24.Original Article COVID-19 Symptoms Between Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Comparison of Severity of COVID-19 Symptoms Between Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Dental Faculty in Lahore
Nasrullah Khan1, Muhammad Behzad Salahuddin2, Ehsan Rathore4, Omair Anjum5, Waleed Javaid Toosy3 and Rubbab Zahra1
ABSTRACT
Objective: This study aimed to find the differences in severity of COVID-19 symptoms among vaccinated and unvaccinated dental faculty members serving different dental colleges in Lahore.
Study Design: Retrospective Exploratory Cohort study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Avicenna Dental College, Lahore for a period of 2 months from August, 2021 to September, 2021.
Materials and Methods: This study identified 207 COVID-19 affected dental faculty/dentists in Lahore and retrospectively observed the severity of symptoms that included Fever, Cough, Fatigue, shortness of breath. The study divided the participants in two strata namely vaccinated and unvaccinated and statistically ran bivariate analysis on severity of COVID-19 symptoms.
Results: Mean duration among 40 vaccinated dentists between completion of 2 doses and contraction of COVID-19 was 58 days (SD ±6.3). Bivariate analysis between severity of symptoms among vaccinated and unvaccinated dentists showed that the mild and severe cough were significantly (p=0.04) reduced among vaccinated participants. Episodes of dyspnea were significantly (p=0.01) less observed among vaccinated dentists.
Conclusion: Even with the emergence of COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough, vaccine turns out to be protective against severity of symptoms and hence, hospitalization is reduced.
Key Words: COVID-19, COVID-19 Vaccine, Symptoms of COVID-19, Dyspnea in COVID-19, Cough in COVID-19
Citation of article: Khan N, Salahuddin MB, Rathore E, Anjum O, Toosy WJ, Zahra R. Comparison of Severity of COVID-19 symptoms between Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Dental Faculty in Lahore. Med Forum 2021;32(10):108-111.