COVID-19 Vaccine Side-effects: A Typical Body Response or Should You be Worried?

In December 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a vaccine for the preemption of COVID-19 disease. With this approval, the world has now started gearing up for vaccination drives. Millions of people worldwide have already received their doses and billions are hoping to receive a vaccination against the virus in the near future.

At the same time, although several people want to safeguard themselves against the contagion, they are hesitant to get vaccinated as they are worried about the probable side-effects from vaccination.  Also, rumors about occurrence of distressing side-effects have made people anxious, thus accelerating the growth of vaccine hesitancy rates.

Nevertheless, not all side-effects are bad. Dr Fauci is an American immunologist & physician-scientist serving as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984 and principal medical advisor to President Joe Biden since 2021. According to him, the side-effects can be an indication that the vaccine is functioning correctly to build up the required immune response—even if it is in a distressing way.

Physicians say that it is common to forestall side-effects after receiving any vaccination shot. Adverse reactions can arise, but most post-vaccine reactions experienced are mild, last for 2-3 days, and can be easily coped with. Briefly, these side-effects are an ideal way to check if your COVID-19 vaccine is working appropriately.

Are Vaccine Side-Effects Mimicking COVID Symptoms?

The eccentric side-effects of COVID-19 vaccination, though similar to COVID-19 symptoms, are simply the reaction of our body’s immune system against numerous spike proteins which are formed in the body after detecting a potential threat. Therefore, they need not be a thing one should bother about. Any sort of pains and chills that a person may come across after vaccination can be an indication that the vaccine is preparing your body to identify pathogens in the future.
Here are some usual signs and symptoms which might help a person verify if a vaccine is functioning at its best.

1. Joint & Muscle Pain

Mild muscle pain and joint aches are possible reactions occurred after injection of a vaccine in the body. Almost 43% of the COVID-19 vaccine receivers have reported this symptom until now. This side-effect may appear after hours or days depending on the person’s immune system. Even though most pains and aches relax on their own, as for the treatment, anti-pain medicines and pain killers can also be taken for relief.

2. Headaches

Until now, headache is the second major and commonly noted symptom in people injected with COVID-19 vaccination. However, it is a clear sign of the body producing systematic inflammation.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that the occurrence of headaches is mostly expected after the second shot.

3. Exhaustion

Feeling tired and weak is the most talked-about symptom of the COVID-19 vaccine in the current scenario. Although several people infected with COVID-19 undergo prolonged fatigue, undergoing attacks of exhaustion and tiredness after receiving a vaccine shot might also depict that the body is producing essential buttresses to combat the disease.

Also, there are chances that exhaustion might be supplemented with sensation of chills and mild body aches, which could be troublesome for the person post-vaccination shot. This is why physicians are, at present, recommending patients to follow some precautions, such as use masks, frequently wash hands with soaps and sanitizers, maintain physical distance of at least six feet, and take rest & care after receiving the vaccine shot. Exhaustion might also result in unconsciousness; therefore, people above 55 years of age must be more alert after getting vaccinated.

What is the Side-Effect One Should Not Overlook?

People who have now been vaccinated against the deadly virus are spreading awareness about one of the most predictable and common side-effects which should never be ignored is ‘rashes’.

Rashes and inflammation are not the most common side-effects; however, they can sometimes occur even after a week after getting vaccinated. It might also be highly common in people who might be having certain allergy or may be sensitive to the inoculation’s constituents. Therefore, one should consider getting immediate medical help the moment rashes start appearing.

Moreover, other common symptoms such as bleeding, swelling, delirium or chronic fainting spells must not be overlooked.

Should We Go Ahead and Take COVID-19 Vaccine?

Vaccination for COVID-19 infection is voluntary. The CDC advises people to get the complete schedule of COVID-19 vaccine for safeguarding oneself against the disease and for curbing its spread among the close contacts including family members, friends, relatives, and co-workers. Even COVID-19 survivors are advised to get vaccinated as there is no evidence that the virus may not attack a previously recovered person.

In a nutshell, developing a strong immune response against the disease has become the need of the hour. It is our duty to get vaccinated and continue following precautions to save the world from another wave of devastation.

About the Author(s)

Princy A. J

Princy holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. University at Chennai, India. After a successful academic record, she pursued her passion for writing. A thorough professional and enthusiastic writer, she enjoys writing on various categories and advancements in the global industries. She plays an instrumental role in writing about current updates, news, blogs, and trends.