Title : Determinants of symptoms experienced following COVID-19 vaccinations among health workers at a tertiary hospital in southwestern Nigeria
Abstract:
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected health workers as one of the groups most at risk of infection. Although vaccines have been manufactured and documented to be a mainstay in prevention and control, many frontline health workers were averse to vaccination due to reported symptoms experienced.
Objectives: The study aimed to describe the pattern of associated symptoms and determinants of developing adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccinations among the staff of the University College Hospital, Ibadan (UCH).
Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive survey of UCH Ibadan staff who received COVID-19 vaccinations, and the study was conducted between June 2021 and April 2022. A semi-structured self-administered electronic and hard copy questionnaire were used.
Data Analysis: Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis, using Stata with the level of significance set at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: A total of 1,252 were sampled, 37.5% were 31-40 years with a range of 20 to 69 years and a mean of 38.9±8.6. Males (53.6%), Medical doctors (23.1%), Craftsmen (8.5%), Administrative staff (8.4%), and Nurses (8.2%) were the prevalent genders and occupations. An even spread of work experience was seen from soon after employment to preretirement.
Most (64.0%) were not on routine treatment in the previous 12 months, while those on treatment were hypertensive, dyspeptic, had asthma/COPD, or had malaria (10.9%, 5.0%, 3.0%, 1.9% respectively). More staff had exposure to COVID-19 suspects (36.3%) compared to confirmed cases at 27.0%. Using COVID-19 “protection” medicine was common practice among 26.0%. Ensuring protection against COVID-19 infection (69.7%) was the commonest reason for taking the vaccine, even though an adverse reaction was anticipated in 40.3%. Vitamin C was the most frequently used (55.3%), then Paracetamol (49.2%) by 44.6% of the respondents within 24 hours before vaccination, while Paracetamol was the most frequently used (73.4%), then Vitamin C (54.7%) by 17.5% of the respondents within 24 hours after vaccination. Adverse reactions occurred in 56.2% of participants and included pain at the site, headache, fatigue, muscle aches/cramps, and fever. Less common were loss of taste/smell and appetite, increased hunger, urinary symptoms, nausea/vomiting, and rash. Symptoms were reported as mild to moderate and mostly ignored (52.4%), although routine activity (44.4%) and sleep (33.5%) were hampered, and 13.6% were unable to go to work. Symptoms largely (39.8%) resolved within 2-3 days and 29.1% within 12-24 hours. The level of protection obtained from the vaccine was estimated at 41-60% by 29.4% of respondents, with 82.4% having received the 2nd dose with adverse reactions (53.7%), which was reported largely as more (30.4%) compared with the 1st dose. Determinants of symptoms experienced were gender, age, body weight, blood group, anticipating side effects, ever having had a positive COVID-19 test, use of medication within 24 hours of vaccination, smoking, and use of alcohol within the last 6 months before vaccination. However, the use of alcohol was the only statistically significant factor (χ2= 0.024).
Conclusion: Symptoms experienced with the COVID-19 vaccinations were reported as common and mostly self-limiting and responded to the use of paracetamol.
Keywords: Covid-19, vaccinations, health workers, adverse reactions, infection prevention and control, symptoms experienced.actions, infection prevention and control, symptoms experienced.
