GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING PSYCHIATRIC EFFECTS OF SINOPHARM VACCINE

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic posed serious threats to society, necessitating the development of vaccinations. Vaccination efforts faced challenges, including potential systemic and psychological side effects. Reports indicate that many recipients of the COVID-19 vaccination experienced mild side effects such as fatigue and injection site pain, while a minority reported more severe mental health issues like anxiety and panic attacks. Notably, these effects were typically temporary, subsiding within days. A cross-sectional study of 500 people who received the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine found that 13 participants experienced mild psychiatric symptoms after the first and second doses of Sinopharm vaccine, assessing their psychiatric responses after each dose and during follow-ups at six months and one-year post-immunization. Results showed that eight participants reported psychological symptoms after the first dose, including anxiety and dizziness. Monitoring after the second dose revealed 5 mild psychological adverse reactions, and no psychiatric issues like bipolar disorder or depression were observed at the six-month mark. However, some participants did experience migraines and episodic headaches, linked to other factors. A year later, follow-up assessments found no new vaccine-related psychiatric concerns, confirming the vaccine's safety.