Original articles
Reactogenicity to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in health care workers: A multicenter observational study in Sri Lanka
Authors:
Chandimani Undugodage,
University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, LK
Upul Dissanayake,
National Hospital of Sri Lanka, LK
Hemantha Kumara,
Base Hospital Panadura, LK
Bodhika Samarasekera,
District General Hospital, Gampaha, LK
Lakmini Yapa,
Teaching Hospital Anuradhapura, LK
Osanda Dissanayake,
University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, LK
Daminda Domingoarachchi,
Teaching Hospital Anuradhapura, LK
Dilshan Priyankara,
National Hospital Sri Lanka
Kanishka Seneviratne,
Teaching Hospital Anuradhapura, LK
Widanagamage Kumara Wickramasinghe,
National Hospital of Sri Lanka, LK
Samiddhi Samarakoon,
National Hospital of Sri Lanka, LK
Pradeep Wijesinghe,
Colombo South Teaching Hospital, LK
Upuli Wijemanne,
Colombo South Teaching Hospital, LK
Ulluwishewage Chaminda Sandaruwan,
Colombo South Teaching Hospital, LK
Rajalingam Neranjan,
Colombo South Teaching Hospital, LK
Palinda Thenuwara,
Colombo South Teaching Hospital, LK
Gamhewa Arachchige Amashakya,
University of Sri Jayewardenepura, LK
Hasarah Dasanayake,
University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, LK
Nimthara Madurawala,
University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, LK
Thushanthy Prasath,
Colombo South Teaching Hospital, LK
Nilanka Perera
University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, LK
Abstract
Introduction: The acceptability of a vaccine is an important factor during mass vaccination programs and this is largely dependent on the symptoms of local and systemic reactogenicity. There is paucity of data on the systemic and local reactions experienced by COVID-19 vaccine recipients in South Asia.
Objectives: To identify the early local and systemic reactogenicity of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine.
Method: A multicenter observational study was performed to identify the reactogenicity to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in healthcare workers following the first dose.
Results: There were 4478 participants with a median age of 42 years (IQR 34-51) and 2863 (63.9%) were females. At least one symptom of reactogenicity was reported by 4151 (92.7%). Local reactions were reported by 2612 (58.3%). Systemic reactions were bodyache (3244,72.4%), fatigue (2379, 53.1%), headache (2277, 50.8%), fever (2290, 51.1%), feverishness (1912, 42.7%) and chills (2295, 51.3%). Lower age (p<0.0001) and female gender (p 0.002) were associated with a higher frequency of developing systemic reactions. There was no association between reactogenicity and comorbidities. There were 342 (7.6%) reports of palpitations and one case of ventricular bigeminy. There was one report of anaphylaxis and hospital admissions were reported by 24 (0.5%). One vaccine recipient was managed for possible aseptic meningitis.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that early systemic and local reactions are common. Systemic reactions were more frequent in females and in the younger population. Most symptoms were self-limiting and did not require medical attention or hospital admission. ChAdOx1 nCoV- 19 vaccine appears safe in the studied population.
How to Cite:
Undugodage, C., Dissanayake, U., Kumara, H., Samarasekera, B., Yapa, L., Dissanayake, O., Domingoarachchi, D., Priyankara, D., Seneviratne, K., Wickramasinghe, W.K., Samarakoon, S., Wijesinghe, P., Wijemanne, U., Sandaruwan, U.C., Neranjan, R., Thenuwara, P., Amashakya, G.A., Dasanayake, H., Jayasooriya, S., Kalubandara, B., Madurawala, N., Prasath, T. and Perera, N., 2021. Reactogenicity to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in health care workers: A multicenter observational study in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Medical Journal, 66(4), pp.177–184. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/cmj.v66i4.9508
Published on
31 Dec 2021.
Peer Reviewed
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