COVID-19 vaccine side effects: What's normal and what to look out for

So far, all three of the available COVID-19 vaccines in the US have a pretty solid track record, especially for a fast-tracked vaccine. Still, vaccine fears and myths abound, and stories about side effects (inflated or not) incite fear among many. So which side effects are par for the course, and which are cause for concern? Here's what to expect if you get the COVID-19 vaccine, whether you get the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson version -- and how to report side effects to the CDC.

Vaccine side effects are actually a good thing

Every vaccine comes with the chance of side effects. But with these new Covid-19 vaccines, the chances are much higher. Most people will feel pain at the injection site or fatigued. The vaccines come with more side effects than we’re used to, which can be scary. But scientists argue this is actually a good thing.

All Your Questions About The COVID-19 Vaccine And Facial Fillers, Answered

Primarily, it's facial swelling and redness of the area. Those are the most common and might last a few days.

Coronavirus Vaccine FAQs: What's Up With Side Effects?

Keep in mind, the side effects we're discussing here aren't the ones so serious they cause entire vaccination sites to shut down or lead to further studies on the viability of the vaccine as a whole. So, we're not going to discuss the more serious aftereffects, for instance, that have led to a temporary halt to the administration of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine in Colorado recently – when more than 26 individuals faced "adverse reactions" to inoculation, including fainting. Or the concern about blood clots and AstraZeneca. It's more the everyday things...

Covid vaccine side-effects: what to know and why you shouldn't worry

Side-effects have been reported for all three vaccines approved for emergency use in the US but most are mild and short-lived

COVID-19 vaccine side effects: The positives about feeling bad

Side effects of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are often troubling but may merely reflect transient production of type I interferons, a normal immune reaction to contact with pathogens.

Covid-19 vaccine side-effects: Here’s everything you need to know

As growing numbers of younger adults get vaccinated against covid-19, social media is awash with conversation about side effects, which appear to be more common in young people. What kind of side effects can people expect...

Covid-19 Vaccine Works, Even if Side Effects Differ for All, Doctors Say

Age and other factors may play a role, but scientists say the shots provide immunity, including in the absence of fatigue, chills or other symptoms

Data reveal fewer real-world COVID vaccine side effects

A new real-world study finds fewer side effects after vaccination with the Pfizer/BioNTech and the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccines than reported in phase 3 clinical trials, while another paper notes some instances of facial paralysis after receipt of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine but no increased risk.

Experts says blood clots from AstraZeneca’s COVID vaccine are rare enough to justify its use

Some countries have already restricted the shot's use, but European regulators say it's worth using the vaccine mid-pandemic.

He experienced a severe reaction to Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine candidate. He’s still a believer

Haydon has spoken about the vaccine on CNN and CNBC. He even said he’d volunteer to be exposed to the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, if researchers want to test to see if the vaccine was actually effective. But up until now he has left out a key detail: He is, apparently, one of three people in the trial who had a systemic adverse reaction to the vaccine.

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.

Is the Second Dose Bad? If I Feel OK, Is It Working? Can I Take Tylenol?

The most common questions about vaccination side effects, answered.

No, vaccine side effects don’t tell you how well your immune system will protect you from COVID-19

When you get the vaccine shot, what you’re noticing in the first day or two is part of the innate immune response: your body’s inflammatory reaction, aimed at quickly clearing the foreign molecules that breached your body’s perimeter.

People Are Reporting Unexpected Side Effects After COVID-19 Vaccination—But That's Actually Normal

Side effects—while temporarily uncomfortable—are a standard part of vaccination, says Dr. Stanley Perlman, a professor at the University of Iowa’s Carver College of Medicine and a member of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisory committee.

The Covid-19 vaccine side effects that specifically affect women

Since Covid-19 vaccine administration began around the world, side effects have been more severe in women. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during the first month of vaccine administration, 62% of the doses in the US were given to women, but 71% of the side effects were reported by them. One explanation is that estrogen produces a stronger immune reaction, intensifying the overall symptoms felt after the vaccine. Similar effects have been observed with other vaccines, too.

The Second COVID-19 Shot Is a Rude Reawakening for Immune Cells

Side effects are just a sign that protection is kicking in as it should.

The Weirdest “Side Effect” of the Coronavirus Vaccine

I had no physical reactions, but I wasn’t prepared for the emotions.

This TikTok Hack Can Help You Avoid a Common Side-Effect of the COVID-19 Jab

Infectious disease specialists also think there’s no harm in trying it.

Vaccines Take a While to Kick In. Experts Say That Means the Body Is Doing Its Job.

Reports of Covid-19 cases that appeared shortly after a single shot of a two-dose vaccine shouldn’t cause concern.

We’re gathering data on COVID vaccine side effects in real time. Here’s what you can expect

There’s excellent ongoing research happening to define the “real world” side effects from COVID-19 vaccines. Many of us can play a part, and this information can inform us as a community about what to expect. While serious but rare side effects are making the headlines, the realistic expectation for most of us is that we may feel mildly unwell, and may need to take a day off our regular commitments, especially after our second dose.

What are the side effects of the Pfizer vaccine? An expert explains

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.

What Does It Mean If My Ears Ring Or Toes Hurt After A Vaccine?

We've reported on some of the typical side effects many of us will experience after getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Since then, some readers wrote to NPR with concerns about a whole slate of more unusual conditions they've been noticing in the aftermath of their own vaccines.

What the Vaccine’s Side Effects Feel Like

The COVID-19 vaccine will make some people feel sick. But they’re not—that’s the immune system doing its job.

Why the Covid-19 vaccines may feel different from other routine shots

The side effects of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, explained.

Women Report Worse Side Effects After a Covid Vaccine

Men and women tend to respond differently to many kinds of vaccines. That’s probably because of a mix of factors, including hormones, genes and the dosing of the shots.

You Don't Have To Suffer To Benefit From COVID Vaccination — But Some Prefer It

If you think vaccination is an ordeal now, consider the 18th century version. After having pus from a smallpox boil scratched into your arm, you would be subject to three weeks of fever, sweats, chills, bleeding and purging with dangerous medicines, accompanied by hymns, prayers and hell-fire sermons by dour preachers. That was smallpox vaccination, back then. The process generally worked and was preferred to enduring "natural" smallpox, which killed about a third of those who got it. Patients were often grateful for trial-by-immunization — once it was over, anyway.