VACCINES, cilt.10, sa.1526, ss.1-11, 2022 (SCI-Expanded)
Abstract: Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the health problems experienced by young
adults after the COVID-19 vaccine. Method: This study is a quantitative and descriptive study and
was completed with 590 undergraduate students studying at a state university in Central Anatolia
in the spring semester of the 2021–2022 academic year. The data were collected by the researcher
through a one-to-one interview with the students and a questionnaire prepared in line with the
literature. Number, percentage and chi-square tests were used in the analysis of the data. Results: A
total of 81.4% of the students participating in the study had the BioNTech–Pfizer vaccine. A total of
67.3% of them had two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, 35.9% of the vaccinated students experienced
some health problems in the days following the vaccination, and the most common health problems were fatigue, a cough, sleep disturbance, psychological discomfort, a heart ache feeling and
sweating. Most of the post-vaccine health problems lasted for 2 days, 3.7% of the participants were
diagnosed with hypertension, 2.7% were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and 10.52% of the female participants went to the doctor due to menstrual irregularity and received treatment. It was
determined that 12.2% of the vaccinated students gained weight after vaccination and 63.89% of
those who gained weight attributed this to increased appetite, 9.2% continued to have a cough and
9.2% used herbal products. Conclusion: It was determined that one out of every three young adults
experienced a health problem after the COVID-19 vaccine. It is recommended that studies be
conducted in different sample groups.