Safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines, preventive strategies, and patient management

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Fast-track approval has led to serious concerns on the perception of COVID-19 vaccines’ safety among the public. Common adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of COVID-19 vaccines are minor localized reactions, while systemic ADRs have been reported rarely. The serious ADRs include anaphylaxis, vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia syndrome (VITTS), and reactions related to the pharmaceutical excipients present in the vaccine. A comprehensive review on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines would help in early identification and better management of ADRs. This literature review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, COVID-19 Vaccine package inserts, and UpToDate.

Areas covered

This article provides various aspects of COVID-19 vaccine safety and offers strategies to prevent and clinically manage suspected ADRs related to COVID-19 vaccines.

Expert opinion

A careful consideration of contraindications and patient education on early identification of serious ADRs are the cornerstones in tackling safety concerns associated with COVID-19 vaccines. Most of the mild ADR cases are manageable with over-the-counter medications, while the serious ones may require physician oversight and hospitalization. It is also mandatory to report all ADRs to the local pharmacovigilance centers, with a higher priority given to the moe significant ones, in order to improve vaccine safety data.

KEYWORDS:

• Adverse drug reactions
• anaphylaxis
• COVID-19
• thrombocytopenia
• thrombosis
• vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia

Article highlights

• COVID-19 vaccines are found to be very effective in reducing the severity of symptoms, hospitalization, and death

• COVID-19 vaccines are increasingly used worldwide with minimal side effects

• Serious but rare side effects of COVID-19 vaccines are anaphylaxis and vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia syndrome (VITTS)

• Safety aspects of vaccination in immunocompromised and other predisposing individuals should be thoroughly evaluated by a specialist, and currently, there are clinical guidelines that can be referred

Author contributions

All the authors have substantially contributed to the conception and design of the review article and interpreting the relevant literature and been involved in writing the review article or revised it for intellectual content.

Declaration of Interests

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers of this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.