Adverse Events in Healthcare Workers after the First Dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination: a Single Center Experience

Author: Si-Ho KIM ¹ ; Yu Mi WI ; Su Yeon YUN ; Jeong Seon RYU ; Jung Min SHIN ; Eun Hui LEE ; Kyung Hwa SEO ; Sung Hee LEE ; Kyong Ran PECK
Author Information

1. Center for Infection Prevention and Control, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Changwon, Korea
Publication Type:Brief Communication
From:Journal of Korean Medical Science 2021;36(14):e107-
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: Coronavirus disease 2019 vaccinations for healthcare workers (HCWs) have begun in South Korea. To investigate adverse events (AEs) of the first dose of each vaccine, any symptom was collected daily for seven days after vaccination in a tertiary hospital. We found that 1,301 of 1,403 ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 recipients and 38 of 80 BNT162b2 recipients reported AEs respectively (90.9% vs. 52.5%): injection-site pain (77.7% vs. 51.2%), myalgia (60.5% vs.11.2%), fatigue (50.7% vs. 7.5%), headache (47.4% vs. 7.5%), and fever (36.1% vs. 5%; P < 0.001 for all). Young HCWs reported more AEs with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 than with BNT162b2.No incidences of anaphylaxis were observed. Only one serious AE required hospitalization for serious vomiting, and completely recovered. In conclusion, reported AEs were more common in recipients with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 than in those with BNT162b2. However, most of the reported AEs were mild to moderate in severity. Sufficient explanation and preparation for expected AEs required to promote widespread vaccination.