RESUMO
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to dramatic loss of human life worldwide and presents an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems, and the world of work. The availability of a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19 is well recognized as an additional tool to contribute to the control of the pandemic. Although vaccines proved efficacious in preventing infection, yet some cases of post-vaccination breakthrough infections (BTIs) have been reported, raising concerns about the efficacy and safety of COVID vaccines. Aim and Objectives: This study was aimed to investigate the occurrence of BTIs among the vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs), to analyze the severity of their disease and to know the trends in drug therapy. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Data were obtained by a predesigned questionnaire and was distributed through Google platform. Details of time, severity of BTIs and the trends in drug therapy among the vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) was evaluated and statistically analyzed. Results: A total of 616 HCWs participated in the study, out of which 553 were vaccinated and 63 of them were unvaccinated. About 15%, that is, 85/553 of the vaccinated HCWs developed BTI. Case rate was lesser (12.9%) in fully vaccinated HCWs as compared to partially vaccinated HCWs (19.5%). Most BTI cases (94%) suffered mild to moderate severity of symptoms and were managed in home isolation with medicines (mainly paracetamol, azithromycin, and doxycycline). Only five out of 85 BTI cases developed severe disease and needed hospitalization. Conclusion: BTIs after COVID-19 vaccination are uncommon and typically present with mild symptoms. Thus, vaccination along with hand sanitization, wearing of masks, and maintaining social distancing has provided hope in combating the pandemic.
RESUMO
La mielitis transversa (MT) es un síndrome clínico caracterizado por una inflamación y desmielinización aguda de la médula espinal. Esta entidad tomó relevancia pública en septiembre de 2020 cuando fueron suspendidos los ensayos clínicos de la vacuna ChAdOx1 para SARS-CoV-2, desarrollada por AstraZeneca y la Universidad de Oxford, por casos de MT en tres participantes. Al respecto, esta investigación se plantea recopilar la información disponible que relacione casos de MT con vacunas a nivel mundial. En este sentido, se llevó a cabo una investigación descriptiva, con diseño documental, donde se efectuó la revisión sistemática de publicaciones disponibles en las bases de datos: "PubMed", "Redalyc" y "SciELO", desde el 01/2000 al 04/2021, que presentan casos clínicos de MT post vacunación. Se estudiaron 49 casos de MT posterior a la vacunación contra diferentes virus y bacterias, 81,8 % de los mismos sucedieron en el primer mes. Se argumenta que los antígenos de las vacunas o sus adyuvantes pueden propiciar complicaciones autoinmunes que explican este fenómeno. Sin embargo, los análisis estadísticos no encuentran relación causal clara, mientras que existe evidencia que sugiere que las vacunas pueden contribuir a que se manifieste un trastorno autoinmune subyacente. El riesgo de MT pos-vacunación parece ser muy pequeño o depender del azar, mientras que el beneficio derivado de la vacunación está demostrado, incluso para disminuir los trastornos autoinmunitarios. No obstante, es importante notificar y estudiar estos casos para la realización de estimaciones certeras en el futuro, contribuyendo al desarrollo de la medicina de precisión y personalizada
Transverse myelitis (TM) is a clinical syndrome characterized by acute inflammation and demyelination of the spinal cord. This entity gained public relevance in September 2020 when clinical trials of the ChAdOx1 vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, were suspended due to possible cases of MT in three participants. For this reason, this research aims to compile the available information that relates MT cases to vaccinations worldwide. In this sense, a descriptive research with documentary design was carried out through a systematic review of the publications available in the databases "PubMed", "Redalyc" y "SciELO" that presented clinical cases of post-vaccination TM from 01/2000 to 04/2021. We studied 49 cases of post-vaccination MT for different viruses and bacteria, 81.8 % of which occurred in the first month. In this sense, It's argued that vaccine antigens or their adjuvants may promote autoimmune complications that explain this phenomenon. However, statistical analyses find no certain causal relationship, while there is evidence to suggest that vaccines may contribute to the development of an underlying autoimmune disorder. The risk of postvaccination MT appears to be very small or dependent on chance, whereas the benefit derived from vaccination is certain, including in decreasing autoimmune disorders. However, it is important to report and study these cases for accurate estimates in the future, contributing to the development of precise and personalized medicine
RESUMO
Introducción: Los eventos adversos atribuibles a procesos de vacunación e inmunización, son efectos no deseables aparecidos tras la aplicación de una vacuna que genera miedo y desconfianza en las madres al sentirse incapaces de identificarlos y manejarlos de manera apropiada. Objetivo: Determinar el conocimiento que tienen las madres de niños menores de dos años de edad sobre el reconocimiento y cuidado de los efectos adversos posvacunales. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal, con una muestra por conveniencia de 50 madres que acudieron al centro de salud Nuevo Israel en la provincia de Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Ecuador. Las variables de estudio fueron el tipo de eventos posvacunales, el conocimiento sobre el manejo de los mismos y la fuente de información del cuidado para cada tipo de evento. Se determinaron las frecuencias absolutas y relativas en función de las variables edad y nivel de instrucción que fueron expresadas mediante tablas de contingencia. Resultados: Se identificó la fiebre como el evento adverso más común y la administración de paracetamol para su manejo. Independientemente de la edad y el nivel de instrucción, la identificación y conocimiento sobre cuidado de las reacciones posvacunales fueron adecuados. La información manejada proviene en su mayoría (94,6 por ciento) del personal de enfermería. Conclusiones: Las madres conocen los efectos posvacunales y los manejan de manera adecuada en un contexto en el que el personal de enfermería es el encargado de transmitir las buenas prácticas en su rol de educador(AU)
Introduction: Adverse events attributable to vaccination and immunization processes are undesirable effects that appear after application of a vaccine that generates fear and mistrust in mothers, as they feel unable to identify and handle them appropriately. Objective: To determine the knowledge that mothers of children under two years of age have about the recognition and care of postvaccination adverse effects. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study carried out with a convenience sample of 50 mothers who attended Nuevo Israel Health Center in Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Province, Ecuador. The study variables were type of postvaccination events, knowledge about their management, and source of information about care for each type of event. Absolute and relative frequencies were determined according to the variables age and level of education, expressed through contingency tables. Results: Fever was identified as the most common adverse event and administration of paracetamol was identified as a way for its management. Regardless the age and level of education, the identification and knowledge about the care of postvaccination reactions were adequate. The information handled comes mostly from the nursing staff, a source accounting for 94.6 percent. Conclusions: Mothers know postvaccination effects and manage them appropriately in a context in which the nursing staff is in charge of transmitting good practices in their role as educator.