A Survey of the Side Effects of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine among Vaccinated Adults in Iraq

Abstract

Background: Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was one of the first vaccines developed for COVID-19 to be used in Iraq. While the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks, potential side effects remain major concerns for people and can increase vaccine hesitancy despite usually being short-lasting and mild. This study aimed to evaluate the side effects of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination among vaccinated adults in Erbil city, Iraq.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with a convenience sample of 401 subjects who received the Pfizer vaccine in nine public healthcare centres in Erbil, Iraq, on February 20^th, 2022, and April 17th 2022. Data was collected through interviews with the patients using a questionnaire designed by the researchers; a p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The prevalence of side effects was 84.4%. Among participants who experienced side effects, the most common was pain at the injection site (93.1% for the first dose and 88% for the second dose). For the first dose, the onset of side effects on the vaccination day (day zero) was reported by 78.9% of those experiencing side effects, and the duration was one day for 45.4% of participants. Severity was rated as mild by 54.3%, and similar results were found for the second dose. Analgesics were used following the first dose by 47% of participants, which resulted in good relief for 96.6% of patients using them, and similar results were found for the second dose.

Conclusions: Most participants who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine experienced side effects, the most common of which was pain at the injection site, which was reported for both the first and second doses.