Originally, there were officially no side effects from the covid vaccine
Our recollections differ. There has not been a vaccine without side effects, or a vaccine that was 100% effective (my non professional non medical observations)
The vaccine had one goal....reduce deaths.
Vaccine Safety
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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Safety
Safety Information by Vaccine
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For Everyone
Jan. 31, 2025
COVID-19 vaccine recommendations
COVID-19 vaccine recommendations have recently been updated for some populations. This page will be updated to align with the updated immunization schedule. Learn more.
Key points
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
You can protect against severe COVID-19 disease with vaccination.
CDC continuously monitors the safety of COVID-19 vaccines using several different safety systems.
Overview
COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. COVID-19 most often causes respiratory symptoms that can feel much like a cold, the flu, or pneumonia. Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, but some people become severely ill. You can protect against severe COVID-19 disease with vaccination. CDC, working with FDA and other federal agencies, continuously monitors COVID-19 vaccines through several safety systems.
Available vaccines
Everyone ages 6 months and older should get an updated COVID-19 vaccine. Currently, there are two types of COVID-19 vaccines for use in the United States: mRNA and protein subunit.
Did you know?
These vaccines have been updated for 2024-2025 to protect against circulating variants of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Fully licensed FDA vaccines
Below are fully licensed COVID-19 vaccines.
Comirnaty is an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Pfizer, Inc. It is approved for use in people ages 12 years and older. It is a single dose injection.
Spikevax is an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Moderna, Inc. It is approved for use in people ages 12 years and older. It is a single dose injection.
Emergency Use Authorized vaccines
Below are COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use by FDA.
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for emergency use in children ages 6 months to 11 years.
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for emergency use children ages 6 months to 11 years.
Novavax is a protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine. It is authorized for emergency use in people ages 12 years and older.
Keep Reading
Vaccine Information Statements
Who should & should not get the vaccine
CDC recommends that people receive the age-appropriate vaccine product and dosage based on their age on the day of vaccination. Specific COVID-19 vaccine recommendations vary by group.
People ages 6 months and older
Moderately to severely immunocompromised people
Women who would like to have a baby
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Long-term care residents
Common side effects
Vaccines, like any medical product, can have side effects. Side effects reported after COVID-19 vaccination vary from person to person. Most common side effects are usually mild, such as soreness in the area where the shot was given. Everyone who gets a COVID-19 vaccine may be monitored onsite for at least 15 minutes after vaccination (people who experience or have experienced non-severe allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines may be monitored for 30 minutes).
mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna)
Pain, soreness, redness at injection site
Fatigue
Headache
Muscle pain
Joint pain
Chills
Fever
Nausea/vomiting (Moderna)
In infants and toddlers, common symptoms include irritability or crying, decreased appetite, and sleepiness.
Protein subunit vaccine (Novavax)
Pain, soreness, redness, swelling at injection site
Fatigue
Headache
Muscle pain
Joint pain
Chills
Fever
Nausea/vomiting
Keep in mind
If you had side effects (e.g., vomiting; shortness of breath; a red, itchy, swollen, or painful rash where you got the shot) within 4 hours of getting a COVID-19 vaccine, you can likely still receive the same type of vaccine at your next recommended dose (or your next annual dose). Your provider might recommend giving the vaccine in the opposite arm or observing you for 30 minutes after vaccination. If your doctor or healthcare provider thinks your reaction might be because of an allergy, they may refer you to an allergy and immunology specialist for additional care or advice.
Severe allergic reactions
Severe allergic reactions following vaccination are rare but can be life threatening. Signs and symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:
Anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that needs to be treated with epinephrine (EpiPen) and that may require hospitalization. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, coughing, or wheezing.
Low blood pressure or rapid heartbeat
Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat
A widespread skin rash that can itch, be red, or cause raised bumps (hives). Can also include general swelling of parts of the body (like the face, arms, or legs).
A rash in places like inside your mouth or nose. This requires hospitalization.
When to call 911
If someone has symptoms of a severe allergic reaction — which can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness — call 911 immediately.
If you had a severe allergic reaction after receiving a particular type of COVID-19 vaccine (either mRNA or Novavax), you should not get another dose of that type of vaccine. You will likely be able to receive the alternate vaccine type. Your doctor may refer you to an allergy and immunology specialist for additional care or advice.
In rare cases, people have experienced serious health events after COVID-19 vaccination. An adverse event (any side effect or health problem after vaccination that is concerning to you, even if you are not sure if the vaccine caused the event) can be caused by the vaccine or be a coincidental event that is not related to the vaccine, such as an unrelated fever, that happened following vaccination.
A closer look at the safety data
During the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 vaccines underwent the most intensive safety analysis in U.S. history.
COVID-19 vaccines continue to be monitored for safety, even after FDA approval, to make sure they continue to meet FDA's standards for safety and effectiveness.12345678910111213
To date, the systems in place to monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines currently used in the United States have identified anaphylaxis and myocarditis or pericarditis as serious types of adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination. Other rare events, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), are also monitored for and studied.
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