Web-Based Reporting of Post-Vaccination Symptoms for Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccines in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The perception of COVID-19 vaccines as being unsafe is a major barrier to receiving the vaccine. Providing the public with accurate data regarding the vaccines would reduce vaccine hesitancy. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data on the side effects experienced by the vaccinated population to assess the safety of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine. Results: The majority of the study participants (n = 386) were female (71.9%), and 38.6% of them were under 30 years old. Around half of the participants (52.8%) reported side effects after receiving the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine. Fatigue (85.1%), a sore arm at the site of the injection (82.1%), and discomfort (67.2%) were the most commonly reported side effects after the first dose. Reporting side effects was significantly associated with the female sex (p-value = 0.027). Significant associations between being female and experiencing chills, muscle or joint pain, anorexia, drowsiness, and hair loss were also found, as well as being above the age of 30 and experiencing a cough. Being a smoker was significantly associated with experiencing a cough, and a headache. Furthermore, chills, and a sore throat were significantly associated with individuals who had not been infected before. Conclusion: Mild side effects were reported after receiving the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine. Fatigue was the most commonly reported side effect. Females, older adults, smokers, and those who had never been infected with COVID-19 had a greater susceptibility to certain side effects.