Vegetarians Suffer More COVID-19 Vaccine Adverse Reactions Than Meat Eaters: 'Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care'
7 in 10 patients experience adverse event following first dose, according to study.
A study published last month in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care confirms vegetarians suffer more adverse reactions following COVID-19 vaccination than meat eaters.
The study looked at the adverse events following immunization (AEFI) with the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (Covishield) among healthcare workers of a medicine-teaching institution in North India.
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7 in 10 Experience Adverse Event
Out of 203 vaccinated patients who participated, 150 (73.89%) reported at least one AEFI after the first dose, while 91 (48.66%) reported at least one AEFI following the second dose.
“Adverse events were quite high after the first dose,” the authors commented.
The study found a “significantly high” AEFI among females compared to males.
Vegetarians More Likely to Experience Adverse Events
Significantly, the study authors also found that vegetarians suffered more adverse events following vaccination than meat eaters.
“We found a statistically significant association between diet and AEFI after the first dose (P = 0.016), as subjects consuming a vegetarian diet reported more AEFI compared to nonvegetarians,” the study reads.
A chart from the study indicates that 77 vegetarians experienced an adverse reaction following a first dose compared to only 73 nonvegetarians.
While only 17 vegetarians reported experiencing no adverse reaction following a first dose, nearly double the amount (36) of meat eaters experienced no adverse reaction.
Moreover, following a second dose, 46 vegetarians reported an adverse reaction compared to 45 nonvegetarians.
Only 38 vegetarians reported no adverse reaction after a second dose, compared to 58 meat eaters.
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Most Frequent AEFI After First Dose
The most frequently reported AEFI after the first dose, within 30 min were feeling unwell (25%) and local AEFI (44.44%), the study reads.
“Between 30 min to 1 week were local AEFI (27.74%) and weakness (18.68%). Between 7 days to 15 days were fever or chills (14.81%) and muscle pain (14.81%). Between 16 days to 1 month were rashes (22.22%) and joint pain (22.22%). Furthermore, after 1 month from the first dose, there were fever or chills (33.33%), rashes (33.33%), and joint pain (33.33%).”
Most Frequent AEFI After Second Dose
The most commonly reported AEFI after the second dose, within 30 min were feeling unwell (15.78%) and local AEFI (63.1%).
“Between 30 min to 1 week were fever or chills (13.87%) and local AEFI (31.79%),” according to the study. “Between 7 days to 15 days were fever or chills (23.81%) and weakness (19.05%). Between 16 days to 1 month were rashes (22.22%) and muscle pain (22.22%). After 1 month from the second dose, there were rashes (33.33%) and joint pain (33.33%).”
The authors’ affiliations include:
Medical Student (MBBS Intern), Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital, Rohini, Delhi, India
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital, Rohini, Delhi, India
Department of Community Medicine, Principal Autonomous State Government Medical College, Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, India
Department of Community Medicine, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Connaught Place, New Delhi, India
Department of Community Medicine, Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital, Rohini, Delhi, India
You can download the full study below:
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