This week’s issue of Science magazine* comments on the importance of alerting the public to side effects from both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines; most are transient (about 12 hours in duration) and bearable but some people will experience more severe side effects: Moderna reported fatigue in 9.7% , muscle pain in 8.9%, joint pain in 5.2% and headache in 4.5% of patients. The Pfizer report of severe side effects was not as intense: fatigue in 3.8% and headache in 2%. Both vaccines require two doses; the second dose will most probably provoke a more intense reaction than the first.
While the vaccine will abort the severity of this pandemic, the public should anticipate and be prepared for side effects which might be severe in 2-10% of individuals. Covid infection is potentially considerably worse than the transient consequences of immunization, so vaccination is crucially important, but the public needs to have transparency about what to expect on a short-term basis.
*Wadman M. Public needs to prep for vaccine side effects. New in Depth.Science 370:issue 6520, p.1022.
Specialist in internal medicine and primary care.