Side effects after first and second doses of Covid-19 vaccine among health care providers in tertiary care hospital

Abstract

<b>Background</b>: Acceptance of Covid-19 vaccination among the general population is one topic that has been discussed worldwide. Large number of doses of vaccine has been administered throughout the world, but, concerns about safety of Covid-19 vaccination still persists. There have been reports of adverse effects with Covid-19 vaccination which are mild and resolve spontaneously. This study was done to evaluate the side effects after first and second doses of Covid-19 vaccine among health care providers in tertiary care hospital.<br /> <b>Material and methods: </b>This cross-sectional, questionnaire based study was done among health care workers after first and second dose of vaccine in Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College & Research Center, Moradabad, India between January 2021 to July 2021. In this survey, post Covid-19 vaccination questionnaire was designed using Google Forms and was shared to vaccinated participants through social media and mail. Snowball sampling method was used for gathering a total of 485 responses. Informed consent was obtained from all research participants and the study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB)<br /> <b>Results</b>: The respondents were health care professionals which included Physician, Surgeons, and Other Health Care Workers.  The most common adverse effects reported after both doses of vaccination were fever, chills and rigor, headache, myalgia, malaise and pain at site of injection. The results showed that 65% (n=338) of participants had mild symptoms like headache, fever, pain at injection site, malaise, myalgia, dizziness, nausea and vomiting after first dose of vaccination. In comparison 39% (n=190) of participants reported mild symptoms after the administration of second dose of vaccination. A total of 63% (n=330) and 41% (n=197) participants took medication for relief of symptoms during post-vaccination period after the first and second dose of vaccine with slight female preponderance.<br /> <b>Conclusion: </b>The most prevalent adverse effects following vaccination were nausea and vomiting, headache, dizziness, fever, chills, fatigue, including pain, redness and swelling at the injection site with more female preponderance. The adverse effect encountered were higher in number after the first dose of vaccination.