Relationship Between Influenza Vaccination and COVID-19 Infection among Personnel of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, Iran

Reports show that vaccination against influenza could elicit nonspecific immune reactions against coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). The present research aimed to evaluate the prevalence of COVID-19 disease among the staff of Shahid Beheshti hospital in Kashan despite vaccination against influenza.

This study was performed on 1400 employees of Shahid Beheshti hospital in Kashan from February to August 2020. Personnel whose disease was confirmed by PCR test or CT scan were considered to have COVID-19. In the present research, the relationship between influenza vaccination and the incidence of COVID-19 infection was evaluated. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software Version 26.

Out of a total of 1400 hospital personnel participating in this study, 272 people were diagnosed as COVID-19. Among 272 patients, 23 (8.45%) cases were vaccinated. The average age of vaccinated patients was 33.48 ± 12.72 years, of whom 14 (60.87%) patients were female. Vaccination was significantly associated with prevention of COVID-19 infection (p< .05). The study of odds ratio (OR) to evaluate the effect of vaccination showed that the OR was 0.61 (95% CI: 0.39- 0.97). There was a significant difference in SpO2, type of treatment, and lung involvement based on CT between the two groups of vaccinated and unvaccinated COVID-19 patients (p< .05).

In vaccinated group, COVID-19 was lower than of the no influenza vaccinated group. According to the results, the use of influenza vaccine as an effective vaccine against the new coronavirus strains could be helpful in controlling the disease.