Background and objectives: COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has led to a global pandemic with severe health, economic, and social impacts. Vaccination has emerged as a crucial mitigation strategy. Despite the pivotal role of COVID-19 vaccines in controlling the pandemic, vaccine hesitancy remains a significant concern globally, particularly among young adults. This study aimed to explore the side effects and perceptions of the young adults in Bangladesh following COVID-19 vaccination.

Materials and methods: The study, conducted in April 2021 among 325 young Bangladeshi adults who received two doses of Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV) vaccine against SAR-CoV-2. Participants completed a self-administered online questionnaire covering demographics, health history, post-vaccination adverse events, and perceptions about COVID-19 vaccine. A symptom scoring system, based on the interquartile range (IQR), was used to categorize the severity of the side effects. Data analysis utilized SPSS version 26.0, with appropriate tests for significance.

Result: Total 325 participants (male - 64.6%, female - 68.9%) were enrolled. The mean age was 22 ± 1.6 years. Social media (43·1%) was the primary source of information about COVID-19. Vaccine related side effects were experienced by 40.9% and 47.1% participants following 1st and 2^nd dose of vaccination respectively. Side effects were more prevalent after the second dose of vaccine, particularly in females (31·3% vs. 8·2%, p<0·001). Common side effects included fatigue (41·6%), injection site pain/swelling (36·7%) and headache (32·6%). In over 50% of participants, symptoms appeared within 8 hours following both doses. Symptoms resolved by taking rest at home in majority of participants. Participants with comorbidity reported significantly higher rate of side effects after the first dose (61.8% vs. 37·3%, p <0.05). Despite side effects, 69·8% felt reassured post-vaccination, 63·7% believed in its long-term safety, and 98·8% recommended vaccination to others.

Conclusion: The Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine was well-tolerated among young adults in Bangladesh. Though higher side effects after the second dose were observed in female participants, yet most maintained a positive perception, underscoring its acceptability and recommended vaccination to others.

July 2024; Vol. 18(2):011. DOI:https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.18.023

*Correspondence: Md. Faizul Ahasan, Department of Pharmacology, Ibrahim Medical College, 1/A Ibrahim Sarani, Segunbagicha, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected]