The topic of side effects from COVID vaccines available in the U.S. has become increasingly relevant as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are expected to authorize the Pfizer COVID booster for all adults.
As of Wednesday, 30.7 million people have received booster shots, according to CDC data.
While it does vary from person to person, side effects from COVID booster shots generally resemble the side effects present after a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or the first shot of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine.
Here is what you need to know about what the most common side effects are, and how to treat them.
What are the most common side effects from COVID booster shots?
The side effects of COVID boosters are similar across all three vaccine brands available in the U.S.
The most common ones, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, include the following:
- Muscle and joint aches
- Swelling or soreness at the injection site
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Chills or fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
The FDA notes that the Pfizer COVID booster vaccine is more likely to cause underarm lymph node swelling than the other vaccines.
The CDC says, however, that most people who get a booster shot will report discomfort or fever in the hours following the shot, but that is due to the body “building protection.”
What are the more serious reactions that require medical attention?
You should contact a physician or other health care provider if the following is true:
- If the redness or tenderness around where the shot was administered gets worse after 24 hours
- If side effects seem to linger after a few days
- If you have an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
- If you have blood clotting
Related stories about COVID-19:
How to get a COVID booster shot at CVS, Walgreens or Rite Aid
Should I mix-and-match COVID vaccines? What to know about the newly approved boosters
COVID breakthrough cases: What to know about symptoms, length, quarantine, long-term effects
Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
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