The side effects of COVID-19 vaccines: A cross-sectional study in the eastern region of Libya

Purpose: Patient-reported data is an important source of safety information. The aim of this study was to describe the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines used in Libya, compare them, and find the association of these with different factors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the eastern part of Libya. Adults who got one or two doses of any COVID-19 vaccine were included. The questionnaire was distributed online via social media, and also distributed as paper form to increase the responses. Results: In total, 1779 adults, (53.7%) females completed the questionnaire. The mean age of participants was 39.87±14.99. Generally, females experienced side effects slightly higher compared to males (75.7% and 68.8% respectively). Overall, the prevalence of side effects was slightly higher in participants aged ≤40 years compared to those aged >40 years (76.5% and 66.6% respectively). However, this difference was found to be statistically significant (p=0.001). The side effects were more common among those previously infected with COVID-19 than those not (78.5% and 21.5%, respectively; p=0.001). The side effects were more common among those, who received the Sputnik V and the Sinopharm vaccine compared to other types. The most common side effect was fever (41.1%), (47.3%) for the Sputnik V vaccine. Conclusion: The side effects of COVID-19 vaccines used in Libya are generally mild and selflimiting. The most common side effect was fever, which was more prominent among females and the younger age group of participants. Also, the side effects were more common among those, who received the Sputnik V vaccine. (Open J Bio Med Res 2022;1:19-27.)