Assessing COVID-19 vaccine side effects among the general population in Jordan: A nationwide perspective

Purpose: To assess the nature of COVID-19 vaccine side effects in Jordan, addressing public concerns and vaccine hesitancy. Methods: A total of 405 participants were surveyed, having received one to four doses of the COVID-19 vaccines approved in Jordan. Data were collected via a self-administered online survey created with Google Forms and shared through social media platforms. Results: Of these, 355 participants met the inclusion criteria - primarily female (57.7 %) and educated to a bachelor’s level (53.5 %). Most had no serious medical conditions (75.5 %) and had received two doses (71.3 %), with Pfizer-BioNTech being the most common (56.9 %). Side effects were reported by 68.1 %, mostly minor, such as injection site pain (45.8 %) and fatigue (42.7 %). Severe effects (10.7 %), including anaphylaxis and dyspnea, were infrequent and non-hospitalized. Conclusion: This study affirms the high safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines, with most side effects being mild and short-lived. The rarity of severe adverse events underscores the vaccines’ overall benefits, supporting their continued use in public health efforts. Transparent communication and ongoing safety monitoring remain essential to enhance public confidence and combat vaccine hesitancy.