Side Effects of COVID-19 Vaccination Among Healthcare Workers in Tehran, Iran

Since the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many people have been vaccinated worldwide. Despite the preventive role of vaccines, their side effects face disease management with challenges. This study aims to investigate the side effects of COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare workers in Tehran, Iran.

This cross-sectional study was conducted from April to October 2022 on 377 healthcare workers in Tehran, Iran. Data collection was carried out through an interview by a researcher using a checklist assessing systemic and local side effects of COVID-19 vaccines.

The mean age of participants was 36.03±10.24 years, and 68.2% were female. Participants experienced significantly more local (26.5% vs. 14.3%, P<0.001) and systemic (52.0% vs. 31.8%, P<0.001) side effects after the first dose than after the second dose. After the first dose, AstraZeneca (45.9%) caused significantly more local reactions than Sputnik V (21.7%) and Sinopharm (14.5%). AstraZeneca (83.7%) caused significantly more systemic side effects than Sputnik V (50.7%) and Sinopharm (14.5%). The prevalence of local and systemic side effects after the first dose was significantly different in terms of vaccine types (P<0.001). After the second dose, AstraZeneca (20.4%) caused significantly more local reactions than Sputnik V (12.8%) and Sinopharm (10.5%) (P<0.001). Additionally, AstraZeneca (38.8%) and Sputnik V (37.4%) caused significantly more systemic side effects than Sinopharm (7.9%) (P<0.001).

Most healthcare workers in Tehran experienced flu-like symptoms and local reactions at the injection site after vaccination against COVID-19, mainly after the first dose. They had more side effects after vaccination with AstraZeneca and Sputnik V, compared to Sinopharm.