Current overview of COVID-19 vaccination process in Serbia
Abstract
It has been more than a year since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As a result of collaborations of worldwide researchers, four COVID-19 vaccines of different manufacturers and types are available in Serbia since December 2020, and citizens can choose one of them. Mild to moderate adverse effects are expected and usually resolve within one day after vaccination.
This study aimed to make a current overview of the vaccination process in Serbia as a cross-section of attitudes and adverse effects related to the COVID-19 vaccines during the period of mass vaccination.
The data collected via the online survey platform. The participants were invited to voluntarily complete an online questionnaire in their native language from the beginning of March to April 12, 2021.
The conducted research included 573 respondents who filled out the questionnaire: 174 (30.37%) men and 399 (69.63%) women, with an average age of 43.55±13.17 years. The largest number of respondents received Pfizer/BioNTech (40.14%) or Sinopharm vaccine (42.93%). Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine prevalence was higher among male respondents, healthcare professionals, and the younger population. The most common local adverse effect included pain or tenderness at the injection site. Fever, muscle/joint pain, and tiredness were reported as the most common systemic adverse effects, especially after the second dose of vaccines.
The vaccination process in Serbia started quickly and is persisting with high intensity. A widespread vaccination process can lead to pandemic control and a reduction in SARS-CoV-2-induced death.
References
Banerji A, Wickner PG, Saff R, Stone CA, Robinson LB, Long AA, et al. mRNA vaccines to prevent COVID-19 disease and reported allergic reactions: current evidence and suggested approach. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2021;9:1423-37. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Baraniuk C. Covid-19: What do we know about Sputnik V and other Russian vaccines? BMJ 2021; 372:743. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Response Team. Allergic reactions including anaphyl-axis after receipt of the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. MMWR 2021;70(2):46-51. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Earnshaw VA, Eaton LA, Kalichman SC, Brousseau NM, Hill EC, Fox AB. COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs, health behaviors, and policy support. Translational Behavioral Medicine 2020;10(4):850-6. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Hajissa K, Mussa A. Positive aspects of the mRNA platform for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2021;8:1-3. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Knoll MD, Wonodi C. Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine efficacy. Lancet 2021;397(10269):72-4. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Mulligan MJ, Lyke KE, Kitchin N, Absalon J, Gurtman A, Lockhart S, et al. Phase I/II study of COVID-19 RNA vaccine BNT162b1 in adults. Nature 2020; 586 (7830):589-93. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Polack FP, Thomas SJ, Kitchin N, Absalon J, Gurtman A, Lockhart S, et al. Safety and efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. N Engl J Med 2020;383(27):2603-15. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Pu J, Yu Q, Yin Z, Zhang Y, Li X, Li D, et al. An in-depth investigation of the safety and immunogenicity of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. MedRxiv 2020; [CrossRef]
Ritchie H, Ortiz-Ospina E, Beltekian D, Mathieu E, Hasell J, Macdonald B, et al. Serbia: Coronavirus pandemic country profile. “Cited 2021 April 12”; Available from: URL: https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus/country/serbia
Sallam M, Dababseh D, Eid H, Al-Mahzoum K, Al-Haidar A, Taim D, et al. High rates of covid-19 vaccine hesitancy and its association with conspiracy beliefs: A study in Jordan and Kuwait among other Arab countries. Vaccines 2021;9(1):42-58. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Soiza RL, Scicluna C, Thomson EC. Efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in older people. Age Ageing 2021;50(2):279-83. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Voysey M, Clemens SAC, Madhi SA, Weckx LY, Folegatti PM, Aley PK, et al. Safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2: an interim analysis of four randomised con-trolled trials in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK. Lancet 2021;397(10269):99-111. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Walsh EE, Frenck RW Jr, Falsey AR, Kitchin N, Absalon J, Gurtman A, et al. Safety and immunogenicity of two RNA-based COVID-19 vaccine candidates. N Engl J Med 2020;383(25):2439-50. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Wang C, Horby PW, Hayden FG, Gao GF. A novel coronavirus outbreak of global health concern. Lancet 2020;395(10223):470–3. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Weiss P, Murdoch DR. Clinical course and mortality risk of severe COVID-19. Lancet 2020; 395(10229): 1014-5. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Wilson SL, Wiysonge C. Social media and vaccine hesitancy. BMJ Glob Health 2020;5(19):e004206. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Xia S, Duan K, Zhang Y, Zhao D, Zhang H, Xie Z, et al. Effect of an inactivated vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 on safety and immunogenicity outcomes: Interim analysis of 2 randomized clinical trials. JAMA 2020; 324(10):951-60. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Xia S, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Wang H, Yang Y, Gao GF, et al. Safety and immunogenicity of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, BBIBP-CorV: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1/2 trial. Lancet Infect Dis 2021;21(1):39-51. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Zhang Y, Zeng G, Pan H, Li C, Hu Y, Chu K, et al. Safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of an in-activated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in healthy adults aged 18–59 years: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1/2 clinical trial. Lancet Infect Dis 2021;21(2):181-92. [CrossRef]
Zhu FC, Guan XH, Li YH, Huang JY, Jiang T, Hou LH, et al. Immunogenicity and safety of a recombinant adenovirus type-5-vectored COVID-19 vaccine in healthy adults aged 18 years or older: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. Lancet 2020;396(10249):479-88. [CrossRef] [PubMed]