The safety of verocell covid-19 (Sinopharm) vaccination among health care workers in khyber teaching hospital, Peshawar

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To determine the safety of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine among health care workers of Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH, Peshawar). Material and Methods: This observational study was carried out to assess the side effects associated with the first dose of Sinopharm vaccine among health care workers in KTH Peshawar, Pakistan. Data was collected using a close ended questionnaire which was filled by the health care workers above 18 years of age. The participants were asked to monitor any side effects up to 1 week after the first dose of Sinopharm vaccine administered to them. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23 for macbook. Results: A total of 400 health workers were included in the study but only 155 participants responded by completing the questionnaire. It was observed that 63.9% of the participants who were vaccinated experienced at least one symptom after vaccination. The most common symptom was pain at injection site (36.8%) experienced during 15 – 30 minutes after vaccination followed by fatigue (21.3%), headache (18.7%), lightheadedness (12.3%), myalgia (10.3%). Percentage of other symptoms was less than 10%. The occurrence of symptoms after vaccination was greater in age group 24-42 years which was 60.6% while in age group 43-60 years it was 39.4%. Conclusion: Our study concludes that Sinopharm vaccine has no or mild side effects and therefore safe for public use.