Otago COVID-19 vaccination research to be published in NZMJ

A new University of Otago study which investigated opinions on whether patients who were vaccinated for COVID-19 should be in separate hospital rooms from unvaccinated patients will be published in this week’s New Zealand Medical Journal.

The research was done at the height of pandemic restrictions in February 2022. To reduce the risk of unvaccinated people transmitting COVID-19, most indoor public places required vaccine passes before people could enter. The restrictions did not apply to hospitals where patients could spend days sharing a room with other patients without knowing their vaccination status.

The research, which was conducted by final-year medical students in the Dunedin School of Medicine, surveyed patients and ward staff in Dunedin Hospital. Most patients and staff would prefer vaccinated and unvaccinated patients to be accommodated in different rooms but were aware of the practical and ethical problems this could cause.

There was a range of views about the actual risks involved in mixing vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.

Vaccine mandates have now been withdrawn, but patient concerns should be considered in the planning for future outbreaks and pandemics.

Here are some other key points:

• Overall, 37 patients (59 per cent) thought patients of different vaccination status should be in separate rooms. Seventeen (27 per cent) opposed and nine (14 per cent) were unsure.
• Most patients felt comfortable sharing a multi-bed hospital room with patients of the same vaccination status as themselves.
• The staff interviewed were six senior medical officers, a registrar, four charge nurse managers, three registered nurses and one director of nursing.
• Staff who would prefer to separate patients by vaccination status said it was to protect unvaccinated and vulnerable patients and be fair to vaccinated patients.
• Most staff recognised the practical limitations and ethical issues of separating patients by vaccination status and some believed that the measures in place were adequate.
Professor Bob Hancox is available for interviews on this research.