Impact factor: 53.440
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Authors: Lindsey R Baden; Hana M El Sahly; Brandon Essink; Karen Kotloff; Sharon Frey; Rick Novak; David Diemert; Stephen A Spector; Nadine Rouphael; C Buddy Creech; John McGettigan; Shishir Khetan; Nathan Segall; Joel Solis; Adam Brosz; Carlos Fierro; Howard Schwartz; Kathleen Neuzil; Larry Corey; Peter Gilbert; Holly Janes; Dean Follmann; Mary Marovich; John Mascola; Laura Polakowski; Julie Ledgerwood; Barney S Graham; Hamilton Bennett; Rolando Pajon; Conor Knightly; Brett Leav; Weiping Deng; Honghong Zhou; Shu Han; Melanie Ivarsson; Jacqueline Miller; Tal Zaks Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2020-12-30 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Eric J Haas; Frederick J Angulo; John M McLaughlin; Emilia Anis; Shepherd R Singer; Farid Khan; Nati Brooks; Meir Smaja; Gabriel Mircus; Kaijie Pan; Jo Southern; David L Swerdlow; Luis Jodar; Yeheskel Levy; Sharon Alroy-Preis Journal: Lancet Date: 2021-05-05 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Jerald Sadoff; Glenda Gray; An Vandebosch; Vicky Cárdenas; Georgi Shukarev; Beatriz Grinsztejn; Paul A Goepfert; Carla Truyers; Hein Fennema; Bart Spiessens; Kim Offergeld; Gert Scheper; Kimberly L Taylor; Merlin L Robb; John Treanor; Dan H Barouch; Jeffrey Stoddard; Martin F Ryser; Mary A Marovich; Kathleen M Neuzil; Lawrence Corey; Nancy Cauwenberghs; Tamzin Tanner; Karin Hardt; Javier Ruiz-Guiñazú; Mathieu Le Gars; Hanneke Schuitemaker; Johan Van Hoof; Frank Struyf; Macaya Douoguih Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2021-04-21 Impact factor: 176.079
Authors: Kristen A Earle; Donna M Ambrosino; Andrew Fiore-Gartland; David Goldblatt; Peter B Gilbert; George R Siber; Peter Dull; Stanley A Plotkin Journal: Vaccine Date: 2021-05-24 Impact factor: 3.641
Authors: Mark G Thompson; Jefferey L Burgess; Allison L Naleway; Harmony L Tyner; Sarang K Yoon; Jennifer Meece; Lauren E W Olsho; Alberto J Caban-Martinez; Ashley Fowlkes; Karen Lutrick; Jennifer L Kuntz; Kayan Dunnigan; Marilyn J Odean; Kurt T Hegmann; Elisha Stefanski; Laura J Edwards; Natasha Schaefer-Solle; Lauren Grant; Katherine Ellingson; Holly C Groom; Tnelda Zunie; Matthew S Thiese; Lynn Ivacic; Meredith G Wesley; Julie Mayo Lamberte; Xiaoxiao Sun; Michael E Smith; Andrew L Phillips; Kimberly D Groover; Young M Yoo; Joe Gerald; Rachel T Brown; Meghan K Herring; Gregory Joseph; Shawn Beitel; Tyler C Morrill; Josephine Mak; Patrick Rivers; Katherine M Harris; Danielle R Hunt; Melissa L Arvay; Preeta Kutty; Alicia M Fry; Manjusha Gaglani Journal: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Date: 2021-04-02 Impact factor: 17.586