Volume 27, Number 6—June 2021
Letter
Postvaccination COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers, Israel
To the Editor: We read with interest the article by Amit et al. (1), in which the authors discuss postvaccination symptoms as harbinger for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in healthcare workers (HCWs). The authors conclude that in HCWs, SARS-CoV-2infection can overlap with postvaccination symptoms caused by high risk for exposure. We agree with the authors regarding the dilemma posed by physical symptoms after vaccination. However, we emphasize that this situation extends beyond HCWs.
We report a 60-year-old previously healthy man who had isolated, progressively worsening fatigue starting 1 day after receiving a second dose of mRNA-based vaccine (Pfizer/BioNTech, https://www.pfizer.com). Reverse transcription PCR of a nasopharyngeal swab sample after fatigue persisted beyond 1 week of vaccination showed a positive result for SARS-CoV-2. The patient later showed development of severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pneumonia, requiring admission to an intensive care unit.
HCWs are at a higher risk for exposure and more likely to get tested if symptoms develop after vaccination, as in the study by Amit et al. (1). Fatigue is a common symptom after receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine (2). The dilemma associated with persistent postvaccination symptoms is magnified in non-HCWs because of perceived low overall exposure risk. A watch-and-wait strategy with false reassurances caused by postvaccination status in these patients might delay PCR testing, leading to further spread of the virus in the community (D.A. Swan et al., Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, pers. comm., 2021 Mar 5). Thus, knowing when and whom to test postvaccination has major public health repercussions.
COVID-19 vaccines are efficacious in reducing transmission of symptomatic COVID-19 (2). Reduction in transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 postvaccination is unclear (3). Vaccinated persons can still transmit the disease even if they are asymptomatic. (4). Testing everyone before and after vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 is not a cost-effective strategy. Being socially responsible is the key to contain the pandemic. Thus, preventive measures such as hand hygiene, use of facemasks, and avoiding social gatherings should be continued irrespective of vaccination status.
Dr. Yousaf is a chief clinical fellow in Internal Medicine at Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. His primary research interests are medical education, quality improvement, and clinical research.
Dr. Mushtaq is an internist and chief clinical fellow in gastroenterology and hepatology at Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. His primary research interests are medical education and clinical research.
and Kamran Mushtaq
References
- Amit S, Beni SA, Biber A, Grinberg A, Leshem E, Regev-Yochay G. Postvaccination COVID-19 among healthcare workers, Israel. Emerg Infect Dis. 2021;27:1220–2. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
- Polack FP, Thomas SJ, Kitchin N, Absalon J, Gurtman A, Lockhart S, et al.; C4591001 Clinical Trial Group. C4591001 Clinical Trial Group. Safety and efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. N Engl J Med. 2020;383:2603–15. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
- He X, Lau EHY, Wu P, Deng X, Wang J, Hao X, et al. Temporal dynamics in viral shedding and transmissibility of COVID-19. Nat Med. 2020;26:672–5. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
- Bleier BS, Ramanathan M Jr, Lane AP. COVID-19 vaccines may not prevent nasal SARS-CoV-2 infection and asymptomatic transmission. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021;164:305–7. DOIPubMedGoogle Scholar
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Table of Contents – Volume 27, Number 6—June 2021
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Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:
Zohaib Yousaf, Department of Internal Medicine, Hamad General Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
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