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; COVID-19; anaphylaxis; thrombocytopenia; thrombosis; vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia.