PROPORTION OF COVID-19 VACCINE SIDE EFFECTS AMONG LECTURERS AND TEACHING STAFF AT ISLAMIC STATE UNIVERSITY SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH JAKARTA, INDONESIA

Abstract

The incidence of adverse effects after COVID-19 vaccination has an important impact on the level of public confidence in the benefits and participation in supporting the implementation of vaccination in our country. Vaccine hesitancy may have a negative impact on their perceptions of vaccine safety and vaccination recommendations, and therefore vaccine coverage. This study aims to explore various adverse events following immunization among lecturers and teaching staff at Islamic State University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia in response to vaccine hesitancy. In this study, we used a cross-sectional survey method and was carried out between March and April 2021 by collecting data on the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine following mass vaccination among lecturers and teaching staff at State Islamic University, Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia. Vaccine injections are done twice, the second vaccination is done with a timeline of 2-4 weeks after the first vaccination. Then each complaint was evaluated 30 minutes, 24 hours and 3 days after the first and second vaccinations. We used a self-administered questionnaire that was validated with multiple choice models which included COVID-19-related side effects. The vaccine used in this study was from Sinovac Biotech. The Sinovac vaccine uses inactivated virus particles to produce an immune response. A total of 518 participants filled in the questionnaire, 43% female, 57% male, with a range from 20–76 years. First dose: No side effects (55.98%, 48.26%, 71%), while injection site pain (26.83%, 18.53%, 8.11%), fatigue (2.12%, 10.62%, 7.53%), headache (2.9%, 5.02%, 4.25%), drowsiness (19.5%, 27.03%, 10.81%) chills (0.58%, 4.25%, 1.74%), and feeling hungry (1.54%, 1.16%, 0.97%) were the most commonly reported side effects on the first vaccination within the first 30 minutes, 24 hours and the third day, respectively. Second dose: No side effects (52.92%, 65.44%, 73.94%), while injection site pain (32.24%, 17.95%, 11.58%), fatigue (6.95%, 7.14%, 7.34%), headache (2.7%, 3.86%, 3.47%), drowsiness (15.44%, 13.32%, 7.92%) chills (0.58%, 3.09%, 1.74%), and feeling hungry (0.39%, 0.58%, 0.39%) were the most commonly reported side effects on the second vaccination within the first 30 minutes, 24 hours and the third day, respectively. All adverse effects that occur are generally mild, none of them require special medical treatment, or have to be taken to the hospital. The reactions resolved within a week and all of these symptoms resolved without additional problems. The most common side effects of the Sinovac Biotech COVID-19 vaccine among lecturers and teaching staff at State Islamic University, Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia, were injection site pain, fatigue, headache, drowsiness, chills, and feeling hungry. All the reactions were generally mild and resolved within a week without additional problems. Further independent studies on the incidence of adverse effects after Covid-19 vaccination are needed to increase public confidence in the Covid-19 vaccine program.