Major Article
The safety profile of COVID-19 vaccinations in the United States

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2021.10.015Get rights and content

Abstract

Background/Aim

Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen are the 3 COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use in the United States. This study aims to analyze and compare adverse events following immunization associated with these COVID-19 vaccines based on Vaccine Adverse Effect Reporting System data.

Methods

We utilized Vaccine Adverse Effect Reporting System data from January 1, 2021 to April 30, 2021 to analyze and characterize adverse effects postvaccination with these authorized COVID-19 vaccines in the US population.

Results

A total of 141,208 individuals suffered at least one adverse events following immunization following 239.97 million doses of COVID-19 vaccination. The frequency of side effects was 0.04%, 0.06%, and 0.35% following administration of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccines, respectively. Most of the patients had mild systemic side effects, the most common being headache (0.01%) and fever (0.01%). The frequency of serious side effects including anaphylaxis (0.0003%) and death (0.002%) was extremely low.

Conclusions

The three COVID 19 vaccines have a wide safety profile with only minor and self-limiting adverse effects. However, continued monitoring and surveillance is required to review any unexpected serious adverse effects.

Key Words

AEFIs
COVID-19
Covid-19 vaccine
vaers
COVID-19 vaccine side effects

Cited by (0)

Conflicts of interest: None to report.

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