Assessment of Adverse Events Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Cross-sectional Study in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Background: Vaccination has been described as the most critical tool to end the COVID-19 pandemic and to save lives and livelihoods. This study aimed to evaluate the spectrum of adverse events following immunization with the COVID-19 AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria. Methodology: A cross-sectional study. Adults aged ≥ 18 years who had received the Astra-Zeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine at selected COVID-19 vaccination centres across three Local Government Areas in Ibadan, SW Nigeria were interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire to determine the spectrum of adverse events following immunisation (AEFI). Results: We enrolled 369 adults; 179 males and 190 females, with a mean of age of 37.8 ±12.0 years. Three hundred and thirty-two (90.0%) of the subjects experienced one or more AEFI. Of the total AEFIs reported, the most frequent were headache 225 (21.1%), fatigue/tiredness 186 (17.4%), pain at the injection site 99 (9.3%) and myalgia 97(9.1%). Nine in ten (96.4%) of these AEFIs occurred within 48 hours post-vaccination. Higher severity of adverse events score (p=0.049) and multiple AEFIs (p=0.01) were associated with the first dose of the vaccine. There were severe AEFI in 1.2 % (95% CI: 0.3-.9.0%) of the respondents. Presumed or confirmed COVID 19 infection before vaccination increased the odds of AEFI (OR 7.0, 95% CI: 1.8-27.8). Conclusion: Our study showed a high frequency of AEFI among recipients of the Astra Zenecca/Oxford vaccine in Ibadan. Majority of the AEFIs are mild and self-limiting. Previous infection with COVID-19 appears to increase the risk of AEFI.

Disseminated herpes zoster ophthalmicus in an immunocompetent 8-year old boy.

Varicella results from a primary infection with the varicella virus while herpes zoster is caused by a reactivation of a latent infection. Dissemination of herpes zoster is uncommon in immunocompetent individuals. Reports of disseminated herpes zoster in children are even less common than in adults. An unusual case of disseminated herpes zoster ophthalmicus in an 8-year old immunocompetent black boy is presented. He had a previous primary Varicella zoster virus infection at three years of age. In the current report, he presented during an on-going chicken pox outbreak and survived with no significant complications. A breakthrough varicella virus re-infection or a reactivation is possible, both of which could present as zoster. This case emphasizes the need for prevention of varicella virus infection through universal childhood immunization and effective infection control strategies in health care settings.