Safety of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in the elderly

Introduction: COVID-19 is an infectious viral disease that has affected more than 775 million people and has caused more than 7 million deaths worldwide. According to scientific data, the patient’s age is the most important factor influencing the risk of severe disease course, including a substantially higher risk of death. Therefore, developing and distributing COVID-19 vaccines have become crucial in protecting this age group. Another thing typical for the elderly is that they usually suffer from many ailments, so polypharmacy is a common phenomenon among them. Objective: The study aimed to analyze adverse reactions that occurred after administration of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in a group of elderly individuals. Moreover, the relationship between the occurrence of adverse reactions and the pharmacotherapy used was examined. Material and methods: The information concerning post-vaccination adverse effects, COVID-19 in the past, and current pharmacotherapy was collected via the analysis of medical documentation of 200 people aged 60 years or older. Statistical analysis was performed using StatSoft Statistica 13.1 software. Results: Twenty-three participants reported adverse effects after vaccination (including fatigue, fever, and pain at the injection site) while 177 did not. The participants taking such drugs as agents acting on the renin-angiotensin system, analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, antithrombotic agents, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, drugs for acid-related disorders, lipid modifying agents, mineral supplements, psychoanaleptics, psycholeptics, and vitamins were less likely to experience adverse effects post-vaccination. Conclusions: Adverse effects in the elderly population are rare and do not pose a threat to the health and life of the patient. Chronic pharmacotherapy may influence the risk of experiencing adverse effects.