Health care personnel who received an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose were 45% less likely to report lingering symptoms 6 weeks following infection, according to a recent study.

In the study, published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases, investigators examined the impact of additional COVID-19 vaccine doses on the prevalence of prolonged symptoms among U.S. health care personnel (HCP) following infection during the Omicron-predominant period from December 2021 to April 2022. In this case-control analysis involving 2,478 HCP, the investigators found that 26% of those with confirmed COVID-19 infections reported at least one symptom at 6 weeks postinfection compared with 18% among those with COVID-19–like symptoms but negative SARS-CoV-2 tests.

Key symptoms persisting at 6 weeks in COVID-19–positive participants included fatigue (11%) and sleep disturbances (7%). Among participants who received an additional vaccine dose, the adjusted risk of prolonged symptoms was reduced by 45% compared with those who had only completed the primary vaccine series (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.43–0.70). No statistically significant reduction in prolonged symptoms was observed in the COVID-19–negative group (adjusted OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.59–1.29).

Further analysis indicated an association between receiving an additional dose within 16 weeks prior to symptom onset and a lower risk of respiratory and psychiatric symptoms at 6 weeks postinfection among HCP. The findings suggested reduced postacute COVID-19 symptoms with additional vaccine doses beyond initial disease prevention.

Full disclosures can be found in the published study.