Many of us have done everything in our power to protect ourselves from COVID-19 ever since the pandemic started — by keeping our distance, staying at home, wearing face masks, and washing our hands frequently and properly. Now that we're in the middle of a huge vaccine drive that's growing to include more and more people, including youngsters, it seems like the end could finally be in sight.
Although the fact that a variety of safe and effective vaccines has now entered the world stage is welcome news, many will also have concerns. If you are about to receive your first dose, you may wonder whether the possible side effects will make you so sick that you are going to have to take time off work or school. If you have just had a shot and are now feeling rough, you'll want to know if that's normal and when you are going to feel well again. It's even possible that you are so worried about the possible side effects of COVID vaccines that you have been putting your chance to be vaccinated off.
What COVID-19 vaccines are currently on the market?
A range of COVID-19 vaccines, all of which have been subject to rigorous clinical trials but which continue to be studied, have entered the world market. Among these vaccines, not all of which will be available where you live, are:
- The Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, distributed under the names Vaxzevria and Covishield and developed by AstraZenaca and Oxford University, is offered in two doses. After your second dose, this viral vector vaccine is just over 81 percent effective.
- The Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was the result of German-American collaboration. This mRNA vaccine is also given in two doses, and full vaccination is just over 91 percent effective at preventing symptomatic cases of COVID-19. This vaccine is currently being offered to people aged 12 and up in some places.
- The American Moderna COVID‑19 vaccine is another mRNA-based shot offered in two doses. It has been found to be up to 94 percent effective.
- The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, developed in Belgium and the Netherlands, is a single-dose viral vector vaccine that appears to be 66 percent effective at preventing sympromatic COVID, while having an 85 percent success rate in terms of preventing severe cases.
- The Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, developed in Russia, is a viral two-vector shot, meaning its two doses have different compositions. The first COVID vaccine to be made available, it is believed to have a success rate of over 91 percent.
- The Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV COVID-19 vaccine is based an inactivated virus vaccine from China. Recommended as a two-dose vaccine, it appears to be 78 percent effective at preventing symptomatic COVID, while offering additional protection against a severe case, to the tune of 86 to 100 percent.
What is the best COVID vaccine, you'll ask? Although each vaccine works slightly differently, each does have a different side effect profile, and each has its own benefits and disadvantages depending on who you are, the answer is ultimately simple. If you live in a jurisdiction where you are able to choose between several different COVID shots, you are lucky. If not, the best COVID vaccine is the one that's available to you.
What side effects will I experience after receiving a COVID shot?
COVID vaccines do have the potential to cause side effects, and we'd be lying if we said that they're necessarily going to be pleasant. The most common side effects are the same ones associated with any other vaccine, and they are:
- Pain, redness, and some swelling at the site where you received the shot — your upper arm, in most cases.
- A fever, along with possible chills.
- Significant levels of fatigue.
- A nasty headache.
- Some muscle aches, as if you were having a flu.
In rare cases, people experience an allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock). The AstraZeneca vaccine has been associated with rare cases of blood clots and low platelet counts, due to which its use was discontinued in several European countries. Because this risk was linked to younger people, other countries have limited its use to older people.
If your side effects get worse, rather than better, or if you experience allergic reactions such as wheezing, breathing difficulties, fainting, and a rapid heartbeat, it is important to seek medical attention right away. This is rare, but doctors are able to effectively treat an allergic reaction if it does occur.
Do I need to take time off after receiving my vaccine?
While these side effects are completely normal and simply a sign that your vaccine is doing its job, the CDC and other medical organizations have acknowledged that it is likely that they will affect your daily functioning for a few days. Concretely, you are likely to feel absolutely fine in the hours immediately after getting vaccinated, and then you may feel quite ill the next day or two. If you are able to take time off, that will certainly help you.
Note that it is common for the second dose of any COVID vaccine you receive to cause more potent side effects than the first — but the good news is that, when they subside, you are done for a while!
Will the vaccine stop me from spreading COVID to others?
Once you are vaccinated, you are much less likely to develop symptoms even if you do come into contact with COVID. Will the vaccine also stop you from spreading the coronavirus to others, though? The simple truth is that the scientific community is still assessing to what extent COVID vaccines stop transmission, but currently available data has promising results. Despite that, you should still continue to take the same preventative measures you are now already used to until your local authorities tell you otherwise.