The Untoward Effects of COVID-19 Vaccines and Determinant Factors among Vaccinated Healthcare Workers at Public Health Facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31584/psumj.2025278888Keywords:
Addis Ababa, adverse effect, COVID-19 vaccine, healthcare worker, public health facilityAbstract
Objective: The overall objective of this study was to investigate the adverse effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, and their associated factors among vaccinated health care workers working (HCWs) at public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: 2021/22.
Material and Methods: This study was implemented on 542 study participants found in Addis-Ababa city administration public health facilities, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A quantitative approach and facility-based cross-sectional study design, using proportionate allocation of the samples among each health facility, was adopted. The study used a questionnaire as a tool to collect data.
Results: Out of 542 samples, 526 study subjects participated (61.5% females): response rate was 97.05%. The proportion of HCWs having had post-COVID-19 vaccine adverse effects outcome among the study participants was 319 (60.6%, 95% confidence interval: 56.7%-64.6%). Logistic regression analysis results revealed that the odds of having history of allergic reaction to any vaccine were found 11.108 times higher (p-value<0.05), and the odds of having co-morbidity were found to have 2.299 times higher (p-value<0.05) determinant effects to develop and significantly associate with the post-COVID-19 vaccine adverse effects.
Conclusion: Experiences of post-COVID-19 vaccine adverse effects is higher and more common. Following side effects, a significant number of study participants have also undertaken treatment options to reduce post-vaccine discomforts/ pains. Additionally, individuals that have history of allergic reactions to any vaccine and co-morbidities are positively associated with post-vaccine side effects. Therefore, even though post-COVID-19 vaccine side effects are very common, the advantages of taking the vaccine outweigh its disadvantages, and vaccinated individuals can seek treatment options when they experience severe post-vaccine side effects.
References
Alene KA, Gelaw YA, Fetene DM, Koye DN, Melaku YA, Gesesew H, et al. COVID-19 in Ethiopia: a geospatial analysis of vulnerability to infection, case severity and death. BMJ Open 2021;11:e044840. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044840.
World Health Organization. WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) dashboard [homepage on the Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://covid19.who.int/
Kim MA, Lee YW, Kim SR, Kim JH, Min TK, Park HS, et al. COVID-19 vaccine-associated anaphylaxis and allergic reactions: consensus statements of the KAAACI urticaria/angioedema/anaphylaxis working group. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res 2021;13:526–44. doi:10.4168/aair.2021.13.4.526.
Jeong M. Global COVID-19 vaccine summary: side effects [homepage on the Internet]. Brighton: Medical News Today; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/global-covid-19-vaccinesummary-side-effects
World Health Organization. The Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine: what you need to know [homepage on the Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://www.emro.who.int/health-topics/corona-virus/oxford-covid-19-vaccine.html
Holder J. Tracking coronavirus vaccinations around the world [homepage on the Internet]. New York: The New York Times; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-vaccinations-tracker.html
Getachew A. Ethiopia begins COVID-19 vaccine rollout [homepage on the Internet]. Ankara: Anadolu Agency; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/ethiopia-begins-covid-19-vaccine-rollout/2174904
World Health Organization. Ethiopia introduces COVID-19 vaccine in a national launching ceremony [homepage on the Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://www.afro.who.int/news/ethiopia-introduces-covid19-vaccine-national-launching-ceremony
AllAfrica News. Ethiopian government vaccinates, reports serious side effects from COVID-19 jab [homepage on the Internet]. Washington DC: AllAfrica News; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://allafrica.com/stories/2021xxxx.html
Jeong M. Oxford-AstraZeneca (Covishield) COVID-19 vaccine: known side effects [homepage on the Internet]. Brighton: Medical News Today; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/oxfordastrazeneca-vaccine-what-to-know-about-side-effects
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Side effects and COVID-19 vaccines: what to expect [homepage on the Internet]. Maryland: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://www.jhsph.edu/covid-19/articles/side-effects-and-covid-19-vaccines-what-to-expect.html
World Health Organization. Side effects of COVID-19 vaccines [homepage on the Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/featurestories/detail/side-effects-of-covid-19-vaccines
National Institute for Communicable Diseases. COVID-19 vaccination: reporting adverse effects FAQ [homepage on the Internet]. Johannesburg: National Institute for Communicable Diseases; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://www.nicd.ac.za/covid-19-vaccination-faq/
Jęśkowiak I, Wiatrak B, Grosman-Dziewiszek P, Szeląg A. The incidence and severity of post-vaccination reactions after vaccination against COVID-19. Vaccines (Basel) 2021;9:502. doi:10.3390/vaccines9050502.
Edwards KM, Orenstein WA. COVID-19 vaccines to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection [homepage on the Internet]. Waltham: UpToDate; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com
European Medicines Agency. Suspected adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccination and the safety of substances of human origin: key facts [homepage on the Internet]. Amsterdam: European Medicines Agency; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatoryoverview/public-health-threats/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/covid-19-medicines/covid-19-vaccines-key-facts
Alhazmi A, Alamer E, Daws D, Hakami M, Darraj M, Abdelwahab S, et al. Evaluation of side effects associated with COVID-19 vaccines in Saudi Arabia. Vaccines (Basel) 2021;9:674. doi:10.3390/vaccines9060674.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Possible side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine [homepage on the Internet]. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect/after.html
Esba LCA, Al Jeraisy M. Reported adverse effects following COVID-19 vaccination at a tertiary care hospital, focus on cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). Expert Rev Vaccines 2021;20:1037–42. doi:10.1080/14760584.2021.1940145.
Our World in Data. Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations [homepage on the Internet]. Oxford: Our World in Data; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations
World Health Organization. The Janssen Ad26.COV2.S COVID-19 vaccine: what you need to know [monograph on the Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/act-accelerator/covax/26072022-janssen-vaccine-explainerupdate-final.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Understanding adverse events and side effects [homepage on the Internet]. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/ensuringsafety/sideeffects/index.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reporting adverse events to VAERS [homepage on the Internet]. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/ensuringsafety/monitoring/vaers/index.html
World Health Organization. MODULE 1 – adverse events: frequency and severity [monograph on the Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2021 [cited 2025 Jun 17]. Available from: https://www.who.int/vaccine_safety/initiative/tech_support/Part-2.pdf
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Author and Journal

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

