Comparison of the Onset and End of Specific and Major Side Effects in Iranian Teenage Participants Vaccinated With COVID-19 Vaccine: Sinopharm and Soberana

Clinical trials were conducted on children on side effects after vaccination. We tried to assess the frequency and onset of the main symptoms in children who were vaccinated. We aimed to evaluate early and delayed adverse effects after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine among Iranian pediatrics and adolescents in a national survey.  

This cross-sectional study included people <18 years who received the Soberana (PastoCoVac) and Sinopharm vaccines since 2021. The basic information was gender, age, type of vaccine, and reaction after vaccination besides the main events that occurred for them. The required data were collected via a predetermined checklist by trained interviewers through phone calls by their parents or legal guardians. The independent t test and Fisher exact test were used. P values less than 0.05 were considered significant. 

A total of 11,042 participants (age range, 10-18 years) consisting of 5374 boys (47.8%) and 5768 girls (52.2%) were studied and 88.1% of the children (n = 9727) were vaccinated by Sinopharm and 11.9% (n = 1315) by Soberana. The data of kidney-related side effects had delayed improvement of side effects after the Sinopharm compared with the Soberana vaccines (P = 0.012). Cardiovascular and hematological side effects showed early-onset (P = 0.006) and delayed improvement of side effects (P = 0.002) after the Soberana vaccine compared with the Sinopharm vaccine. Neurological side effects showed delayed improvement of side effects after the Soberana vaccine compared with the  Sinopharm vaccine (P = 0.027). Joint-related side effects showed early-onset (P = 0.004) and delayed improvement of side effects (P = 0.023) after the Soberana vaccine compared with the Sinopharm vaccine. Respiratory side effects showed delayed improvement of side effects after the Soberana vaccine compared with the Sinopharm vaccine (P = 0.013), and dermatological side effects showed early-onset (P = 0.050) and delayed improvement of side effects (P = 0.035) after the Soberana vaccine compared with the Sinopharm vaccine. There was not any statistically significant difference regarding gastrointestinal side effects between the 2 vaccines (P > 0.05).

The cardiovascular and hematological, joint-related (non-neurologic musculoskeletal) and dermatological side effects after the Soberana vaccine appear earlier and end later compared with the Sinopharm vaccine. Improvement of renal side effects in the Sinopharm vaccine group and improvement of neurological and respiratory side effects in the Soberana vaccine group occurred with delay compared with other vaccines.