We are more familiar now with possible side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine that interacts with our immune system. Experts stress post-shooting problems, such as fatigue and fever, means that the vaccine works (as long as it does not indicate an allergic reaction).
So what does this mean for those of us who have no side effects?
We asked vaccine experts to tell us what the side effects mean and whether their severity predicts how effective your immune response to COVID-19 will be.
First, a recap of the causes that cause the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are either a physical manifestation of your body’s immune response – which is the case with most people – or an allergic reaction, said Jesse Erasmus, an assistant professor in the department of microbiology at the University of Washington.
Erasmus said that the side effects you get from a stroke usually depend on the type of vaccination technology that is used to create the immunization (e.g. messenger RNA or mRNA, it is the type of technology that Pfizer photos use- BioNTech and Moderna) and how these components interact with your immune system.
Regarding coronavirus photographs, “All vaccines that are currently licensed for emergency use have very similar side effect profiles,” said Colleen Kelley, an associate professor of infectious diseases at Emory University School of Medicine and principal investigator for the Phase 3 Modern and Novavax vaccine clinical trials at the Ponce de Leon Center clinical research site in Atlanta.
Kelley believes that the side effects of the COVID-19 stroke come primarily from the body responding to the spike protein that the vaccine introduces into the immune system, which helps it recognize (and then fight) the spike protein on the coronavirus if it enters organism.
When it comes to allergic reactions to the vaccine, which are rare, one hypothesis for mRNA vaccines is that people may be allergic to a component called polyethylene glycol, a common food additive, Erasmus said.
Why do some people have more serious side effects than others?
Based on people’s experiences, it seems that some have weaker shooting reactions than others. But from a scientific point of view, there are still no confirmed reasons for this.
“There are really no distinguishing factors that predispose one person to have more side effects than the other,” said Richard Dang. pharmacist and assistant professor of clinical pharmacy at the University of Southern California. The only thing we have seen so far in clinical data is that younger people seem to experience side effects at higher rates than older people and we see this in the real world.
Cases have been reported in which those who previously had the virus suffered more severe side effects after receiving their vaccines.
Anecdotally, it appears that people who may have had COVID-19 before the vaccine tend to have a longer duration of symptoms, Kelley added. “But we’re still collecting additional scientific data to really support this.”
Does the severity of the side effects have to do with how well your body will fight COVID-19 if exposed?
Although it is a valid question, more studies need to be done to break down what the severity of the side effects means, said Anna Wald, an infectious disease physician and researcher in COVID-19 vaccine studies at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
But Erasmus, Kelley and Wald all say the vaccine’s effectiveness is unlikely to be determined by how severe the side effects are.
Remember that most people have mild or no side effects in clinical trials. [for the mRNA vaccines], and yet, it was found that the vaccine is still 95% effective in protecting them against disease, “said Wald.
Whether you develop mild or severe side effects, it is important to know what to do.
In conclusion, the benefits of vaccines outweigh the side effects. Getting shot means protecting yourself from severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.
If you experience side effects, there are several things you can do. At the time of vaccination, ask the person who vaccinated you, it is best to contact (and how) for follow-up assistance if you need it, Dang said. You should also wait 15-30 minutes at the vaccine site after receiving the vaccine to make sure you do not have severe allergic reactions.
Usually, if you have side effects related to the immune system, such as fatigue, headache or fever, Kelley said, you can take a pain reliever or fever, such as Tylenol, and then take a nap if you can. Make sure you stay hydrated and take it lightly when you feel stopped.
These problems are likely to be resolved in no more than one to four days, Kelley said. Anything that takes longer justifies a check-in at your doctor or at the place where you received the vaccine. You should seek emergency assistance or call 911 if you have difficulty breathing or significant swelling.
You can also record and report some of your side effects to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention V-safe program, said Dang. V-safe sends you text messages daily, then weekly, to see how you’re doing and if you have reactions. If you report severe reactions, it reports to the CDC for further verification.
Remember that side effects are usually a very normal part of COVID-19 vaccine administration – and we will be in a much better place than the other side of the photos.
Experts are still learning about COVID-19. The information in this story is known or available from the date of publication, but guidelines may change as scientists discover more about the virus. Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most up-to-date recommendations.