OBJECTIVES: The rate of serious adverse events such as death, disability, and

life-threatening illness associated with COVID-19 vaccines is not fully described.

Moreover, head-to-head comparison studies of COVID-19 vaccines are scarce,

therefore, in this study, safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines was assessed as

compared to seasonal influenza vaccines.

METHODS: CDC/FDA Vaccine Adverse

Event Reporting System database was searched for any adverse events associated

with COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines that available in the USA. Age,

gender, type of vaccines, adverse events symptoms and types were extract from

January 2020 and March 2021. Frequency and rate were calculated according to the

vaccine type.

RESULTS: 434,486 cases of adverse events following receiving all

COVID-19 vaccines and 10,959 cases seasonal influenzas vaccines were reported.

Average age of COVID-19 vaccines recipients was 45 years (SD 16.31) ≥ 60% were

females. While seasonal influenza vaccine recipients average age was 25 years (SD

18.82) and ≥ 51% were females. Serious adverse events, i.e., emergency room visits,

death, disability, and life threating illness, among COVID-19 vaccines recipients

were reported < 2% compared to 4.14% among seasonal influenza vaccines

recipients were. Also, Hospitalization rate was up to 7% among admitted adverse

events cases among COVID-19 vaccines recipients compared to 8.57%.

CONCLUSION: Available data indicates high safety profile for current COVID-

19 vaccines in the USA. We engorge taking the vaccine to overcome the COVID-19

pandemic.