STUDY OF ADVERSE EVENTS AND BREAKTHROUGH INFECTION FOLLOWING COVID-19 VACCINATION

Srivatsav S., Vasantha Kamath*, Anand R. and Sunil S.

ABSTRACT

Background: Covid-19 pandemic which started in China in 2019 created a chaos worldwide. Since COVID-19 has no known cure, vaccinations and preventive measures like COVID-19 appropriate conduct continue to be the mainstay of security. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study where in a total of 579 individuals of either gender, above 18 years of age who had received at least one dose of any of the two COVID-19 vaccines (Covishield or Covaxin) were studied. Information was gathered using a self-designed, pretested, semi-structured questionnaire using a Google Form which was shared via WhatsApp and electronic mail to participants meeting the selection criteria. Results: Around 579 participants were studied, 87% (501) participants received covishield and 13% (78) participants received covaxin. Number of participants taking 2 doses were 85% (491). Around 79.6% (461) participants experienced adverse events after 1st dose of vaccination out of which 80.2% participants experienced after covishield and 77% participants experienced after covaxin. Around 48.06% (236) participants experienced adverse events after 2nd dose of vaccination out of which 48.9% participants experienced after covishield and 40% of participants experienced after covaxin. More number of participants experienced adverse events after 1st dose than compared to the 2nd dose and this difference was statistically significant (p ≤ 0.0001). Breakthrough infection were seen in 3.59% and 4.75% participants after 1st and 2nd dose of covishield respectively and 11.53% and 5.76% participants after 1st and 2nd dose of covaxin respectively. However, they were mild and none of them had to be hospitalized.

Keywords: COVID-19, vaccination, Adverse-events, Breakthrough infection.