Evaluation of COVID-19 vaccination status and immune response among staff at Shahid Motahari Hospital, Urmia, 2021

Background & Aims:The Ministry of Health and Treatment implemented vaccination as one of the primary strategies to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Given their critical role in treatment and disease control, healthcare workers were prioritized for vaccination.This study aims to assess the vaccination status and level of immunity against COVID-19 among healthcare workers at Shahid Motahari Hospital in Urmia, Iran, in 2021. Materials & Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted with 150 volunteer healthcare workers at Shahid Motahari Hospital.Venous blood samples were collected to measure severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) neutralizing antibodies using the ELISA method.Data analysis was performed using version 16 of SPSS software. Results:The participants had a mean age of 37.5 years, with 47.3% being male.A significant 98% of the participants were vaccinated against COVID-19.The predominant vaccines administered were Sputnik V (72%), AstraZeneca (54%), and Sinopharm (27%).The mean level of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies was significantly higher in vaccinated individuals compared to unvaccinated individuals (p = 0.001).There was no significant difference in antibody levels between male and female participants (p = 0.67).A positive correlation was observed between the number of vaccine doses received and the level of neutralizing antibodies (R = 0.207). Conclusion:Vaccination with the mentioned vaccines, whether administered singly or in combination, effectively increased serum antibody levels, providing sufficient protection against COVID-19 for healthcare workers.To maintain immunity levels among healthcare workers and protect against emerging strains of the virus, it is essential to administer booster doses.