Evaluation of healthcare workers first vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine in Northwest Syria Observations of vaccine side effects in emergency departments

Year 2022, Volume: 32 Issue: 6, 670 - 676, 31.12.2022

Bahadır Karaca Burak Çelik

https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1147493

Abstract

Aim
In this study, we investigated the adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine administered to health workers in northwestern Syria.
Materials and Methods
The study retrospectively analyzed data from 260 health care workers who received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine between May 1, 2021, and June 30, 2021, in the northwestern Syria region by searching the Syrian Immunization Group database (SIG) and patient records from hospital or health center emergency departments.
Results
The mean age of health care personnel was 35.86∓8.03 years, and 9.6% were women. Of those who participated in the study, 5.8% had comorbid diseases. 109 (42.1%) were vaccinated in hospital emergency departments and 151 (57.9%) in health center emergency departments. It was found that 63.5% (n=165) of those vaccinated experienced adverse reactions to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. The most common adverse reactions to the vaccine were fever in 128 individuals (49%), fatigue in 89 individuals (55.6%), headache in 54 individuals (20.8%), weakness in 53 individuals (20.4%), joint pain in 50 individuals (19.2%), injection site pain in 47 individuals (18.1%), and muscle pain in 33 individuals (12.7%). The side effects noted were classified as severe, moderate, and mild. Of these, fever 15.4% (n=40), fatigue 11.9% (n=31), and headache 9.6% (n=25) were the most common severe side effects. It was found that 14 (5.4%) individuals required hospitalization and medical treatment due to adverse reactions to the vaccine. When evaluating the side effects observed in hospitalized patients, the most common side effects were fever, chills, muscle pain, joint pain, fatigue, and weakness.
Conclusion
It was concluded that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine administered to health care workers in northwestern Syria had no fatal side effects and that fewer side effects were generally observed in this study compared with the literature. Research on side effects through independent studies will help address global and regional concerns about vaccines.

Keywords

COVID-19 vaccine, emergency medicine, Oxford/AstraZeneca, side effect, Syria

Thanks

The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr. Özkan GORGULU (Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, Faculty of Medicine, Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Department) for his assistance in the statistical analysis of the study.

Kuzeybatı Suriye'de COVID-19 aşısı ile ilk aşılanan sağlık çalışanlarının değerlendirilmesi: Acil servislerde aşı yan etkisi gözlemleri

Abstract

Amaç
Bu çalışmada Kuzeybatı Suriye’de sağlık çalışanlarına uygulanan COVID-19 aşısının yan etkilerinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlandı.
Gereç ve Yöntemler
Çalışmada 1 Mayıs 2021-30 Haziran 2021 tarihleri arasında Kuzeybatı Suriye Bölgesi’nde birinci doz COVID-19 aşısı olan 260 sağlık çalışanın verileri Syrian Immunization Group (SIG) veri tabanından ve hastanelerin acil servislerinden veya sağlık merkezlerinin acil birimlerinden hasta dosyalarından taranarak retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi.
Bulgular
Sağlık çalışanlarının yaş ortalaması 35.86∓8.03 yıldı ve %9.6’sı kadındı. Çalışmaya dahil edilenlerin %5.8’i komorbid hastalığa sahiptir ve 109 (%42.1)’u hastanede acil serviste, 151 (%57.9)’i sağlık merkezlerinin acil birimlerinde aşılarını yaptırdı. Aşı olanların %63.5(n=165)’inde Oxford/AstraZeneca aşısının yan etkisi olduğu görüldü. En sık görülen aşı yan etkilerinden ateş 128(%49) kişide, yorgunluk 89(%55.6) kişide, baş ağrısı 54(%20.8) kişide, halsizlik 53(%20.4) kişide, eklem ağrıları 50(%19.2) kişide, aşı yerinde ağrı 47(%18.1) kişide ve kas ağrıları 33(%12.7) kişide tespite dildi. Tespit edilen yan etkiler şiddetli, orta, hafif olarak kendi içinde derecelendirildi. Bunlardan ateş %15.4(n=40), yorgunluk %11.9(n=31) ve baş ağrısı %9.6(n=25) oranlarında olup sırasıyla en sık görülen şiddetli yan etkilerdi. Aşı yan etkileri nedeniyle 14 (%5.4) kişinin tıbbi tedavi desteği almak durumunda kaldığı ve hastaneye yatırılarak tıbbi tedavi desteği aldığı saptandı. Hastaneye yatanlarda görülen yan etkiler değerlendirildiğinde en sık görülen yan etkilerin ateş(n=8), üşüme titreme(n=4), kas ağrıları(n=5), eklem ağrıları(n=4), yorgunluk(n=4) ve halsizlik(n=4) şikayetleri olduğu görüldü.
Sonuç
Kuzeybatı Suriye’de sağlık çalışanlarına uygulanan Oxford/AstraZeneca aşısının ölümcül yan etkilerin görülmediği, bu çalışmada genel olarak literatüre göre daha az yan etki görüldüğü tespit edildi. Bağımsız çalışmalarla yan etkiler üzerine araştırmaların yapılması, küresel ve bölgesel aşı endişelerinin giderilmesine katkı sağlayacaktır.

Keywords

COVID-19 vaccine, emergency medicine, Oxford/AstraZeneca, side effect, Syria

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