An assessment of AEFI COVID-19 vaccination in health care workers at a tertiary health care centre in central India

Abstract

COVID-19 is a life-threatening universal public health emergency and the only hope to combat it is the COVID-19 vaccine. Different vaccines are available now, but their safety is a matter of concern people are eager to know what they can expect after getting vaccinated. The associated adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine may affect healthy individuals so monitoring them is an important aspect. Timely assessment can help to identify and take appropriate measures. Serious Adverse Effects Following Immunization (AEFIs) should also be promptly identified. India’s first phase of COVID-19 vaccination started on 16 January 2021 with priority given to an estimated three crore healthcare workers (HCWs)and the frontline workers. In the present study, we assessed the AEFI of COVID-19 vaccine Covishield received by HCWs of our institute. For the first dose in the first phase of vaccination drive, 5,637 HCWs were vaccinated 32.28% of recipients experienced the symptoms Amongst those developing symptoms, 53.84% were males and 46.15% were females. Symptoms reported were fever (28.91%), myalgia (26.43%), cold and cough (8.16%), headache (6.74%), local pain/swelling at injection site (3.37%), fatigue (0.35%), diarrhea (0.08%) while other reported symptoms by few recipients were rigors (0.07%), joint pain (0.08%), nausea (0.07%). In 27% beneficiary symptoms subsided within 24 hours while in 1.28% symptoms lasted for 48 hours, in 4% recipients they lasted beyond 48 hours. In 0.70% of recipients, symptoms were severe. No unusual or unexplained symptom was observed. No serious adverse event was reported. No deaths were reported.

Keywords: Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik V, Corona virus disease.