COVID-19 Vaccine: Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) After First Dose Vaccination Among Frontliners in Alor Gajah District, Melaka

Introduction: On 11th March 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak has been disclosed by World Health Organisation (WHO) as a pandemic. Three phases of Malaysia National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme will be executed. Objective: To estimate the prevalence, types and management of adverse event following immunization (AEFI) among frontliners post first dose vaccination. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Klinik Kesihatan Alor Gajah, Melaka from 15th March 2021 to 30th April 2021. Sampling method : Convenience sampling. Consent and questionnaire via online method. Results and Discussion: Out of 1528 frontliners approaches during the study period, about 1414 of them returned the completed questionnaire, generating a response rate of 92.5%. About 437 (31.0%) of them developed AEFI after first dose of vaccination. Most of the AEFI were localized symptoms which are pain (70%), swelling (15.2%) and redness (5.5%) at the injection site, followed by generalized symptoms such as fatigue (43.9%), dizziness (25.4%) and headache (22.5%). Only one incidence of anaphylaxis reaction was reported. Almost all AEFI were mild to moderate in severity and self-resolving which lasted for less than 3 days duration. Those with co morbidity and history of allergy had higher percentage of developing AEFI. Conclusion: Adverse event following immunization post 1st dose of Covid-19 vaccine are minor and self resolving in nature. The importance of AEFI reporting need to be emphasized among the vaccinees, to overcome the possibilities of under reporting AEFIs incidence in the future. [Disclaimer: Abstract text might vary slightly from what is displayed in the e-poster]