Post-Vaccination Side Effects after First Dose of VeroCell vaccine among Vaccinated Individuals in a Tertiary Care Center in Nepal: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: During this challenging period of rapidly spreading corona virus infection, vaccines have brought a new hope as they are the most effective way to beat this pandemic. Along with its positive impact, misconceptions regarding the side effects are spreading among the public leading to vaccine hesitancy. Post vaccination side effect study can help in decreasing vaccine hesitancy and encourage public to get vaccinated. Therefore, this study focuses on exploring the side effects experienced by Nepalese individuals after the first dose of Vero Cell vaccine. Methods: This was a descriptive cross - sectional study conducted among 516 Nepalese residents to assess the post Vero Cell vaccination side effects. Data collection was done via phone interview after initial consent taken at vaccination site. Data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and Software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0 and frequency and percentage were calculated. Results: Out of 516participants, nearly half of them 248 (48.1 %) experienced some post vaccination side effects, in which majority170 (32.94 %) had pain at injection site, few of them experienced fatigue 48 (9.30%), headache 38 (7.36 %) and minority of them 12 (2.32 %) showed some rare side effects too. Conclusions: The study showed majority of participant?s experienced common side - effects like pain at injection site, headache and fatigue with few showing rare side effects post vaccination.