Adverse Events after Receipt of an Inactive COVID-19 Vaccine in Healthcare Professionals: a Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: The vaccine manufactured by Sinovac has been licensed according to the emergency use authorization program in Turkey. Inherently, this product has many shortcomings regarding safety issues. The aim was to explore the potential adverse reactions of the vaccine. Materials and methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study via a 24-item self-administered questionnaire was conducted among healthcare professionals. Results: Of 133 persons, 51 subjects (38%) experienced adverse events after the first dose of the vaccine. The most common adverse events were fatigue, headache, diarrhea, and fever. Ninety five percent of the subjects (n=126) had the second dose of the vaccine and only 43 subjects (26%) described adverse events. These events were similar to those seen after the first dose. In one person, acute hypertension elevation was considered to be a serious adverse event. A female dominance regarding the frequency of adverse events was, solely, detected after the first dose administration. Conclusion: Although there is a significant amount of adverse events in response to the vaccine, these cannot be identified as serious events. Therefore, this vaccine seems to be safety enough for those under the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019.