Adverse Events with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19Vaccine among Korean Healthcare Workers
10.3349/ymj.2021.62.12.1162
- Author:
Jae Hyoung IM
1
;
Eunjung KIM
;
Eunyoung LEE
;
Yeongju SEO
;
Yuran LEE
;
Yoonkyoung JANG
;
Soyeon YU
;
Yeonju MAENG
;
Soyeon PARK
;
Seohee PARK
;
Jiah KIM
;
Jin-Soo LEE
;
Ji Hyeon BAEK
Author Information
1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2021;62(12):1162-1168
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has shown excellent clinical effectiveness; however, adverse events of the vaccine remain a concern in Korea. We surveyed adverse events in 2498 healthcare workers vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a university hospital. The survey was conducted using a diary card for 7 days following each injection. The questionnaire response rate was 75.1% (1876/2498) for the first dose and 73.8% (1840/2493) for the second dose. Among local reactions, pain was the most commonly reported (84.9% after the first dose and 90.4% after the second dose). After the second dose, two people visited the emergency room due to severe local pain, but no hospitalization or skin necrosis occurred. Among systemic reactions, fatigue was most frequently reported (52.8% after the first dose and 77.0% after the second dose), followed by myalgia (49.0% and 76.1%), headache (28.7% and 59.2%), chills (16.7% and 54.0%), and arthralgia (11.4% and 39.2%). One or more critical adverse events occurred in 0.2% and 0.7% of the vaccinees. Except for urticaria, more adverse events were reported after the second dose than after the first dose. In the future, adverse events should be investigated in older adults, and a future study with a longer observation period should be conducted.
