COVID Vaccine Side Effects: Here's The Entire List Of Minor Health Issues After Getting A Shot

Many COVID-19 vaccines, especially two-dose regimens, have a variety of side effects. The debate over the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine has many recipients wondering if their symptoms are normal. Here’s a list of the most common symptoms for the main vaccines, all of which can be uncomfortable but are ultimately harmless in the vast majority of cases.

This data comes from clinical trials, conducted by manufacturers and compiled courtesy of The Guardian. The symptoms listed were reported within a week of receiving the vaccine and typically cleared up in less than three days for the Moderna vaccine.

Experiencing symptoms is actually a positive sign for recipients: Vaccines work by provoking an immune response with a defanged version of a disease, ensuring if the real deal comes along the body already remembers the illness and can better defend itself. Vaccine symptoms mean the drug is doing its job.

Moderna Dose 1

Pain at the injection site was the only common symptom reported at a rate well above the placebo group.

• Pain at injection site: 87%
• Fatigue: 39%
• Headache: 36%
• Muscle soreness: 24%
• Joint pain: 17%
• Swollen glands: 12%
• Nausea and vomiting: 10%
• Chills: 10%
• Swelling: 7%
• Skin redness: 3%
• Fever: 1%

Moderna Dose 2

The second dose has much higher side effects rates, will all common symptoms reported more often than in placebo groups.

• Pain at injection site: 90%
• Fatigue: 68%
• Headache: 63%
• Muscle soreness 61%
• Chills: 49%
• Joint pain: 45%
• Nausea and vomiting: 21%
• Fever: 17%
• Enlarged glands: 16%
• Swelling: 13%
• Skin redness: 9%

Pfizer Dose 1

Like with Moderna’s, pain at the injection site was the only common symptom reported at a rate well above the placebo group. Pfizer’s methodology means patients over 55 are slightly less likely to experience these symptoms.

• Pain at injection site: 83%
• Fatigue: 47%
• Headache: 42%
• Muscle pain: 21%
• Chills: 14%
• Diarrhea: 11%
• Joint pain: 11%
• Swelling: 6%
• Skin redness: 5%
• Fever: 4%
• Vomiting: 1%

Pfizer Dose 2

• Pfizer’s vaccine also exhibits greater side effects on the second dose.
• Pain at injection site: 78%
• Fatigue: 59%
• Headache: 52%
• Muscle pain: 37%
• Chills: 35%
• Joint pain: 22%
• Fever: 16%
• Diarrhea: 10%
• Swelling: 6%
• Skin redness: 6%
• Vomiting: 2%

Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose drug is less effective at preventing COVID-19 symptoms, but it is equally effective at preventing severe cases that result in hospitalization or death.

• Pain at injection site: 59%
• Headache: 44%
• Fatigue: 44%
• Muscle soreness: 40%
• Nausea: 16%
• Fever: 13%
• Skin redness: 9%
• Swelling: 7%