Adverse events following immunization and psychological distress among cancer patients/survivors following vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 infection

Authors

Li Ping WongFollow
Lee Lee LaiFollow
Mee Hoong SeeFollow
Haridah Alias
Sharifah Faridah Syed OmarFollow
Chong Guan NgFollow
Gwo Fuang HoFollow
Teng Aik OngFollow
Yee Chi Wong
Po Lin Ooi
Jasmin Munchar Elias
Zhijian Hu
Yulan Lin

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1-2022

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to describe the adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in cancer patients/survivors associated with their psychological distress. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted to assess AEFIs after the receipt of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in cancer patients/survivors attending a university hospital in Malaysia. Psychological distress was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) before and after the first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccine. ResultsA total of 217 complete responses were received. Compared with before vaccination, both HADS Anxiety (HADS-A) and HADS Depression (HADS-D) scores were significantly reduced after the first and second dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Most of the participants had mild-or-moderate systemic and local AEFIs, with the most common being pain at the injection site, tiredness, and headache for both the first and second doses of the vaccine. Positive correlations between the total AEFI score and HADS-A (r = 0.309, p < 0.001) and HADS-D (r = 0.214, p = 0.001) scores were observed after the first dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Similarly, positive associations were observed between the total AEFI score and HADS-A (r = 0.305, p < 0.001) and HADS-D (r = 0.235, p < 0.001) scores after the second dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. ConclusionMild-to-moderate AEFIs found in this study help address vaccine hesitancy in cancer patients/survivors. Receiving the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine had a positive effect on decreasing psychological distress in cancer patients/survivors. High severity of an AEFI was associated with higher anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Keywords

Adverse events, Cancer survivors, COVID-19 vaccine, Anxiety, Depression

Divisions

medicinedept,Socialprevent

Funders

Special Projects of the Central Government Guiding Local Science and Technology Development, China,2021L3018

Publication Title

Frontiers in Psychology

Volume

13

Publisher

Frontiers Media

Publisher Location

AVENUE DU TRIBUNAL FEDERAL 34, LAUSANNE, CH-1015, SWITZERLAND