With plans to increase the distribution of vaccines, the average American may consider himself eligible for an injection in the not-too-distant future. As the vaccine has received some skepticism, experts on the subject are trying to be as transparent as possible about the process. During a White House coronavirus response team meeting on January 27, Rochelle Walensky, MD, director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), shared the side effects you should expect when taking the COVID vaccine. Read on to find out what reactions to the vaccine you can experience, and for more vaccine news, Dr. Fauci says he had these side effects from his second dose of vaccine.
During the press conference, Walensky noted that it is important for people to remember that there may be some mild side effects of the vaccine. She said the side effects could include “pain at the injection site, a feeling of fever or tiredness and muscle pain after receiving the injection”. These side effects of the vaccine are consistent with what the CDC described on its website. Walensky added that reactions are especially common after taking the second dose.
You are more likely to experience side effects after the second dose, because this injection causes a stronger immune response. “When you receive the second injection, your body is already half prepared and starts to react against the vaccine,” he said. David Sellers, MD, the first healthcare professional at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital in Tennessee to receive a vaccine, he explained to a local NBC affiliate. “If you are going to have systemic side effects, it usually occurs after the second injection, when you not only have muscle pain, but you can also have joint pain.” And for the most up-to-date information, subscribe to our daily newsletter.
While experiencing less than desirable side effects can make you assume that something is wrong, this is almost always not the case. The mild side effects of a vaccine are a natural part of gaining immunity. “All of this is normal and expected to get a vaccine,” said Walensky. “These symptoms mean that your immune system is speeding up and the vaccine is really working.” And for more first-hand experience with vaccine reactions, Tyler Perry said he had these side effects from the COVID vaccine.
Walensky tried to quell people’s fear of the vaccine by ensuring that the vaccine is safe and effective. Although some people attributed their hesitation to allergic reactions, the director of the CDC said that, according to recent data, there were only 2.1 cases of anaphylaxis per million doses of Moderna and 6.2 cases of anaphylaxis per million doses of Pfizer. “Let me be clear, these results are rare and treatable, and the COVID-19 vaccines are safe,” she explained. “Although anaphylaxis can be scary, there are effective treatments and patients usually do very well.”
Other experts talked about allergic reactions to the vaccine. During an interview on January 7 with members of the Washington University internal medicine residency program at St. Louis, COVID Counselor of the White House Anthony Fauci, MD, acknowledged the possibility of adverse reactions, but reminded people that serious allergic reactions are very rare. “There have already been 21 cases of severe allergic reactions, which leads to an incidence of about one in a million [and] almost invariably in people with a history of severe allergic reactions, ”said Fauci. And for potential reactions to another vaccine, these are the side effects of the New Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Although there is a small chance that you will have a serious adverse reaction to the vaccine, Walensky pointed out that there is a much greater risk of getting COVID. “It is also important to contextualize. The risks of falling ill with COVID-19 are much greater than the risk of allergy or anaphylaxis with the vaccine, ”she noted.
Walensky continued to emphasize the vaccine’s proven safety. “I want to take a moment to emphasize that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and work,” she continued. “And this is done with data backup.” And for more vaccine news, Moderna’s medical director just provided this disturbing update.