BNT162b2 COVID-19 VACCINATION AND ITS EFFECT ON BLOOD PRESSURE

Tan, T. L.; Salleh, S. A.; Che Man, Z.; Tan, M. H. P.; Kader, R.; Jarmin, R.

This study aims to explore the trends of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse pressure (PP) before and 15-minutes after two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine, which were administered 21 days apart. This vaccine safety active surveillance study was carried out on 15th-16th March (first dose) and 5th-6th April 2021 (second dose), in academic hospital. . Vaccinees above 18 years old, SBP, DBP, MAP and PP pre- and 15 minutes post-vaccination for both doses were analysed. Study outcomes were mean of BP, mean of BP changes, and BP trends measurements. A total of 287 vaccinees were included. A quarter (n=72) had decreased DBP [≥] 10mmHg (mean DBP deceased: 15mmHg, 95%CI: 14-17mmHg) after the first dose, and 12.5% post-second dose (mean DBP decreased: 13mmHg, 95%CI: 12-15mmHg). Post-first dose, 28.6% (n= 82) were found to have widened PP > 40mmHg. After the first dose, those who had elevated and decreased SBP [≥] 20mmHg were 5.2% and 4.9%, respectively. Eleven percent (n = 32) had decreased SBP [≥] 20mmHg post-second dose, nevertheless the psychology effect cannot be ruled out. The BNT162b2 vaccine was generally well tolerated. BP changes after vaccination emphasizes the need for monitoring.