A total of 49 frontline workers in Fujairah, UAE (37 health care professionals and 12 educators) were interviewed. The duration of each interview was ranged between 10 minutes and 20 minutes each time. The mean age of the respondents was found to be 40.44 ± 4.55 years. There were 29 males and 20 females. Participants were asked how they knew about COVID-19 vaccine in Fujairah, UAE, they answered that they knew from their work. Participants were asked how they participated/selected for COVID-19 vaccine experience, they answered that they received announcements form their works and expressed their desire to receive the vaccine. Participants were asked about the adverse reactions/effects of vaccine, severity, duration of adverse reactions/effects and what they did regarding it.
Prevalence of adverse reactions/effects
The participants were asked whether they experienced an adverse reaction/effects after receiving the first shot of vaccine; all participants were reported that they experienced at least one adverse reaction/effect. The range of COVID-19 vaccine adverse reactions/effects were one to three adverse effects.
Type of adverse reactions/effects
The participants were asked about the type of adverse reactions/effects of COVID-19 vaccine; they reported that the adverse reactions/effects were pain at the vaccine injection site reported by 49 out of 49 participants; swelling/redness of the vaccine injection site reported by 45 out of 49; fatigue reported by 19 out of 49; headache reported by eight; fever reported by one participant.
Duration of adverse reactions/effects
The participants were asked to describe the duration of COVID-19 adverse reactions/effects Participants were reported that the duration of each adverse reaction/effect, they reported the duration were as following: two to three days for the pain at the vaccine injection site after the vaccine first shot and one day to two days after the second vaccine shot. Three to five days for the swelling/redness of the vaccine injection site after the vaccine first shot. Three to seven days for the fatigue after the vaccine first shot. One day for the headache and the fever after the vaccine first shot.
Severity of adverse reactions/effects
The participants were asked to describe/rate the severity of COVID-19 adverse reactions/effects and rate the severity of each adverse reactions/effects from one to ten. Pain severity was described as moderate by majority of participants (40/49) and severe by nine participants. Swelling/redness of the vaccine injection site severity were described as moderate by all participants. Fatigue severity was described as mild by 10 out of 19, moderate by 7 out of 9 and severe by two participants. Headache severity was described as mild by seven and moderate by two participants.
Reporting and management of adverse reactions/effects
Participants were asked whether they reported the adverse reactions, they answered that knew/were informed that these adverse reactions could happened with the vaccine and not required go to the hospital, therefore they did not report it. Participants were asked about how they managed the vaccine reported adverse reactions/effects, they reported that they used analgesics and pain killers for it.