It is important to protect nurses fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic through vaccination. This study aims to determine the incidence rate of side effects experienced by nurses after their COVID-19 (Sinovac) vaccination and relevant factors.

This is a descriptive design study. The sample of the study included 355 nurses who received the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine in Turkey and who agreed to participate in the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire which was written by the researchers and gathered information on the nurses’ sociodemographic and professional characteristics, health status, habits, and vaccine complications.

The study included 355 nurses, of which 82.3% were female. Their median age was 35.42±9.67, and their mean BMI was 24.87±4.54. The most common local side effect experienced after the vaccination was pain (54.6%) while the most common systemic effects were fatigue (39.2%) and headache (34.1%). Pain, among local side effects, was significantly higher among male nurses (p= 0.001) and those who worked more than 40 hours a week (p= 0.001). The systemic side effect of fatigue was experienced at a higher rate among nurses who were diagnosed with COVID-19 before their vaccination (p=0.004), those who drank alcohol (p= .028), and those who worked more than 40 hours a week (p=0.012). The systemic side effect of fever was more common among nurses with chronic conditions (p= .037).

The most common systemic side effect experienced after the COVID-19 vaccination was reported as fatigue and the most common local side effect was pain. Considering the relevant factors that affected the incidence rates of side effects, it would be suitable to plan the weekly working hours of nurses no longer than 40 hours. It can be recommended to conduct more randomized controlled studies to determine what else weekly working hours affect among nurses.