Nazanin Razazian - Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
Mohammad Ali Sahraian - Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mansour Rezaei - Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health , Social Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Research Institute for Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
Sharareh Eskandarieh - Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Seyedeh Elham Mousavi - Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
Negin Fakhri - Student’s Research Committee, Faculty of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

Background: It is currently recommended to vaccinate against SARS CoV-۲ for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but it is uncertain what effect it will have on people with MS (PwMS). Objectives: We aimed to compare the side effects of the first and second doses of the Sinopharm vaccine in PwMS. Materials & Methods: This descriptive-analytical follow-up study was conducted on PwMS patients in Kermanshah province, Iran, who received the Sinopharm vaccine using the nationwide MS registry of Iran (NMSRI) by available methods between May and August ۲۰۲۱. Using a researcher-made questionnaire, demographic and clinical information about PwMS, as well as side effects from the Sinopharm vaccine were collected by telephone ۵-۱۴ days after the first and second doses. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version ۲۵. Results: Study participants included ۱۸۸ PwMS, including ۱۴۸ females (۷۸.۷%) and ۴۰ males (۲۱.۳%). PwMS had Median age of ۴۲.۶۶±۱۱.۱ years and Median ۹.۵۷±۷.۰ for disease duration. In the ۱st dose, the prevalence of side effects was significantly higher than in the second dose (۵۸.۵% vs ۴۷.۰%, P=۰.۰۱۲). Fatigue (۳۰.۱%), myalgia (۲۹.۸%), fever (۲۵.۰%), and headache (۲۲.۳%) were the most common in the first dose, and fatigue (۲۷.۱%), headache (۱۸.۶%), myalgia (۱۷.۵%) and fever (۱۴.۹%) were the most common in the second dose. COVID-۱۹ was present in ۵۱ people (۲۷.۳%) before vaccination. Conclusion: Sinopharm vaccine side effects were significantly more prevalent in the first dose than in the second dose. Most side effects are moderate in severity and transient.

Vaccination, BIBP COVID-۱۹ vaccine, COVID-۱۹ vaccines, Multiple sclerosis