Vaccine Side Effects Research Articles

Roll-out of a universal childhood COVID-19 vaccine programme for 12-15 year olds in Northern Ireland

Abstract On 3rd September 2021 the UK Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) jointly published a recommendation that all children aged 12-15 years be offered the COVID-19 vaccine. They concluded that, further to the minimal advantage at individual level for this age group, vaccination would likely help reduce transmission within schools, thus providing a sufficient extra advantage necessary to introduce the programme. In recommending this to Ministers, UK CMOs recognised that the overwhelming benefits of vaccination for adults were not as clear-cut for young people aged 12-15. Children, young people and their parents would need to understand potential benefits, potential side effects and the balance between them. The roll out of the programme had to be undertaken at pace. In NI it was decided that the school setting would be the optimum delivery location as it maximises uptake and reduces inequalities in uptake. A multi-agency project implementation group was formed. The vaccine programme was delivered between October-December 2021, and it brought unique challenges, including; safety concerns around a new vaccine; delays in policy announcements; creation of public and professional resources with complex evidence; anti-vax sentiment and security issues; scale and pace of rollout; and communication with multiple stakeholders. Engagement with schools and teaching unions was crucial, with bespoke support resources developed to aid this. This unique implementation process highlighted the success of the existing school-based vaccine delivery model in NI. It provided opportunities to work closely with education colleagues, and to develop innovative materials for communication of balanced public health messages to a variety of audiences. It also presented unique challenges such as anti-vax discourse and concern around vaccine side-effects. It is unclear if these challenges led to a lower uptake than seen in other school-based vaccine programmes (40.6%). Key messages • The implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 12-15 years presented unique challenges however the school-based delivery model was deemed a success. • Further investigation into the uptake is warranted.

Adverse Effects Reported and Insights Following Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccination.

Vaccines are promising strategies for controlling COVID-19; however, COVID-19 vaccine side effects play a central role in public confidence in the vaccine and its uptake process. This study aimed to provide evidence on the post-vaccination early side effects of the BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) vaccine. This cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted between November 2021 and January 2022 among recipients of the BBIBP-CorV vaccine, using a questionnaire-based survey. Our final sample consisted of 657 participants, including 392 women. Among the study cases, only 103 (15.7%) participants received one dose of vaccine, and the rest received both doses (N = 554, 84.3%). Systemic symptoms (first dose: N = 187, both doses: N = 128) were the most commonly reported events after vaccination, and among them, injection site pain (first dose: 19.3%, both doses: 12.9%) was the most prevalent adverse effect. All reporting events were mild and resolved in less than 3days without hospitalization. Among the participants, females and young people aged 35-65 were more prone to manifest side effects (N = 169, 53.3%) after the vaccine injection. Furthermore, our results revealed that the recipients who were suffering from underlying diseases, including diabetes, renal disorder, and respiratory illness, reported fewer adverse responses after vaccination in comparison with healthy individuals. Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 may lead to some adverse reactions in recipients. However, the frequency of post-vaccination early side effects differed in people, but all responses were slight and temporary.

Analyzing COVID-19 Vaccination Side Effects Among the Adult Population in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought vaccination to the forefront of global attention. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, an mRNA vaccine that encodes the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) glycoprotein spike, has emerged as a significant player in global vaccination efforts. It is generated from lipid nanoparticles and has been subject to various regulatory approvals and authorizations. The United Kingdom became the first country to approve the Pfizer vaccine on December 2, 2020. The World Health Organization (WHO) authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer vaccine on December 31, 2020, facilitating its production and distribution worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, as well as globally, concerns about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines have been raised. Several studies have reported side effects of the Pfizer vaccine, including rare conditions such as myocarditis. In our study, we aimed to systematically investigate the symptoms experienced after vaccination, considering the administration of three doses. We also explored the duration of these symptoms and whether they necessitated hospital visits, primary healthcare interventions, or resolved on their own. Our study employed an online cross-sectional design conducted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, utilizing an online self-reported survey. A total of 332 participants who met the predefined criteria were recruited for the study. The rate of COVID-19 infection after 1st and 2nd doses of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines was significantly lower in middle-age subgroups (31-45 years), in comparison to young (18-30 years) and upper middle-age subgroups (46-60 years). For the AstraZeneca vaccine, the infection rate in the middle-aged group was higher after 2nd dose as compared to its 1st dose. Overall, greater infection rates were observed in upper-middle-aged subgroups with all doses of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines. Fatigue and fever were the most common generalized side effects while redness/swelling/pain at the injection site, muscle pain, and joint pain were the most important local side-effects. Fatigue, fever, muscle pain, and joint pain were significantly common after 1st dose of Pfizer and fever was a significant side effectafter 2nd dose of Pfizer in comparison to AstraZeneca doses. Understanding the spectrum of side effects associated with the vaccine is crucial for healthcare professionals and individuals receiving the vaccine, as it enables informed decision-making and appropriate management of potential adverse reactions.

Why healthcare providers are not vaccinated? A qualitative study during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran

BackgroundVaccination has been effective in controlling contagious diseases, especially among high-risk groups such as medical staff. Their unwillingness to be vaccinated might adversely affect individual and public health. This study aimed to explore the factors related to the refusal of COVID-19 vaccines among health service providers.MethodsA qualitative study was conducted on 28 healthcare providers in Mashhad, Northeast of Iran from March to June 2022. The method of data collection was face-to-face interviews. The purposive method was used for sampling. Data collection continued until the saturation was reached. To analyze the data, the content analysis method was applied, and Maxqda (version 10) software was used.ResultsBy analyzing interview transcripts, six themes and ten sub-themes were extracted. Factors that explained employees’ reluctance to be vaccinated against COVID-19 were the opinion of peers, lack of trust in vaccines, fear of vaccination, mistrust to the government and health authorities, low perceived risk of coronavirus disease, and the contradictions of traditional and modern medicine in their approach to controlling the disease.ConclusionsAmong healthcare workers, concerns about the side effects of vaccines were the most influential factors in refusing vaccination. Providing reliable information about vaccines and their safety is key to increasing the trust of health workers in vaccination and facilitating its acceptance.

COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among patients admitted to the immunology and allergy clinic with drug allergies

The aim of our study was to determine the factors responsible for COVID-19 vaccination acceptance and hesitancy in patients with drug allergies. We prepared a survey to understand the thoughts, hesitancies and experiences about COVID-19 vaccination and COVID-19 infection in patients with drug allergies and statistically examined the results. A survey study was applied to 76 patients who were admitted to Ankara University Internal Medicine Allergy and Immunology Department with drug allergies. 38 patients who were vaccinated and 38 patients who weren’t were compared. Among the 38 patients who were vaccinated, 34 (89.5%) chose Biontech vaccine, 4 (10.5%) chose Sinovac vaccine. Among the patients who weren’t vaccinated, 28 (73.7%) explained they weren’t vaccinatedbecause of drug allergies. Educational statuses were statistically significantly different (p=0.026) among vaccinated and non-vaccinated patients, lower in vaccinated patients. Vaccinated patients thought the vaccine reduced the possibility of COVID-19 infection and complications, which was significantly different (p<0.01). Non-vaccinated group significantly feared the possible allergic reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine, more than the vaccinated group (p=0.028). Fear of the possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine (p<0.001) and the thought of the COVID-19 vaccine being associated with unpredictable effects were significantly more evident in the non-vaccinated group (p<0.001). In conclusion, our study analyzed multiple factors in drug allergy patients regarding vaccine acceptance, rejection, and hesitancy for the first time in literature, similar studies with larger samples can also contribute to the literature in the future.

Acute pancreatitis following COVID-19 vaccine: A Vietnamese case report

Several vaccines against the coronavirus 2 that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome have been developed in response to the global coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The FDA has established that the available vaccine is effective against both the original and current SARS-CoV-2 variant infections. The vaccine’s effectiveness and adverse effects also need to be evaluated comprehensively. Although the list of side effects of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine has been reported, only a few cases of pancreatitis have been documented and published. The mechanism in this situation is unknown, and the onset time from the vaccination to symptom onset is variable through several case reports, so healthcare workers need to be suspicious of pancreatitis to make an early diagnosis and deliver the appropriate treatment. We report a 73-year-old man with controlled chronic hepatitis C and uncomplicated gastritis who presented to the hospital with a 4-day fever accompanied by chills, generalized myalgia, a bilateral temporal dull headache, and no abdominal discomfort or pain. A review of other systems was clinically negative after the second dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. He had no history of alcohol consumption, pancreatitis, or allergic reactions to vaccines and had received the uncomplicated first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine previously. Laboratory tests revealed elevated serum pancreatic enzymes. An abdominal magnetic resonance imaging study showed tail segment enlargement of the pancreas with fat stranding and fluid accumulation surrounding the tail of the pancreas, without any local or systemic complications detected. Other laboratory and imaging tests for the detected source of infections are negative, and acute pancreatitis was diagnosed based on the 2012 revision of the Atlanta classification and definitions by international consensus. The patient was diagnosed with COVID-19 vaccination-induced acute pancreatitis. The patient had an uneventful recovery with no complications. After administering the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, acute pancreatitis could develop. Therefore, it is crucial to recognize acute pancreatitis when abdominal pain and/or abnormally increased pancreatic enzymes occur following a COVID-19 mRNA immunization.

Self-Reported Side Effects of Different COVID-19 Vaccines in Bangladesh- A Vaccine Recipient Survey

Background: COVID-19 (Corona Virus disease 2019) is a newly discovered disease that originated in China and quickly spread throughout the world, killing millions of people and infecting many more. People have a new hope due to newly discovered vaccines for this fatal disease. However, the vaccines showed a number of side effects on the people receiving them. Nonetheless, it has proven to be helpful in providing protection against the fatal infection. Purpose: To analyze the probable side effects of the vaccines experienced by vaccine recipient and their belief regarding vaccine. Method: An online survey was conducted through different social media platforms and Email from 11 July’2021 to 16 July’2021. Ethical permission and consent was taken prior to the survey and data collections. Occurance and the extent of vaccine side effects were analyzed using descriptive and logistic regression analysis. Result: Among 175 vaccine recipients, 92 (52.58%) received one dose and 83 (47.42%) received two doses, with 93 (53.1) receiving SinoPharm vaccine, 78 (44.6) receiving AstraZeneca vaccine, and 4 (2.3%) receiving Pfizer vaccine. More than half of the respondents experienced side effects among which headaches (50.3%) and drowsiness (45.71%) were common followed by fever (36%) and muscle ache (32%). Female (P=0.000) and vaccine concerned group (P=0.033) experienced more side effects. Headache (68.8%), fever (40.9%) and drowsiness (50.5%) were more common among Sinopharm recipients. Fever (50%) and muscle ache (50%) were more common among Pfizer recipients while muscle ache (43.5%) and drowsiness (42.3%) were common among AstraZaneca recipients group. Conclusion: Headache, fever, muscular discomfort, soreness at the injection site, drowsiness, nausea, and other adverse effects are common with the COVID vaccination. Females are more susceptible to side effects than males, and the probability of experiencing them increases with the second dose. AstraZeneca vaccine recipient experiencing more side effects than other types of vaccine recipients. Update Dent. Coll. j: 2023; 13(2):3-8

Factors influencing staff attitudes to COVID-19 vaccination in care homes in England: a qualitative study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected people living and working in UK care homes causing high mortality rates. Vaccinating staff members and residents is considered the most effective intervention to reduce infection and its transmission rates. However, uptake of the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in care homes was variable. We sought to investigate factors influencing uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in care home staff to inform strategies to increase vaccination uptake and inform future preparedness.MethodsTwenty care home staff including managerial and administrative staff, nurses, healthcare practitioners and support staff from nine care homes across England participated in semi-structured telephone interviews (March-June 2021) exploring attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine and factors influencing uptake. We used thematic analysis to generate themes which were subsequently deductively mapped to the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model. The Behavioural Change Wheel (BCW) was used to identify potential intervention strategies to address identified influences.ResultsEnablers to vaccine uptake included the willingness to protect care home residents, staff and family/friends from infection and the belief that vaccination provided a way back to normality (reflective motivation); convenience of vaccination and access to accurate information (physical opportunity); and a supporting social environment around them favouring vaccination (social opportunity). Barriers included fears about side-effects (automatic motivation); a lack of trust due to the quick release of the vaccine (reflective motivation); and feeling pressurised to accept vaccination if mandatory (automatic motivation).ConclusionsWe identified influences on COVID-19 vaccine uptake by care home staff that can inform the implementation of future vaccination programmes. Strategies likely to support uptake include information campaigns and facilitating communication between staff and managers to openly discuss concerns regarding possible vaccination side effects. Freedom of choice played an important role in the decision to be vaccinated suggesting that the decision to mandate vaccination may have unintended behavioural consequences.

Knowledge, beliefs and hesitancy among medical and non-medical university students toward COVID-19 vaccination in Punjab, Pakistan

ABSTRACT This study assessed the knowledge, beliefs, and hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccination among medical (MS) and nonmedical students (NMS) in Punjab, Pakistan. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted by enrolling 624 MS and 476 NMS in the largest province of Pakistan, i.e., Punjab. Chi-square tests were used to determine significant frequency distributions, and logistic regression to determine associations. The majority of students, males and females, were between 18–25 years of age and had good self-reported health. MS demonstrated adequate knowledge and positive beliefs about COVID-19. Fewer MS were indecisive about the vaccination; nonetheless, overall, 71.5% of MS and 78.2% of NMS were willing to receive the vaccine. A greater number of MS students were concerned about vaccine safety or side effects. A greater number of NMS demonstrated misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine – its effect on fertility and alterations in genomic DNA. The binary logistics regression exhibited a significant association between students’ knowledge in the medical sciences (OR;1.53,p = 0.002) and area of residence (OR;1.60,p = 0.008). Compared to NMS, MS had a better understanding of the COVID-19 vaccine and were concerned about the acceptability of the vaccine, although NMS had misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine. Knowledge was significantly associated with the field of study.

Caregiver's perceptions of COVID-19 vaccination, and intention to vaccinate their children against the disease: a questionnaire based qualitative study.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine side effects have an important role in the hesitancy of the general population toward vaccine administration. Another reason for vaccine hesitancy might be that healthcare professionals may not address their concerns regarding vaccines appropriately. Regardless, hesitancy in the form of delay, refusal, or acceptance with doubts about its usefulness can limit the downward trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the authors conducted a national cross-sectional study (n=306) to assess causes and concerns for vaccine hesitancy in caregivers in Pakistan toward getting their children vaccinated. The questions identified caregivers by socioeconomic demographics, perceived COVID-19 pandemic severity, and concerns toward the COVID-19 vaccine. The majority of the participants were 45-59 years of age (42.8%) with a mean age of 36.11 years (SD: 7.81). A total of 80% of these participants were willing to vaccinate their child with any COVID-19 vaccine. Present comorbidities had a frequency of 28.4% (n=87/306) and only 26.9% (n=66/245) participants were willing to vaccinate their child. Participants with high social standing were 15.4% (n=47/306) with the majority of them being willing to vaccinate their children (45/47). Socioeconomic status (OR:2.911 [0.999-8.483]), and the child's vaccinations being up to date (OR:1.904 [1.078-3.365]) were found to be independent factors for caregivers to be willing to vaccinate their child. Around 62% (n=191/306) were not willing to vaccinate due to the concern for side effects, 67.6% (n=207/306) were not willing because they did not have ample information available, and 51% (n=156/306) were not willing as they were concerned about vaccine effectiveness. Further studies on vaccine safety in the pediatric population are required to improve caregivers' perceptions.

Nurse’s Attitude and Acceptance of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination in Maitma District Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract Background: The development of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines is a major challenge; and after clinical development, another critical problem is the acceptance of the vaccine among health workers, particularly nurses, who are expected to persuade other members of the community to be vaccinated against the virus. As a result, if success is to be recorded, it is necessary to examine nurse’s attitudes and acceptability level for proper policy in Nigeria’s health sector. Aim: The aim of study was to determine the attitude and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among nurses. Methodology: A cross-sectional design was used, and data were collected using a validated self-structured questionnaire. The IBM SPSS Statistics 23 software was used to analyze the data, and the results were presented using frequency tables, percentages, means, standard deviations, and Chi-square analysis. Results: According to the findings of this study, most of the respondents feel that COVID-19 vaccination is good for them (3.2 ± 4.0), but this does not translate to acceptance due to concerns about side effects, which results in a lack of trust in the vaccine’ safety, with a mean of 3.4 ± 4.3. Furthermore, the findings revealed a mean acceptance score of 2.96 ± 2.6, indicating that just above average number of the participants welcomed COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusion: This study concluded that the respondents had a positive attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination and acceptance is relatively low and this was as a result of their concerns over vaccine safety and side effects. Sociodemographic variables such as religion, level of education, and ethnic group were also implicated. Therefore, to increase nurses’ acceptability, we advocate a constant and devoted effort to improve political commitment, increase awareness, and disseminate information regarding the safety, side effects, and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccination.

A Study of Argument Patterns in COVID-19 News on Web Portals: Based on the Discourse on Vaccine Side Effects

A Study of Argument Patterns in COVID-19 News on Web Portals: Based on the Discourse on Vaccine Side Effects

Change in self-perceived vaccine confidence in France after the COVID-19 vaccination campaign: A cross-sectional survey in the French general population

IntroductionHigh COVID-19 vaccine coverage was obtained in France after theCOVID-19 vaccination campaign, in part due to the implementation of a COVID-19 vaccination pass, a kind of vaccine mandate. Vaccine mandates could lead to reactance and may affect confidence in vaccines. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign on self-perceived vaccine confidence in France. MethodsBetween the 25th of April and the 9th of May 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional online survey among a representative sample of the French population aged 18 and over. The primary outcome was the perceived change in vaccine confidence after the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. We performed a multinomial regression analysis to identify factors associated with perceived decrease and increase in vaccine confidence in reference to no change. ResultsAmong the 1,928 respondents, decrease in vaccine confidence was reported by 579 (30 %) and increase in vaccine confidence by 259 (13.4%). Among the 1,711 vaccinated individuals, 693 (40.5%), 404 (23.6%) respectively reported that they felt strongly and a little coerced into getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Younger age, feeling coerced to get vaccinated, low confidence in health authorities, fears about vaccine side effects, and not considering vaccination as a collective responsibility were associated with perceived decrease in vaccine confidence in multivariable analysis. Men were more prone than women to report a gain in vaccine confidence. ConclusionVaccination campaign that included coercive measures to raise high COVID-19 vaccine coverage could have led to reactance and with an impact on vaccine confidence in general.

Side Effects of COVID-19 Vaccination Among Healthcare Workers in Tehran, Iran

Background: Since the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many people have been vaccinated worldwide. Despite the preventive role of vaccines, their side effects face disease management with challenges. This study aims to investigate the side effects of COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare workers in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from April to October 2022 on 377 healthcare workers in Tehran, Iran. Data collection was carried out through an interview by a researcher using a checklist assessing systemic and local side effects of COVID-19 vaccines. Results: The mean age of participants was 36.03±10.24 years, and 68.2% were female. Participants experienced significantly more local (26.5% vs. 14.3%, P<0.001) and systemic (52.0% vs. 31.8%, P<0.001) side effects after the first dose than after the second dose. After the first dose, AstraZeneca (45.9%) caused significantly more local reactions than Sputnik V (21.7%) and Sinopharm (14.5%). AstraZeneca (83.7%) caused significantly more systemic side effects than Sputnik V (50.7%) and Sinopharm (14.5%). The prevalence of local and systemic side effects after the first dose was significantly different in terms of vaccine types (P<0.001). After the second dose, AstraZeneca (20.4%) caused significantly more local reactions than Sputnik V (12.8%) and Sinopharm (10.5%) (P<0.001). Additionally, AstraZeneca (38.8%) and Sputnik V (37.4%) caused significantly more systemic side effects than Sinopharm (7.9%) (P<0.001). Conclusion: Most healthcare workers in Tehran experienced flu-like symptoms and local reactions at the injection site after vaccination against COVID-19, mainly after the first dose. They had more side effects after vaccination with AstraZeneca and Sputnik V, compared to Sinopharm.

Factors in Vaccine Refusal by Patients Applying for COVID-19 PCR Test.

This study was designed to determine the reasons for vaccine rejection in patients who applied for the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test but did not receive the vaccine. The study was conducted prospectively in the emergency department of a tertiary hospital between 31.01.2022 and 31.05.2022. 1000 patients who applied for the COVID-19 PCR test and refused to be vaccinated were included. The COVID-19 status of the participants, reasons for their application, number of PCR tests, methods of obtaining information about the vaccine, and reasons for the rejection of the vaccine were questioned. 54.6% of the participants were male and 45.4% were female. 60.7% of the patients applied for testing due to symptoms, 25.4% due to contact with people with symptoms, and 23.9% due to travel. 43.3% of the cases had COVID-19 infection; 53.6% of them had tested an average of 2-5 times in the last year. Most of the information about the vaccine was taken from social media, television, medical publications, and people around, respectively. Of the participants, 62.0% believed that COVID-19 vaccines had side effects, 47.3% believed that it had no protection, and 30.9% believed that there was not enough study on the subject. As the age grew, the rate of learning information from social media increased. The most common reasons for COVID-19 vaccine rejection were vaccine side effects, doubtful vaccine protection, and concerns about the lack of sufficient studies on the vaccine. The higher the education level, the higher the vaccine rejection rate.

The Romanian Consumers’ Perception Regarding the Immunization against the Coronavirus

Considering the different perceptions of the population on the efficiency and side-effects of the Corona vaccine the present study has in attention the perception of the Romanian population on the COVID-19 vaccines and the most important determinants of the consumer’s choice on vaccination. The study consists of analyzing data collected through a survey applied in the West Region of Romania. The collected responses are resumed to a set of constructs, obtained by running an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, part of them being used as dummy variables. Estimating a generalized linear ordinal regression model, the purpose of our study is to identify the drivers which influence the respondents’ perception regarding the efficiency and the side effects related to the COVID-19 vaccine. Our results confirm a significant influence of the respondents’ profile on their perception. Inter-personal relations and media channels seem to influence only the respondents’ perception of the efficiency of the COVID-19 vaccine. Our study emphasizes as well how important it is for people to get a better understanding of the COVID-19 virus, which helps to form their own opinion regarding the vaccine. On the other side, the results show how essential it is for the authorities to change their vision on pandemic information transparency. Otherwise, scenarios like mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 seem to make people even more reluctant. This research paper shows that Romanians are not sufficiently interested in vaccination, first of all because there is a lack of trust even among specialists, which determines a lack of trust among the population in the efficacy of the recommended immunization. Romanian people seem to be more interested in the side-effects of vaccination against COVID-19, rather than how efficient the vaccine is.

The Effect of Psychological Factors on COVID-19 Vaccination Side Effects: A Cross-Sectional Survey in South Korea.

Side effects from the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, such as pain, headache, nausea, and fatigue, have caused vaccine hesitancy. Research on the effects of psychological factors on COVID-19 vaccine side effects is insufficient. This study aims to investigate the effect of psychological factors on COVID-19 vaccination side effects. We recruited a total of 226 individuals registered for the COVID-19 vaccine in Seoul, South Korea, for this study. Participants completed a pre-vaccination questionnaire, including the 5C antecedents of vaccination, and a survey of psychological factors (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9], Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Somatic symptom amplification scale [SSAS], and Illness Attitude Scale [IAS]). After vaccination, participants completed an online questionnaire regarding vaccine side effects at 20 minutes, three days, and seven days after vaccination. We added a discrete set of hierarchical variables with vaccine side effects as the dependent variable to the hierarchical regression analysis: demographics for Model 1, 5C antecedents of vaccination for Model 2, and psychological factors for Model 3. Our results indicated that the risk factors for side effects 20 minutes after vaccination were young age, high PHQ, and SSAS scores. Risk factors for side effects three days after vaccination were young age, high constraints, and calculation, and the risk factor for side effects at seven days was a high IAS score. Our study confirmed that there is a significant relationship between psychological factors and COVID-19 vaccine side effects in chronological order. Psychosocial factors should be examined when assessing side-effect reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination and vaccine confidence levels in Thailand: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundVaccination is considered effective for minimising the impact of COVID-19. Pandemic control depends on high vaccination rates and confidence levels among the population. This study determined COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and confidence levels among vaccinated Thai participants. MethodsAn online cross-sectional study was conducted between 13 September 2021 and 14 January 2022 among individuals ≥ 18 years. An online questionnaire was distributed via social media platforms and posters in public places in Thailand. It included four components (demographic characteristics, COVID-19 vaccine regimens, vaccine acceptance, and confidence). Statistical analyses included a chi-squared test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and multivariate logistic regressions. ResultsApproximately 88.4% of the participants accepted the vaccine. Almost half had confidence in ‘unconcerned about vaccine side effects’ (48.2%), ‘trust in vaccine effectiveness’ (44.3%) and ‘trust in government vaccine policy’ (43.4%). Multiple logistic regression indicated that males and high education significantly correlated with vaccine acceptance. Higher age (45–59 years and ≥ 60 years) and low monthly income (≤5,000 THB) were significantly associated with trust in government vaccine policy. The 1stCoronaVac/2ndCoronaVac/3rdBNT162b2 regimen group was significantly associated with unconcern about vaccine side effects compared to the 1stAZD1222/2ndAZD1222 regimen group. ConclusionsOver half of vaccinated participants indicated concern about COVID-19 vaccine side effects and distrust in vaccine effectiveness and government policy; nonetheless, almost all took the COVID-19 vaccine. Participants who received the 1stCoronaVac/2ndCoronaVac/3rdBNT162b2 regimen were unconcerned about vaccine side effects. Some socio-demographic factors were associated with vaccine acceptance and high confidence, which should be sought while designing interventions to improve COVID-19 vaccination rates.

COVID-19 vaccine or booster hesitancy among children aged 6 month-5 years, 5–11 years, and 12–17 years in the United States: An analytic cross-sectional study

With the increased accessibility of COVID-19 vaccine, many households have had concerns when vaccinating children, leading to vaccine hesitancy. This study examined the COVID-19 vaccine and booster hesitancy among children aged 6 months-5 years, 5–11 years, and 12–17 years in the United States. We analyzed data from Phase 3.8 (March 1, 2023 to May 8, 2023) of the Household Pulse Survey (HPS) collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. We conducted survey-weighted multiple logistic regression models in vaccine hesitancy among respondents with children from those three different age groups, controlling for various demographic factors such as COVID-19 vaccination status, COVID-19 positive test results, race/ethnicity, gender at birth, age, region, marital status, educational attainment, household income, health insurance, and children’s school type. The percentage of respondents indicating hesitancy towards vaccinating their children (expressing uncertainty, probably not, or definitely not) decreased as their children's age increased. Specifically, the proportion was 57.4% for children aged 6 months-5 years, 43.3% for children aged 5–11 years, and 25.9% for children aged 12–17 years. Concerns about possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine were the most prevalent among respondents who expressed vaccine hesitancy, regardless of the level of hesitancy, while those with strong hesitancy showed higher proportions of not believing their children need a vaccine, lack of trust in COVID-19 vaccines and the government, and parents/guardians not vaccinating their children. This study provide insight into our current situation, aiming to build assurance among households regarding the efficacy and benefits of COVID-19 vaccines for children of all ages.

The Effectiveness of Paracetamol to Reduce the Post-Vaccination SARS-CoV-2 Adverse Effects in an Italian Vaccination Center.

The arrival of specific vaccines was crucial for the eradication of COVID-19. Despite the security of the vaccination, the administration of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines often causes systemic side effects for a short time after the injection, such as headache, fatigue, fever, muscle pain and nausea. These side effects can limit the adherence to COVID-19 vaccines administration, especially in healthcare workers. This study aims to analyze the impact of the prophylactic use of paracetamol to reduce the post-vaccination Comirnaty/Pfizer adverse effects. The study took place at the San Giovanni Battista Hospital in Rome and included all hospital employees who received two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech. The vaccination health personnel recommended the preventive intake of 1 g of paracetamol before the inoculation of the vaccine and then every 6 h in the first 24 h. Information was collected through forms and subsequent telephone recall. A total of 403 volunteers were involved in the study, with 391 of them receiving two doses and twelve individuals only one dose of the vaccine. The main results demonstrated that the prophylactic therapy influenced the lower onset of asthenia in the first and second doses. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of fever, headache and localized pain. Paracetamol had a good impact on the side effect of COVID-19 vaccination, reducing asthenia in both doses and mitigating the total of symptoms during the second vaccination.