Laboratory Animal Allergy.

Ranging from mild respiratory allergy to anaphylaxis, laboratory animal allergy (LAA) can adversely affect an individual's health and career. LAA can be prevented through a hierarchy of controls. However, workers remain at risk as many, if not most, workplaces have not fully adopted needed prevention practices.

Association of COVID-19 Vaccination With Risk of Medically Attended Postacute Sequelae of COVID-19 During the Ancestral, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron Variant Eras.

Background: Uncertainty exists regarding the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine to prevent postacute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) following a breakthrough infection. While most studies based on symptom surveys found an association between preinfection vaccination status and PASC symptoms, studies of medically attended PASC are less common and have reported conflicting findings.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort of patients with an initial SARS-CoV-2 infection who were continually empaneled for primary care in a large US health system, the electronic health record was queried for preinfection vaccination status, demographics, comorbidity index, and diagnosed conditions.

The association between the timing of initial hepatitis B vaccination and seropositivity in healthcare personnel.

This study reports on the relationship between timing of initial hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine series and HBV antibody immunity in healthcare personnel (HCP) screened prior to employment. HCPs vaccinated as neonates were significantly more likely to have negative or indeterminate antibodies. An alternative screening approach is considered.

Physician Health Series, Part 3: Physician Mental Health.

This article is the third of 3 articles in a series about managing the care of physicians as patients. In part 1, the authors reviewed unique characteristics of physicians as patients with some general guidance for how to approach their care. Part 2 highlighted role clarity for the treating physician with discussion of the physical and cognitive issues that commonly arise when treating physician-patients along with licensure issues and reporting requirements.

Part Two: Managing Physicians as Patients and Their Safe Return to Work.

This second installment in a 3-part series about physicians as patients explores challenges in communication and role definition while managing their care and safe return to work. In the first article of the series, authors reviewed unique characteristics that make physicians different as patients, with some general guidance about how to approach their care. Although most treating physicians receive little occupational training, health issues commonly have an impact on work with imperative to address work issues promptly for best outcome.

Physician Health Series Part One: Characteristics of Physicians as Patients.

This is the first article of a 3-part series about physician health. In this installment, we outline the unique characteristics of physicians as patients, challenges and opportunities presented by physician-patients, and recommendations for treating physicians. Future articles will delve into role clarity, occupational considerations, mental health, and interactions with third parties such as the physician's employer or licensing board.

Outcomes From a Physician Health Center.

This retrospective cohort study describes the population of physicians seeking medical evaluation in a dedicated physician health center and identifies factors associated with needing practice restrictions. Participants had an initial evaluation between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022. We report personal and professional demographics and types of medical conditions in this cohort.

Early Experience With an Occupational JYNNEOS ( Orthopoxvirus ) Vaccination Program.

Objective: The aim of the study is to identify lessons learned implementing JYNNEOS vaccination for laboratory workers exposed to orthopoxviruses such as mpox.

Methods: Workers at risk of laboratory exposure were offered vaccine in a carefully planned occupational health program. Vaccine was procured from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Drug Service, which has special requirements.

Who is getting boosted? Disparities in COVID-19 vaccine booster uptake among health care workers.

COVID-19 vaccination remains one of the most effective tools to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Unfortunately, vaccine hesitancy has limited primary vaccination and booster uptake among the general population and HCWs. To gain a better understanding of factors associated with booster vaccine uptake, we analyzed COVID-19 vaccine booster rates among HCWs and identified risk factors associated with nonacceptance.

Durability analysis of the highly effective mRNA-1273 vaccine against COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccines are effective, but breakthrough infections have been increasingly reported. We conducted a test-negative case-control study to assess the durability of protection against symptomatic infection after vaccination with mRNA-1273. We fit conditional logistic regression (CLR) models stratified on residential county and calendar date of SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing to assess the association between the time elapsed since vaccination and the odds of symptomatic infection, adjusted for several covariates.

Higher Cell-Mediated Immune Responses in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease on Anti-TNF Therapy After COVID-19 Vaccination.

Background: Some patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on immunosuppressive therapies may have a blunted response to certain vaccines, including the messenger RNA (mRNA) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. However, few studies have evaluated the cell-mediated immune response (CMIR), which is critical to host defense after COVID-19 infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the humoral immune response and CMIR after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in patients with IBD.

Durability analysis of the highly effective BNT162b2 vaccine against COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccines are effective, but breakthrough infections have been increasingly reported. We conducted a test-negative case-control study to assess the durability of protection after full vaccination with BNT162b2 against polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, in a national medical practice from January 2021 through January 2022. We fit conditional logistic regression (CLR) models stratified on residential county and calendar time of testing to assess the association between time elapsed since vaccination and the odds of symptomatic infection or non-COVID-19 hospitalization (negative control), adjusted for several covariates.

Surveillance of Safety of 3 Doses of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination Using Electronic Health Records.

Importance: Recent reports on waning of COVID-19 vaccine-induced immunity have led to the approval and rollout of additional doses and booster vaccinations. Individuals at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection are receiving additional vaccine doses in addition to the regimen that was tested in clinical trials. Risks and adverse event profiles associated with additional vaccine doses are currently not well understood.

Disparities in COVID-19 vaccine uptake among health care workers.

Background: COVID-19 vaccine uptake by healthcare workers (HCWs) is critical to protect HCWs, the patients they care for, and the healthcare infrastructure. Our study aims to examine the actual COVID-19 vaccination rate among HCWs and identify risk factors associated with vaccine nonacceptance.

Study Design And Methods: A retrospective analysis of COVID-19 vaccinations for HCWs at a large multi-site US academic medical center from 12/18/2020 through 05/04/2021.

Utility of Follow-up Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Antigen Tests After Acute Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection Among Healthcare Personnel.

We report the utility of rapid antigen tests (RAgT) in a cohort of US healthcare personnel with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection who met symptom criteria to return to work at day 5 or later of isolation. In total, 11.9% of initial RAgT were negative.

Occupational exposure to severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and risk of infection among healthcare personnel.

Objective: To assess the rate and factors associated with healthcare personnel (HCP) testing positive for severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) after an occupational exposure.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Academic medical center with sites in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Florida.

Comparative effectiveness of mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: mRNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are safe and effective, but increasing reports of breakthrough infections highlight the need to vigilantly monitor and compare the effectiveness of these vaccines.

Methods: We retrospectively compared protection against symptomatic infection conferred by mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 at Mayo Clinic sites from December 2020 to September 2021. We used a test-negative case-control design to estimate vaccine effectiveness (VE) and to compare the odds of symptomatic infection after full vaccination with mRNA-1273 versus BNT162b2, while adjusting for age, sex, race, ethnicity, geography, comorbidities, and calendar time of vaccination and testing.

Humoral Responses After SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination and Breakthrough Infection in Cancer Patients.

Objective: To evaluate the magnitude of humoral response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines in patients with cancer receiving active therapies.

Patients And Methods: Patients 18 years or older in whom SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody (anti-S Ab) levels were measured after 2 doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines were included. Patients with prior coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection or receiving other immunosuppressive therapy were excluded.

Myocarditis Following Coronavirus Disease 2019 mRNA Vaccine: A Case Series and Incidence Rate Determination.

Background: Myocarditis following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) has been increasingly reported. Incidence rates in the general population are lacking, with pericarditis rather than myocarditis diagnostic codes being used to estimate background rates. This comparison is critical for balancing the risk of vaccination with the risk of no vaccination.

Analysis of the Effectiveness of the Ad26.COV2.S Adenoviral Vector Vaccine for Preventing COVID-19.

Importance: Continuous assessment of the effectiveness and safety of the US Food and Drug Administration-authorized SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is critical to amplify transparency, build public trust, and ultimately improve overall health outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Johnson & Johnson Ad26.COV2.

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis is not Significantly Linked to COVID-19 Vaccines or Non-COVID Vaccines in a Large Multi-State Health System.

Objective: To assess the association of COVID-19 vaccines and non-COVID-19 vaccines with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST).

Materials And Method: We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 771,805 vaccination events across 266,094 patients in the Mayo Clinic Health System between 01/01/2017 and 03/15/2021. The primary outcome was a positive diagnosis of CVST, identified either by the presence of a corresponding ICD code or by an NLP algorithm which detected positive diagnosis of CVST within free-text clinical notes.

Comparison of two highly-effective mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 during periods of Alpha and Delta variant prevalence.

Although clinical trials and real-world studies have affirmed the effectiveness and safety of the FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines, reports of breakthrough infections and persistent emergence of new variants highlight the need to vigilantly monitor the effectiveness of these vaccines. Here we compare the effectiveness of two full-length Spike protein-encoding mRNA vaccines from Moderna (mRNA-1273) and Pfizer/BioNTech (BNT162b2) in the Mayo Clinic Health System over time from January to July 2021, during which either the Alpha or Delta variant was highly prevalent. We defined cohorts of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals from Minnesota (n = 25,589 each) matched on age, sex, race, history of prior SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing, and date of full vaccination.