Page 109 - JCBP-3-1

Journal of Clinical and

Basic Psychosomatics

BRIEF REPORT
Association between concerns regarding

COVID-19 mRNA vaccination and the adverse
event rate among healthcare workers

3
1†
4
Isabel Hach * , Bunila-Yuwang Francisca 1,2† , Wolfgang Hitzl , Annette Sattler ,
Stephan Kolb , and Cosima Brucker 2
1
1 Department of Education and Science, Klinikum Nürnberg, Paracelsus Medical University,
Nuremberg, Germany
2 Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Klinikum Nürnberg, Paracelsus Medical University Nuremberg,
Germany
3 Department of Research and Innovation Management, Biostatistics and Publication of Clinical Trial
Studies, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
4 Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Klinikum Nürnberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg,
Germany

† These authors contributed equally
to this work. Abstract
*Corresponding author:
Isabel Hach Healthcare workers must be vaccinated regularly. However, vaccination-related side
(isabel.hach@klinikum-nuernberg.de) effects can lead to sick leaves and decreased willingness to be vaccinated. Negative
Citation: Hach I, Francisca B, expectations can cause nocebo effects, potentially increasing the rates of adverse
Hitzl W, Sattler A, Kolb S, events (AEs). Herein, we evaluated the relationship between concerns regarding the
Brucker C. Association between vaccination course and the prevalence rate of AEs after the first and second doses
concerns regarding COVID-19
mRNA vaccination and the adverse of mRNA vaccines in 982 healthcare workers from the Nuremberg Hospital. Most of
event rate among healthcare our participants were women (78%). Fatigue and headache were the most common
workers. J Clin Basic Psychosom. systemic AEs. Healthcare workers who were worried about the vaccination process
2025;3(1):103-108.
doi: 10.36922/jcbp.4727 reported significantly more AEs after the first vaccine dose than those who were not
worried (80% vs. 68%, P < 0.05). Thus, strategies to minimize concerns could reduce
Received: August 31, 2024 vaccination-related side effects and improve willingness to be vaccinated.
1st revised: October 21, 2024
2nd revised: October 23, 2024 Keywords: Nocebo effects; Self-fulfilling prophecy; Pharmacovigilance
3rd revised: October 31, 2024
Accepted: November 12, 2024
Published Online: December 12, 1. Introduction
2024
No vaccination in recent decades has been as eagerly anticipated as the one for COVID-19;
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). however, this has been accompanied by fears of (unknown) side effects. Although
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This is an Open-Access article
distributed under the terms of the authorized vaccines are safe, precise information regarding their tolerability and safety
Creative Commons Attribution can only be determined during the course of use. The rates of side effects reported
2-5
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, in observational studies conducted after vaccine authorization differ based on age, sex,
2,5
provided the original work is vaccine type, and country. Individuals working in the German healthcare system have
properly cited. expressed fears regarding the COVID-19 vaccination. Negative expectations from
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6-9
Publisher’s Note: AccScience vaccines or drugs can cause a nocebo (Latin for “I will harm”) effect. Nocebo effects
Publishing remains neutral with are specific to the side effects discussed. In clinical trials, the development of adverse
7,10
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional events (AEs) in the placebo group, that is, patients who receive a preparation without the
affiliations. active substance, is considered a nocebo effect. In mRNA vaccine registration studies,
Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 103 doi: 10.36922/jcbp.4727