Adverse effects and SARS-CoV-2 infection after COVID-19 vaccination among the vaccinated people of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh: a pilot study

The Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines have demonstrated robust safety and efficacy in Phase II clinical trials. We aimed to assess adverse effects and post-vaccination infection rates amongst vaccinated people at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). In this prospective observational follow-up pilot study, 2534 subjects aged below 20 years or older who had received two doses of the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines were selected using a consecutive sampling method from June to November 2021. We evaluated the local and systemic side effects of the subjects. The subjects under study were followed up within seven days and up to 28 days after 1st and 2nd dose of all four vaccine. We also assessed post-vaccination infection rates among individuals tested for SARS-CoV-2 via PCR or rapid antigen tests. The demographic variables, type of administered vaccine, adverse effects, and presence of comorbidities were collected. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) were performed by using SPSS. Among 2534 participants who were vaccinated, systemic side effects were reported by 14.4% (379/2534) after the first dose and 10.4% (265/2534) after the second dose across all vaccines. Among vaccine-specific groups, systemic side effects were observed in 6.6% (109/1635) and 5.2% (85/1635) for the first and second doses of Pfizer; 34.3% (136/396) and 42% (166/396) for Moderna; 6.5% (32/488) and 2.9% (14/488) for Sinopharm; and 13.3% (2/15) for AstraZeneca after both doses. Local side effects were reported in 4.8% (79/1635) and 2% (32/1635) for the first and second doses of Pfizer; 45.5% (82/396) and 26% (106/396) for Moderna; 10.7% (53/488) and 2.6% (13/488) for Sinopharm; and primarily local effects for AstraZeneca. Post-vaccination infection among the vaccinated participants across all vaccines were ranging from 0.1 to 0.3% after the first and second doses.