Adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination: An online survey

Abstract

Background: Considering the overwhelming medical, economic, and social consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) safe and effective prophylactic vaccines were rolled out in India on January 16, 2021. Although the discussions surrounding the efficacy of the vaccines are greatly explored, safety concerns regarding post-marketing surveillance have not been studied in detail. Aims and Objectives: The study aims to assess the post-vaccination events to the first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccine and to evaluate the adverse effects (AEs) profile of the individual COVID-19 vaccines among COVID-19 vaccinated participants. Materials and Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional online survey, was conducted among COVID-19 vaccinated participants from June 2021 to December 2021 at a tertiary care hospital, in Coimbatore. Data obtained through Google forms were analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences version 26. Results: Of the 95 responses received, 93.2% had an adverse events following immunization (AEFI). Pain at the injection site (74.74%), general unwell feeling (51.58%), and fever/chills (44.21%) were the commonly reported AEs. AEFI was higher with the first dose (53.5%) compared to the second dose (39.7%). Among the factors associated with AEFI, except the history of (H/O) medication for acute/chronic illnesses, there were no statistically significant differences between gender, COVID-19 infection in the past, H/O drug/food allergy, type of vaccine, and comorbidities. Conclusion: Most of the AEFIs were mild, and both the viral vector and inactivated vaccine were found to be safe. Hence, the COVID-19 vaccination should be recommended to counteract the severity of the disease.