Background and objectives: In COVID19 vaccination drive, Healthcare workers (HCWs) were first to receive the vaccine. But their concern about the safety of the vaccine prompted us to conducted this survey. Methods: A questionnaire-based online survey was conducted to know post-vaccination symptoms in vaccinated and reasons of refusal in non-vaccinated HCWs. Results: Among 2036 eligible respondents 1589 were vaccinated. In vaccinated group 665 experienced at least one post-vaccination symptom while remaining had no symptoms. Most commonly experienced post-vaccination symptom was pain at injection site (31.8%) and myalgia (31.7%) and were mild to moderate. Age showed inverse relationship with the post vaccination reactogenicity (p<0.001) whereas gender and brand of vaccine showed no significant association. Respondents with comorbidities experienced significantly less symptoms (p<0.001) whereas those with prior COVID19 infection showed significantly higher incidence of post-vaccination symptoms (p<0.046). Among non-vaccinated 447(22.0%) respondents, lack of availability was the major reason cited (29.7%). Interpretation and conclusion: Apart from few mild to moderate, transient, self-limiting symptoms, no HCW reported any major post-vaccination symptom, including elderly with comorbidities, assuring safety of vaccine. We can encourage and appeal general public to participate in vaccination drive without any apprehension, and strengthen the fight against COVID19 pandemic.

Background and objectives: In COVID19 vaccination drive, Healthcare workers (HCWs) were first to receive the vaccine. But their concern about the safety of the vaccine prompted us to conducted this survey. Methods: A questionnaire-based online survey was conducted to know post-vaccination symptoms in vaccinated and reasons of refusal in non-vaccinated HCWs. Results: Among 2036 eligible respondents 1589 were vaccinated. In vaccinated group 665 experienced at least one post-vaccination symptom while remaining had no symptoms. Most commonly experienced post-vaccination symptom was pain at injection site (31.8%) and myalgia (31.7%) and were mild to moderate. Age showed inverse relationship with the post vaccination reactogenicity (p<0.001) whereas gender and brand of vaccine showed no significant association. Respondents with comorbidities experienced significantly less symptoms (p<0.001) whereas those with prior COVID19 infection showed significantly higher incidence of post-vaccination symptoms (p<0.046). Among non-vaccinated 447(22.0%) respondents, lack of availability was the major reason cited (29.7%). Interpretation and conclusion: Apart from few mild to moderate, transient, self-limiting symptoms, no HCW reported any major post-vaccination symptom, including elderly with comorbidities, assuring safety of vaccine. We can encourage and appeal general public to participate in vaccination drive without any apprehension, and strengthen the fight against COVID19 pandemic.