
No-in fact, vaccine side effects have been less frequent and severe in adults older than 55 years in the vaccine trials. Can side effects be more pronounced in people who are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease-i.e., people who are older, have comorbidities, etc.? The side effects of COVID-19 vaccines are similar to what is observed after the shingles vaccine. Some vaccines are more reactogenic-the term used to describe these types of side effects-and some people have more severe reactions than others. These side effects are typical of the inflammation induced by vaccines and are a sign of the body's immune response to the vaccine.Ĭoverage of how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting operations at JHU and how Hopkins experts and scientists are responding to the outbreak

Why do these vaccines seem to have more noticeable side effects than the flu vaccine? How do they compare to other vaccines' side effects-like the shingles vaccine, for example? Side effects are similar after the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines but could differ with other types of vaccines. Do the side effects differ from one manufacturer's vaccine to another? Side effects were more frequent after the second dose in the vaccine trials. Since COVID-19 vaccines come in two doses, will I experience the same side effects after each dose? Usually 24 to 48 hours, and no more than a few days. Other side effects include fatigue, headache, muscle aches, chills, joint pain, and possibly some fever. The most common side effect is soreness at the site of injection. We know the most about side effects following vaccination with the Pfizer and Moderna messenger RNA-or mRNA-vaccines.

Side effects may vary with the type of COVID-19 vaccine. What side effects should I expect from COVID-19 vaccines? Below, Moss answers questions about side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, what to know before and after your vaccination, and when to contact your doctor or a medical professional. These vaccines are highly effective, but they are also "reactogenic," meaning that they're likely to cause a noticeable immune response.įor help understanding what side effects to expect after a COVID-19 vaccination, the Expert Insights website of the Bloomberg School of Public Health turned to expert epidemiologist and executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center William Moss. COVID-19 vaccines are the first to be produced using the mRNA platform.
