What are the most common side effects of my COVID-19 vaccine?
As with any vaccination, the currently available COVID-19 vaccines are associated with both local and systemic reactions.
The most common local side effects include:
- Pain, redness, and swelling at the site of injection.
- Localized swelling and tenderness of the axilla (armpit) can occur and appears to be more common with the Moderna vaccine.1
The most common systemic side effects across all COVID-19 vaccines include:
- Muscle pain, joint pain, and chills.2,3
- Headache and fatigue.2,3
- Fever is a common reaction following the second dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna).1
Systemic reactions to the mRNA vaccines in general appear more common following the second dose and in younger patients.1,2 Viral vector vaccines (like AstraZeneca) seem to carry fewer side effects following the second dose.1