• Careers
  • Education
  • Research
  • Giving
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search
Close Search
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Location
  • Find A Specialty
  • Schedule An Appointment
  • Pay A Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
Bandage

What Are the Side Effects of the COVID-19 Vaccine?

Dec 15, 2020 |
By Sandra A. Kemmerly, MD
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

Ochsner employees are among the first to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, which is a major step in bringing this pandemic to an end. Rigorous research has demonstrated to the FDA that the vaccine is highly effective and safe. Ochsner employees and patients across the region participated in the Pfizer clinical trial, and our data has, in part, led to the creation of the first COVID-19 vaccine.

You might be wondering about the possible side effects. There’s good news. Current data from COVID-19 vaccine trials support the safety and efficacy of the vaccines. More than 37,000 people have received the COVID-19 vaccine during the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine trials with no significant side effects.

How is the Vaccine Administered?

Like the flu shot, the vaccine is administered into a large muscle in the upper arm or thigh. As with any vaccine, allergic reactions may occur.

The most common side effects reported by vaccine participants in trials conducted by Pfizer and Moderna include:

  • Pain, redness and/or swelling of the skin where you received the shot
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle pain
  • Joint pain
  • Mild fever

These are signs of an immune response to the vaccine and are expected in some patients. The symptoms might last for a few hours or a day or two. Pfizer reports that older adults tended to report fewer and milder side effects than younger people after being vaccinated. Less commonly reported side effects include vomiting or diarrhea.

What if I feel sick after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?

Refer to our symptom tracker to see if you are experiencing an immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine compared to the symptoms of the common cold, flu or the COVID-19 virus. Note: The vaccine does not contain a live virus, and you cannot get the virus from the COVID-19 vaccine.

Contact your provider if you feel ill or experience an adverse effect to your COVID-19 vaccination.

Are there any health restrictions that would prevent me from receiving the vaccine?

Following guidelines from the FDA, no one is excluded from receiving the vaccine, even patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The only medical contraindications to receiving this vaccine are severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of this vaccine or severe allergic reaction to components of this vaccine. 

If you have any questions, please refer to the latest FAQs.

Tags
covid
COVID-19
vaccine
coronavirus
ochsnerlsu

You may also be interested in:

Pregnant woman on computer virtual classes mom 3
Women's Health
Dec 14, 2020

Can Pregnant Women Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

Following the guidelines from the FDA, no one is excluded from receiving the vaccine, even patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Pregnant patients should discuss with their physician individual risk factors to make an informed decision about possible vaccinations.
By Joseph Biggio, MD and Sandra A. Kemmerly, MD
New Year Celebration 2021 Covid 10
Food & Fitness
Dec 11, 2020

How To Safely Celebrate New Year’s During COVID-19

Making it through 2020 is a cause for celebration, but how can you celebrate the new year safely?
By Melissa Love, MD
Child immunization w mask
Parenting
Dec 7, 2020

When Can Children Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

Just like the adult COVID-19 vaccine trials, data from adolescent trials will need to support the safety and efficacy of the vaccines before approval.
By William Lennarz, MD and Katherine Baumgarten, MD

Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

Ochsner Health Ochsner Health

Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637

Follow us: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Pinterest

Healthy living tips, delivered weekly to your inbox.

Patients & Visitors

  • Billing & Financial Services
  • Insurance Information
  • International Patients
  • Request Medical Records
  • Share Your Story
  • Read Patient Stories

Medical Professionals

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Refer a Patient

Health Resources

  • To Your Health Blog
  • Golden Opportunity
  • Hello Health Seminars
  • Ochsner Magazine

Job Seekers

  • Career Paths
  • Benefits
  • Open Positions

Employees

  • Webmail
  • OHSLink
  • Workday

Employers

  • Corporate Wellness
  • Medicare Advantage Plans

Community Outreach

  • Classes & Events
  • Programs
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Education

  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Clinical Medical Education
  • Continuing Medical Education
  • Medical Library
  • Publishing Services
  • Medical Illustrations

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Applied Health Services Research
  • Clinical Research & Trials
  • Nursing Research
  • Translational Research

Giving

  • Donate
  • Volunteer

About Ochsner

  • Mission & Vision
  • History
  • Annual Report
  • Outcomes & Honors
  • News & Media
  • Alumni
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Contact Us

Shop

  • O Bar
  • Optical Shop
  • Ochsner Fitness Center
  • Brent House Hotel

© Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Community Needs Health Assessment

EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

Healthy Living Tips, Delivered Right To Your Inbox

* indicates required


Must Reads
Food and Fitness
Men’s Health
Parenting
Women’s Health

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:


Get Weekly Health Tips

Select the weekly newsletters you'd like to receive.

Please select at least one category to continue.

Curious about our newsletters?

View details for each edition

Let us know where to send your weekly newsletters.

To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
To Your Health- General:
To Your Health- Men’s Health:
To Your Health- Parenting:
To Your Health- Women’s Health:

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:

You're all set!

We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox every week.

Ochsner Health System
ESC to Close

Begin Typing to Search

Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide