Post Vaccination Side Effects of Different Available Vaccines among People of Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Akhtar Hira , Shahnaz Saira , Ali Muhammad , Legari Quratulain , Dahar Maha Raja , Ahmed Salman Ashfaq , Khalid Khawar 
Published: March 2022

Background: For the suppression of covid-19 virus development of vaccines are one of the foremost step but this rapid development enlarge the probability of side effects. In this study a questionnaire based survey conducted to evaluate post covid vaccination short term side effects.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to highlight the side effects of different available vaccines such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sputnik, Sino-Pharm, Sinovac and Cansino-Bio in people of Karachi, Pakistan.

Methodology: A questionnaire based cross sectional study was conducted between May - October 2021.Questionarre were prepared in Google form link of the form were distributed randomly through Whatsapp language of questionnaire was English. This survey had four sections which included socio demographic data of all Participants, health status, type of vaccine participants were vaccinated and post vaccination short term side effects among individuals were collected data were evaluated by using SPSS version 20.0.

Results: A total of (n=120) participants were taken part which included n= 42 (35.8%) males, n= 75 (62.5%) females and n= 3 (2.5%) transgenders. Participants which were diabetics and hypertensive included  n=1(2.38%), n= 2 (4.76%) males, n=3 (4%), n=3 (4%) females and n= 1 (33.3%) transgender however n=2 (2.66%) females were suffered from heart disease. Participants with liver disease and renal insufficiency included  n=2 (47.6%), n=1 (2.38%) males, n=2 (2.66%), n=3 (4%) females and n=1(3.33%) transgender. Participants received Pfizer vaccine included n=3 (7.1%) males, n=11 (14.6%) female  and n=1(33.3%) transgender whereas n=2 (2.66%) females and  n=1 (33.3%) transgender were vaccinated  by AstraZeneca. n=2 (2.66%) female participants  immunize by Sputnik. n=13 (30.9%) males, n=29 (38.6%) females and n=1 (33.3%) transgender were vaccinated by Sino-Pharm. n=17 (40.4%), n=28 (37.3%) and n=1 (33.3%) were immunized  by Sinovac vaccine and n=9(21.4%)males, n=3 (4%) females and n=1 (33.3%) transgender were vaccinated by Cansino-Bio whereas post vaccination Side effects such as pain at the site of injection were found n=27 (64.2%) in males, n=41(54.6%)in females  and n= 2 (66.6%) in transgenders, participants faced fever after covid vaccination  included n=14 (33.3%) males, n=23(30.6%) females another side effect like fatigue were reported by n=14 (33.3%) males, n= 21 (28%) females whereas side effect such as nausea and vomiting were reported by n=12 (28.5%) males , n= 13 (17.3%) females  and n= 1 (33.3%)  transgender, Abdominal Pain after covid vaccination were reported in n= 5 (11.9%) males, n= 6 (8%) females whereas diarrhea were reported in n=7 (35.7%) males  n= 12 (16%) females which subsided after few days or hours and no hospitalization were reported n=15(35.7%) males, n=28(37.3%) females reported that they didn’t experienced these side effects.

Conclusion: Side effects after Covid vaccination were predictable and mild such as pain at the site of injection, fever, fatigue, Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea these were common short term side effects which were subsided in few days or hours This questionnaire based survey is a preliminary study to evaluate short time side effects which  help in reducing vaccine hesitancy to some extent and clear conspiracies  such as insertion of microchip and infertility associated with Covid vaccines. However further surveillance program needed to evaluate long term safety profile of covid vaccine with large sample size.