Dermatological adverse reactions after vaccination with BNT162b2 in a cohort of healthcare workers

Int J Dermatol. 2022 Oct;61(10):1289-1293. doi: 10.1111/ijd.16336. Epub 2022 Jun 30.

Abstract

Background: The description of the skin reactions produced by the different vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 has focused on the symptoms reported by the general population. There are few studies with very different measurement methods focused on healthcare workers.

Methods: A longitudinal observational study was conducted on all the healthcare workers from the Hospital Universitario San Cecilio that received vaccination against COVID-19 with BNT162b2. The recruitment period was from December 2020 to September 2021. The recommended regimen was double, with a minimum interval of 21 days between doses. All dermatological reactions reported as adverse effects of the vaccine were evaluated by the Staff of the Dermatology Unit of our center.

Results: A total of 3969 healthcare workers of our center were followed. Only 0.7% of them reported dermatological adverse reactions. The most frequently reported reactions were morbilliform rash and COVID arm. In the multivariate analysis, the vaccination regimen (one dose) and the history of COVID-19 infection remained the main factors associated with the report of dermatological adverse reactions.

Conclusion: The rate of dermatological adverse reactions after vaccination with BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) is extraordinarily low. No patient required hospitalization, which supports the safety of this vaccination in a population of healthcare workers.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • BNT162 Vaccine
  • COVID-19 Vaccines / adverse effects
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Health Personnel
  • Humans
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Vaccination / adverse effects
  • Vaccines*

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Vaccines
  • BNT162 Vaccine