Self-reported post-COVID-19 vaccine signs, symptoms among vaccinated medical staff: Types, severity, and associated factors

Abstract

Background: Vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection vary in mechanisms, side effects, and effectiveness. Health care professionals have shown high vaccine coverage rates. Aim: This study aims to assess the prevalence of self-reported clinical signs and symptoms of COVID-19 infection among health care professionals in Iraq and determine the type and severity of COVID-19 vaccine-related symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January 1st to July 1st, 2023, using an online questionnaire disseminated through social media platforms. Results: Among 770 participants, common symptoms included body aches (36.9%), malaise (34%), headache (22%), and fever (20%), with chest pain (4.2%) and vomiting (3.4%) being less common. Most symptoms lasted for a short duration, with 45.9% lasting one day, 36.3% lasting two days, and 17.7% lasting three days. Only 1.6% needed hospitalization, while 72.7% treated the symptoms at home and 25.7% did not require any treatment. Mixed vaccine recipients were more likely to experience multiple symptoms and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) vaccines were linked with fever and headache symptoms. Symptoms were more pronounced in individuals with a history of COVID-19 infection but not influenced by vaccine dosage. Conclusion: Symptoms such as body aches, headache, fever, vomiting, and malaise were significantly associated with prior COVID-19 infection and receiving DNA and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines. Most vaccinated participants managed symptoms at home.