Durham, NC – As North Carolina continues to receive additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, more and more residents are being vaccinated. Health experts say the possible side effects are normal when receiving any vaccine.
“When we inject a vaccine into the body, we are effectively injecting an irritant into the body. The body is creating an immune response, and when the body fights, it makes you feel sick,” explained Dr. Christopher Chao, a medical family at the Hospital WakeMed.
Chao said he had a difficult experience with his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
“It took me about 72 hours to get back to normal. I had nausea and a low fever for about 48 hours. It was not very pleasant. My wife got the second vaccine and [experienced] tiredness and pain, and that’s it “, he described.
Chao added that side effects vary from person to person. Some have none, while others may experience pain in their arm or even “low fever, chills, fatigue, headache, nausea, some vomiting, dizziness, body aches and even swollen lymph nodes at the injection site.”
“These are normal side effects. This is your body saying, ‘Hey, something is in me. I don’t like that. Let’s create an answer,'” said Chao. “The reactions you see are the normal reaction of the body when it encounters an antigen, and this is creating that defense for the future.”
Chao said it is too early to know the side effects of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Benjamin Reed, a Durham resident, said he received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at around noon, went back to work, played basketball after work and felt good. But things changed later that night.
“When I went to bed that night, I had terrible joint pain,” said Reed. “I was in bed, but it felt like I was playing and spinning on the concrete all night.”
Reed added that while he also had “the worst headache in his life,” the side effects did not last long.
“In the morning, the aches and pains disappeared,” he said. “I would definitely recommend taking the next day off from work. I think you should plan.”
Carla Kelly, who received her first dose of Moderna vaccine last month, says that is what she plans to do.
“I’m not really worried,” said Kelly. “I’m just more aware that I may be tired because it’s the most common thing I heard after the second injection [is that] many people are tired. I’m just getting ready. ”
Her next injection is scheduled for Friday, so she will have the weekend to recover, if necessary.
“Don’t be afraid. It’s another shot. Yes, my arm was more sore than anticipated, but other than that, I would say there is nothing to fear,” said Kelly.
Those who experience coughing, shortness of breath, loss of taste and smell or any side effects lasting more than 72 hours should seek medical attention. Health experts said the other side effects, if any, should go away in a few days.