Short-term Safety of Covaxin, Sinopharm, Sputnik V, and AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccines Among Iranian Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Several coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, utilizing different platforms, have successfully obtained emergency clinical use authorization to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. Most published data from COVID-19 vaccine trials have frequently observed mild-to-moderate side effects, with varying severity depending on various vaccine types. Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of side effects associated with four types of COVID-19 vaccines among vaccinated healthcare workers following the first and second vaccine doses and to identify possible risk factors for COVID-19 vaccine side effects. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2021 to March 2022 by administering a questionnaire and conducting direct interviews with healthcare workers in Kerman, southeastern Iran, who had received 2 or more doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Results: Out of 861 individuals enrolled in the study, 38.7% received Sputnik, 32.4% AstraZeneca, 19.6% Covaxin, and 9.3% Sinopharm vaccines. Overall, the most common side effects after the first and second doses included general symptoms, fever and chills, injection site reactions, neurological symptoms, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Furthermore, the frequency of symptoms significantly reduced after the second dose. Conclusions: General symptoms and injection site reactions were significantly more common after receiving the first dose of vaccines compared to the second dose. No severe vaccine side effects were observed in this study. However, further research is required to evaluate the long-term symptoms and safety profiles of COVID-19 vaccines.