Health Perceptions and Vaccination Complications in People Over 65 Years of Age Who Have Received the Covid-19 Vaccine; A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Purpose

Individuals above the age of 65 are the first to be vaccinated. In this study, it was aimed to determine the health perceptions and vaccine complications of individuals over 65 years of age who recieved the covid-19 vaccine.

Methods

The research is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The sample consists of 151 adults over 65 who have received the Covid-19 vaccination. Individuals over the age of 65 who come to three different pharmacies in three distinct districts to buy medicine are considered participants.

Results

The age of the participants was 72.42 ± 6,838, and their health perception score was 40,987 ± 5,878. The majority of them are male (51%), have had Sinovac (88.1%), are a primary school graduate (82.1%), live with their spouse (68.9%), are non-smokers (83.4%), have a chronic disease (96,0%), regularly take medication (96.7%), do not regularly get seasonal flu vaccine (78.8%), do not regularly use vitamins (92.7%), do not have joint pain (71.6%), and sleep for 7–9 h daily (50.4%). Scale scores were found as follows; control center 11.02 ± 2.66, precision 8.97 ± 2.41, importance of health 11.74 ± 2.64, self awareness 9.26 ± 2.03 health perception 40.99 ± 5.88.

Conclusion

Those who received Sinovac, those with chronic disease, those who received routine influenza vaccination, those who took vitamin supplements, those who did not have joint pain, and those who had cough problems had higher health perception scores, and the difference was significant (p0.05). It will be critical to educate those over 65 about the vaccine's importance and adverse effects, as well as to boost their awareness in the appropriate manner.