Epidemiological aspects of headache after different types of COVID‐19 vaccines: An online survey

• Published in: Headache Vol. 62; no. 8; pp. 1046 - 1052
• Main Authors: Magdy, Rehab, Khedr, Diana, Yacoub, Osama, Attia, Abeer, Abdelrahman, Mona A., Mekkawy, Doaa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mt. Royal Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-09-2022; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: adenoviral vector vaccine; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; Deactivation; Epidemiology; Headache; Headaches; Immunization; inactivated vaccine; Latency; mRNA; mRNA–based vaccine; Research Submissions; Side effects; Surveys; Thyroid; Thyroid diseases; Vaccines; Viral diseases
• ISSN: 0017-8748; 1526-4610
• DOI: 10.1111/head.14374

Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccine–related side effects are a key concern with the emergence of various types of vaccines in the market. We aimed to assess the frequency and characteristics of headache following different types of COVID‐19 vaccines.
Methods
Fully vaccinated people were recruited by a convenience sample through an online survey from September 1 to December 1, 2021. Detailed analysis of headache following vaccination was investigated. Participants with a history of pre‐existing headaches were telephone interviewed by a neurologist to ascertain the type of headache.
Results
A total of 1372 participants participated (mean age 32.9 ± 11.1). The highest frequency of headache was reported with the adenoviral vector type (302/563, 53.6%), followed by mRNA vaccines (129/269, 48%) and then the inactivated type (188/540, 34.8%). Recipients of the adenoviral vector type had a significantly longer latency between vaccination and the headache onset (median 8 h [5:12]) than recipients of the inactivated type (median 4 h [2:8], p < 0.001). Headache intensity was significantly higher with the adenoviral vector type (median 6 [5:8]) than with the inactivated type (median 5 [4:7], p < 0.001). Adenoviral vector vaccines would increase the likelihood of headache by 2.38 times more than inactivated vaccines (odds ratio [OR] 2.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.83–3.04, p < 0.001). Female sex and thyroid disease were significantly associated with headache related to COVID‐19 vaccines (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.16–1.99; OR 3.97, 95% CI 1.55–10.2, respectively).
Conclusion
Recipients of the COVID‐19 vaccine should be counseled that they may experience headaches, especially after the adenoviral vector type. However, the intensity of such headache is mild to moderate and can resolve within a few days. Based on the current study design and the potential recall bias, these results may not be generalizable and should be preliminary.