Side Effects and Adverse Events of Vaccines against COVID-19

Abstract

This study is to identify the side effects of vaccinations for Libyan individuals to protect from the Covid-19 virus, and it is to determine the actual COVID-19 vaccine with less adverse events or complications. The present work was conducted on different medical centers in the east, west, south and central regions of Libya in the period from1/9/2020 to 1/9/2021. About 989 vaccinated individuals (537 males and 452 females) aged (20-70) years were selected according to their symptoms after taking the vaccine. A several doctors and nurses from the east, west and south and central regions of Libya were subjected to provide details about the vaccinated individuals. The questionnaire form includes questions about effectiveness and types of vaccine, vaccine’s symptoms; the most resistant age group, the most age group had a high death rate, and the safest vaccines. The largest number of reported vaccinated cases was from western region (n =652), especially Tripoli (n= 466). Old individuals had more side effects than young people. Old men had more side effects than old women. No cases reported from Ghat city in southern Libya because of long distance or poor communication affected on and data transmission. The main side effects from vaccination included headache, pain, bleeding, fatigue, muscle pain, cough, and swelling. The descending order of vaccination according to side effects includes AstraZeneca (58%), Sputnik V (30%), Sinopharm (9%) and Pfizer (2%).  This indicates that Pfizer vaccine is the safest vaccine than other vaccination. 574 (58%) cases were fully recovered from side effects, 33 (3 %) were died after taking the vaccination, while 9 (0.9%) cases are still under treatment.