Determination of early side effects after covid-19 vaccinations

Abstract

Objectives: The first phase of the COVID-19 vaccine was launched in Turkey in January 2021 and was intended primarily for healthcare workers. Vaccine side effects play important role in building public confidence in vaccination. This study aims to determine the early-stage vaccine side effects in healthcare workers who have been given the COVID-19 vaccine. Methods: The research has a descriptive cross-sectional type of design. The data were collected face-to-face with the questionnaire form created by the researchers, which investigated the sociodemographic characteristics and vaccine complications of the participants. Results: The sample of the study consisted of 321 medical personnel (%55.6 female, %79.8 under 40 years, %67.1 nurses, %15.2 physicians, and %17.4 laboratory workers) who received the Covid-19 vaccine in Turkey and voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. The most common side effects associated with vaccination were as follows: pain (%46.3 Sinovac, %55.5 Pfizer- biotech), heat increase (%32.8 Sinovac, %30.7 Pfizer- biotech), whole-body aches (%55.2 Sinovac, %58.7 Pfizer- biotech) and injection site redness (%28.4 Sinovac, %26.0 Pfizer- biotech). Conclusions: The benefits of the Covid-19 vaccine outweigh its identified side effects of it. Most of the side effects reported in this study were consistent with Pfizer-Biotech.