Adverse Events
The challenge now is to work out which of these events are actually linked to the vaccine - Ariana Remmel
image by: Petr Lach
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Here’s what we know about the risks of serious side effects from COVID-19 vaccines
Many people have experienced sore arms and feeling wiped out for a couple of days after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Some get fevers, chills and headaches. Those familiar side effects have become widely accepted as the price of protection against the too-often-deadly coronavirus.
But it’s the rare, more serious side effects that have grabbed the headlines — and given some people pause about whether to get vaccinated or get the shots for their children.
Such side effects include rare allergic reactions to an ingredient in the mRNA vaccines (SN: 1/6/21) and rare blood clots in young women associated with Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine (SN: 4/23/21).
Now, a group that…
Resources
React19
React19 is a science-based non-profit offering financial, physical, and emotional support for those suffering from long-term COVID-19 vaccine adverse events globally. Our mission is to bring healing to the moms, dads, friends, and loved ones who are facing life-altering side effects from their COVID-19 vaccine. We build bridges between patients and research institutions in order to develop a better understanding of our vaccine complications.
VAERS
VAERS is a passive reporting system, meaning it relies on individuals to send in reports of their experiences to CDC and FDA. VAERS is not designed to determine if a vaccine caused a health problem, but is especially useful for detecting unusual or unexpected patterns of adverse event reporting that might indicate a possible safety problem with a vaccine.
Are Covid Vaccines Riskier Than Advertised?
There are concerning trends on blood clots and low platelets, not that the authorities will tell you.
Adverse Events Reported From COVID-19 Vaccine Trials: A Systematic Review
In this review, we synthesized the safety data of eleven published clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines. Due to the heterogeneity in the safety endpoints across trials, we could not perform meta-analysis.
Anti-Vaxxers Misuse Federal Data to Falsely Claim COVID Vaccines Are Dangerous
VAERS, a database of reports of vaccine side effects, is being abused by people trying to sow fear. It's not the first time.
Anxiety seems to be the culprit in J&J vaccine fainting spells
The CDC suspects anxiety is behind some negative effects experienced by needle-averse people.
Blood Expert Says He Found Why Some Covid-19 Vaccines Trigger Rare Clots
A scientist in Germany thinks he has found an answer as researchers around world examine AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson shots
In rare cases, coronavirus vaccines may cause Long Covid–like symptoms
Brain fog, headaches, blood pressure swings are being probed by NIH and other researchers.
What causes the rare blood clots linked with some covid-19 vaccines?
It resembles a syndrome in which similar antibodies can be triggered by the blood-thinning treatment heparin, says Greinacher, who is an expert on the heparin side effect.
What to Know About Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Given the numbers we have so far, says Putrino, one’s risk of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome (or GBS) as a result of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine amounts to 100 in 12.8 million, or roughly 0.0008 percent. GBS can occur as the result of an extreme immune response, and in fact is a known potential side effect associated with other vaccines, including the flu shot, says Putrino. For that reason, it’s unsurprising that it’s been found to be a very rare side effect here, too.
Why is it so hard to investigate the rare side effects of COVID vaccines?
For the vast majority of people, COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. But further research is needed to understand the causes of rare adverse events.
Why the Vaccine Safety Numbers Are Still Fuzzy
Putting a risk in context: The rate of blood clots is extremely low, but the pause in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine could reveal more cases.
Here’s what we know about the risks of serious side effects from COVID-19 vaccines
Risks of rare allergic reactions, blood clots and maybe heart problems don’t outweigh benefits.
AstraZeneca
Some countries have already restricted the shot's use, but European regulators say it's worth using the vaccine mid-pandemic.
Johnson & Johnson
So how worried should you be about these rare cases? And how would you know if you might be at risk? We have answers.
Moderna
Primarily, it's facial swelling and redness of the area. Those are the most common and might last a few days.
Pfizer
The most common side effects include headache, muscle aches and fatigue, and these are more common after dose two compared to dose one. Side effects will usually present in the first 24-48 hours after vaccination. Recently there have been reports from overseas, including the United States and Israel, of myocarditis (heart inflammation) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart) following vaccination with the Pfizer vaccine...
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