Adverse Events following AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study among Healthcare and Nonhealthcare Workers

Abstract

Introduction Many COVID-19 vaccines have been emerging with different efficacy and safety profiles. So far, very little attention has been paid to severity and reactogenicity of COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the side effects associated with the first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers (HCWs) and nonhealthcare workers (non-HCWs). Method This is an observational cross-sectional study conducted at King Abdullah bin AbdulAziz University Hospital, Saudi Arabia, between February 28 and March 12, 2021. The major outcomes were the reported side effects of day 1, day 2, and day 3 after vaccination among HCWs and non-HCWs. Other outcomes included the onset and the duration of the reactions or the side effects that were reported. Results A total of 526 participants completed the survey with 173 (32.8%) HCWs and the remaining majority were non-HCWs. Some of the most frequently reported side effects among the participants on the first day were muscle aches (49%), followed by fever (42%) and headache (40%). HCWs experienced more muscle aches, headache, sore throat, and abdominal pain, which were statically significant, compared to non-HCWs. The mean onset of symptoms was 16 (±15.3) h in the HCW arm compared with 12.2 (±10.2) h in non-HCWs ( p = 0.0024). Furthermore, the mean duration of symptoms in the HCW group was 37 (±19) h compared with 32.3 (±13) h in the non-HCW group ( p = 0.067). Conclusion The reported side effects were common but not pressing in both groups. HCW respondents appeared to have more COVID-19 vaccine-associated symptoms.

Perceptions and experiences of COVID-19 vaccines’ side effects among healthcare workers at an Egyptian University Hospital: a cross-sectional study

“…The most commonly reported side effect among the studied HCWs who received the three types of vaccines was fatigue. Many Egyptian, large-scale Arab world and global studies concluded that fatigue was one of the most prevalent s observed following COVID-19 vaccination [ 4 , 22 , 28 , 42 – 44 ].…”

“…Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk of contracting COVID-19 [ 3 ]. Besides the increased mortality risk, various studies have revealed that COVID-19 hurts HCWs’ psychological and well-being status [ 4 ]. A systematic review reported the prevalence of COVID-19-positive HCWs throughout the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic as 51.7%, and a multicenter study from Egypt demonstrated the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies as 46.3% [ 5 , 6 ].…”

Covid Vaccine Side Effects and Covid Infection after Vaccination- A Cross Sectional Study in Hubballi, Karnataka

“…12 A study by Ahlam A Alghamdi in Saudi Arabia reported that the most common side effects of Covishield were Myalgia (49%), fever (42%) and headache (40%) after the first dose. 13 A study by Haya Omeish at Jordan reported Myalgia (84%), fatigue (76%) and fever (56.7%) as the side effects of Covishield after the first dose. 14 A study by Hamed Zare at Iran reported that the pain at the site of injection was the most common side effect with first dose of either of the vaccines (71% in Covishield recipients, 83% among Covaxin recipients).…”

Self-Reported COVID-19 Vaccines’ Side Effects among Patients Treated with Biological Therapies in Saudi Arabia: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

“…However, some rare but serious adverse events, such as anaphylaxis, venous thromboembolic events, cerebral venous thrombosis, myocarditis or myopericarditis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and bleeding were observed [14][15][16][17][18]. Nevertheless, the most frequently reported side effects of COVID-19 vaccines were chills, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, flu-like symptoms, palpitation, eye pain, malaise, pyrexia, peripheral swelling, injection site pain, chest pain, decreased appetite, arthralgia, myalgia, headache, dizziness, tremor, dyspnea, rash, oropharyngeal discomfort, hyperhidrosis, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cough [19][20][21][22].…”

“…Although multiple studies have explored commonly reported adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines among the general population [14,[19][20][21]33], few studies have examined the reported side effects among patients with autoimmune disorders on biological therapies [34]. Therefore, we aimed to explore COVID-19 vaccine side effects among patients treated with biological therapies for different medical disorders and compare the rates of these side effects across COVID-19 vaccines in Saudi Arabia.…”