STATEN ISLAND, NY – Side effects like fever, headache, fatigue and nausea are signs that the coronavirus vaccine (COVID-19) is working – triggering an immune response in our body to fight future exposure to the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tells us.
But up to 50% of people who received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine did not experience side effects, or had few side effects, medical experts report.
Should they be concerned that the vaccine is not working?
Medical research is steadfast in this, said Dr. Azza Elemam, an assistant physician at Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC), with 10 years of experience in the treatment of infectious diseases. And the answer is a resounding “no”.
“The main way we know is that in the tests, less than half of the participants had reactions, but everyone was still 98% immune,” said Elemam. “We know that everyone who was vaccinated in the tests, regardless of having a fever or malaise, was still immune. ”
Vaccine testing has been extensive, she said, emphasizing that “tens of thousands of people have been studied.” And the speed of vaccine development had more to do with finance than hurried or compromised science, she explained.
“The government has invested a lot to accelerate the development of this vaccine,” she said, noting that this funding eliminated the risk for pharmaceutical companies, which otherwise would not have invested in research at a slower pace. “So it allowed pharmaceutical companies to speed up vaccination.”
And the varied reactions that people experience after the COVID-19 vaccine are nothing new, she said, pointing to the flu vaccine and others that have been used successfully for decades.
“It is definitely a known phenomenon with vaccines,” said Elemam. “If you remember when your children were vaccinated, some children have a fever and are very agitated, while others stay as usual the next day. People’s reactions vary. We don’t know why, but it’s not surprising. “
Elemam said she herself felt only mild pain at the injection site when she was vaccinated.
She asked the Staten Islanders not to let the possible side effects of the vaccine prevent them from being vaccinated when it is available to them.
“I think a lot has been said about people having serious reactions, but compared to what? “You are deciding between the vaccine and the disease. We know that COVID is not something you want to have. We have all been through our families or friends or relative losses associated with COVID. ”
However, knowing about the potential side effects is a valuable tool, she said.
“It is just something to be aware of, to know that it is not unusual or unexpected if you have a reaction,” said the doctor. “You should try to control your symptoms with Tylenol or ibuprofen and know that it will not last long. ”
Nutrition can also play a role in symptom control, a nutritionist told SIlive.com
If symptoms like fever persist for more than a few days, or if a person continues to feel extremely bad, a doctor should be contacted, she said.
“It may happen that they have just been infected with COVID (before being vaccinated) or simply have a completely unrelated infection,” she said.
Elemam recalled that he treated a patient who was concerned about post-vaccination symptoms, but actually felt them because of a urinary tract infection.
Typically, any side effects after the vaccine are treatable and short-lived, she said.
“In most people who experience the reaction, it is still very manageable with Tylenol or ibuprofen,” she said. “It has no correlation with immunity. It is not a bad thing that is happening. ”