What to Know About the COVID Vaccine Side Effects

As of March, there are three FDA emergency use authorized COVID vaccines on the market: Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. With several options beginning to emerge and more on the way, experts have been monitoring side effects and how they are treated.

The most commonly reported side effect thus far is pain at the injection site and any other mild side effects such as, short term flu-like symptoms like fatigue, headache, body aches, chills, and fever seem to be easily treated with over-the-counter remedies. Doctors recommend an anti-fever medication or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug if you experience these side effects. Swollen lymph nodes have also been reported, specifically in the armpit. This should be noted as well, as some people had concerns of breast cancer due to this reaction.

Anaphylaxis is a severe reaction to the COVID vaccine and can be life-threatening if not treated, as of now, the reported cases of this reaction is 4.7 cases per million receiving the Pfizer vaccine and 2.5 cases per million receiving the Moderna vaccine.

No deaths caused by anaphylaxis have been reported; However, if you have a history of severe allergic reactions to vaccines it is important to let your doctor know to ensure that you are monitored if you choose to be vaccinated or they may advise you to not get the COVID vaccine. If you feel like you are having a severe reaction, call 911 or your local emergency services to receive immediate medical care.

Dr. Miriam Smith, the chief of Infectious Disease at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills in Queens, NY, has said that “the side effect profile for both vaccines was very favorable,” and alongside an efficacy rate of 95% (Pfizer) and 94% (Moderna), it seems that we are heading in a step in the right direction.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine may be the next vaccine available on the market and works with the same technology as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, using a live weakened version of an adenovirus (a common cold virus) modified to look like the coronavirus. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization and the European Union, but in the US, the manufacturers have not yet requested emergency use authorization by the FDA and it seems the developers may not be ready to until this spring.

Both the Johnson & Johnson and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines appear to have a slightly less effectiveness rate when compared to both Moderna and Pfizer, but the safety profiles and side effects — sore arm, fever and chills, are very similar. Doctors recommend getting any vaccine available, regardless of efficiency, as this will fare better than no vaccine at all.

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Reference:https://thewell.northwell.edu/covid/vaccine-myths-debunked