Physical and mental health issues after COVID-19 recovery by the types of vaccines and doses in the two districts of Bangladesh: a comparative cross‑sectional study

Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted public health globally, including in Bangladesh, where research on recovery and post-infection complications is limited. This study aims to assess recovery time by vaccination status and post-recovery health complications among survivors in two districts of Bangladesh. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 1,072 individuals who recovered from COVID-19 with data collected through telephone interviews, face‒face interactions, and online forms, resulting in a response rate of 57.5% (617 respondents). The questionnaire included recovery determinants, vaccine efficacy, and post-COVID-19 health outcomes. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 26 was used for employing descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA) for group comparisons, regression analysis for recovery time predictions, and chi-square tests for categorical variable relationships. Results Our study revealed that individuals who received 1 dose of Pfizer experienced the longest recovery times (25.49%) after 6 months (F = 1.371, p = 0.047). Among the participants, highest 12.3% and 11.5% of participants faced itching and allergic reactions, respectively, after receiving 2 or 3 doses of vaccines. In addition, depression and irritability were found in 6.8% and 5.7% of individuals, respectively. The type and combination of vaccines can significantly affect recovery times, with some combinations leading to faster recovery periods. Moreover, 45% reported lingering physical complications, and 30% experienced mental health challenges post-recovery. Conclusion This study highlights physical and mental health problems influenced by post-COVID-19 vaccination. The findings will inform health practitioners and policymakers in designing targeted interventions for COVID-19 survivors and prevent future outbreaks.