Health Matters is a bi-weekly column. The opinions expressed are only those of the author.
Fever. Chills. Headache. Painful arm.
All this came at 1 in the morning after the second Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. However, it was the happiest fever, chills and headache I have ever had, because I knew that this short-lived illness after vaccination would protect me from the severe COVID-19 disease.
Despite the fact that I knew about the side effects, I was surprised at how much they affected me and how widespread it was for my colleagues. With a few weeks of vaccinations underway, it is important to make sure that everyone who receives the vaccine is aware of the side effects in order to plan for the next day accordingly and alleviate the fear that the vaccine will do more harm than good.
The chart below summarizes the two vaccines currently being administered in Arlington. Both Pfizer and Moderna are considered “reactogenic” in that they stimulate a strong immune response with unpleasant but temporary side effects. Modern, although less effective (94.1% versus 95% for Pfizer), has 3 times more vaccine than Pfizer (100 micrograms versus 30 micrograms for Pfizer), which may contribute to more of the side effects seen. .
Awareness of reactogenicity is particularly important because more Arlingtonians want the vaccine than anywhere else in the United States, and as of February 18, 2009, approximately 27,895 doses have been administered and 8,371 fully vaccinated, according to the Virginia Department of Vaccine Health.
So why does your body react this way to the vaccine?
The immediate response is from the introduction of vaccine materials into the arm. This immediate response is due to the first branch of the immune system called innate immunity, which fights against anything it does not recognize. As your cells take over the mRNA encoding a version of the coronavirus peak protein, the innate immune system triggers alarms to recruit more immune cells to the arm, causing inflammation and pain, resulting in increased immune cell recruitment, causing an overview. symptoms of fever and fatigue.
During this recruitment cascade, the second, more specific branch of the immune system, called adaptive immunity, is activated. The main players in adaptive immunity are B cells, which are targeted selective killers, which create antibodies that bind to the peak protein, and T cells, which create a “desired” cell poster of the infectious pathogen, so that B cells know when and when where to attack.
Adaptive immunity is the finely tuned part of the immune system that protects against COVID-19 after the second blow. When the second blow reintroduces the pathogen into the body, the adaptive immune system emits a burst of cytokines, overlapping the closed innate immune response, resulting in fever, pain and chills.
These side effects are a natural part of vaccination and ultimately demonstrate a functional immune system – it does not mean that you have COVID-19. If you do not have these side effects, there is no need for alarm, as many are successfully vaccinated without side effects.
Notably, flu-like side effects are different from anaphylaxis or allergic reaction, which is a much faster immune response that is seen in minutes. This known potential reaction prompted the CDC to recommend 15 minutes of post-vaccination observation for most people and 30 minutes for those with a history of anaphylaxis.
Scientists believe that the reactogenicity of vaccines derives from the lipid nanoparticles used to package and protect mRNA as it enters cells. Lipid nanoparticles and mRNA are new approaches to vaccines, and Pfizer and Moderna are the first to use this nanotechnology. In fact, this technology can be used to further improve the effectiveness of flu vaccines, which is both underused (less than half of the US received it last year) and underperforming compared to the COVID vaccine (the flu vaccine reduces the risk of go to the doctor with the flu by 39% in 2019-2020). As lipid and mRNA technology advances, the hope is that reactogenicity will decrease.
What if you have these symptoms after vaccination?
The first step is to rest and drink plenty of fluids. If your arm is sore, try applying a damp, cold towel over the area. CDC recommended ibuprofen, aspirin, antihistamines and acetaminophen for general pain and discomfort, but only after shot. It is not known whether premedication before the vaccine affects how well the vaccine works.
Eventually, while the side effects were surprisingly robust and prevalent in my healthcare circle, they disappeared within 48 hours. I would not let these side effects discourage anyone who is medically authorized not to receive the vaccine. My goal is to make sure people are prepared for the side effects and not panic if they occur.
Dr. George C. Hwang, known to his patients as Dr. Chaucer, is a practicing anesthetist who also helps run the Mind Peace Clinics in Arlington. He has written for several magazines, textbooks and medical news and has lived in Arlington for the past 15 years.