Spectrum of Mucocutaneous Reactions to COVID-19 Vaccination: A Report from a Web-Based Study from India

BACKGROUND: With the COVID-19 vaccination taking stride all across the globe, there are multiple reports of vaccine-induced adverse reactions (cutaneous and systemic). OBJECTIVES: To study the frequency and characteristics of mucocutaneous reactions to COVID-19 vaccines. METHODS: An online questionnaire-based study was performed among the recipients of COVID-19 vaccines RESULTS: Majority (73.6%) of the responders had received the Covishield vaccine (AstraZeneca-Oxford), while 26.4% had been vaccinated with Covaxin (Bharat Biotech-ICMR). One or more post-vaccination mucocutaneous effects were experienced in 87 (19.6%) participants. Vaccine-associated mucocutaneous changes were observed in 19.7% and 22.2% of individuals who received Covishield and Covaxin, respectively. Local injection site reaction was the predominant mucocutaneous finding, followed by urticarial rash, exacerbation of preexisting dermatoses, morbilliform rash, apthous ulcers, pityriasis rosea like eruption, telogen effluvium, herpes zoster, purpuric rash, erythema multiforme and others. Anaphylaxis was reported in three individuals. However, fatality was not reported in any of the vaccine recipients. Intergroup assessment of parameters with respect to type of vaccine was found to be insignificant. CONCLUSION: Majority reported mild and self-limiting reactions. This outcome should not discourage the common man in getting vaccinated.