As the pandemic continues, it’s now clear that social distancing, face-covering, and handwashing alone are not enough to contain the virus. While all of these measures are still critical, the world also needs widespread vaccination to bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccine is welcoming news, but given that they are the first mRNA vaccine produced, there are many concerns about its safety and effectiveness.
mRNA vaccines are highly effective, but they are also “reactogenic,” which are likely to trigger a noticeable immune response. In simple terms, it means that the vaccine administration is likely to cause a few side effects, which are a response of the human body against the foreign object that has been injected. So what exactly happens when the vaccine is administered? In this post, we look at the top COVID-19 vaccine side effects so you can get the vaccine more confidently. But before we get started, let’s understand why vaccine recipients may experience side effects.
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Why Do You Get COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects?
As mentioned earlier, the COVID-19 vaccine is an mRNA vaccine that is likely to trigger an immune system response. When the vaccine is injected, the immune system recognizes it as a foreign object and tries to fight it. That’s where the cytokines in your blood come into play and exert their influence on the white blood cells, so your immune system springs into action.
As the level of cytokines in your body increases, it can have a mild inflammatory effect on the blood vessels and tissues, which causes undesirable symptoms, including muscle aches, fever, chills, and nausea. The side effects are more likely to affect younger people than the older population because they have a stronger immune system (and thus a better immune system response).
Top COVID-19 Vaccine Side-Effects
The COVID-19 vaccine is administered on the upper arm, which leads to a few undesirable effects on the injection site and the rest of the body. So let’s take a closer each at each.
On the Site of Injection
Some of the most common side effects of COVID-19 vaccine administration on the site of injection include
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- Pain,
- Tenderness,
- Redness, and
- Swelling.
Rest of Your Body
Some of the generalized COVID-19 vaccine side effects include the following.
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- Tiredness
- Headache
- Muscle and bone pain
- Chills and Fever
- Nausea and Vomiting
These are some of the minor and common COVID-19 vaccine side effects that are more pronounced after the second dose.
Other Possible COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects
While the COVID-19 vaccine causes a few common side effects, there are other less likely side effects of the vaccine, which include
Severe Allergic Reactions
In rare cases, a potentially life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis may occur. The condition is more common among people who have a history of severe vaccine reactions. According to the CDC’s numbers, the risk of severe allergic reactions is as low as 0.011%. However, it is still there. Some signs of a severe allergic reaction include trouble breathing, swollen face and throat, skin rashes, and low blood pressure. The reaction occurs soon after vaccination, so people who get the vaccine are observed for 15 minutes before leaving the medical facility. Medications are used to treat the infection.
