Self-report of post-vaccination adverse events against COVID-19 by health workers at a university hospital

Abstract

Objective: To describe the adverse event profile of vaccines against Covid-19 administered to workers at a university hospital. Methods: An observational, longitudinal monitoring study of adverse events following immunization identified and reported through a self-report form was carried out. An adverse event following immunization self-report form was prepared in the Microsoft Office and made available via a link for access and completion from the beginning of the vaccination campaign in Brazil. The disclosure of the self-report form was carried out at the beginning of the campaigns for the first, second and third dose of vaccines against COVID-19, through the institutional email, publication of posters with access to the form via QR code on the intranet and sharing through the WhatsApp application in the groups of the Institution. At first, stimulated passive surveillance of adverse events related to the COVID-19 vaccine was performed. From February 2021, when the administration of the 2nd dose was started, in addition to stimulated passive surveillance, an active search for adverse events following immunization was carried out. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis by calculating the absolute and relative frequencies for categorical variables and measures of central tendency to calculate continuous variables. Results: 225 adverse events following immunization records involving the Oxford/Covishield (Fiocruz e Astrazeneca), Coronavac (Butantan), Comirnaty (Pfizer/Wyeth) vaccines were included in this study. Local adverse events were more frequent in the third dose and systemic in the first dose. Pain, induration and swelling were the most common local symptoms. Systemic included fatigue, headache, muscle pain and fever. Conclusion: The use of the vaccination strategy against Covid-19 in our population proved to be a safe strategy to face the pandemic.