“As with all viruses (flu for example), immunity wanes after time, which is why we give flu shots every year. The same rationale is applied to SARS-CoV2, which is a virus and our body’s immunity to this virus may wane over time, requiring a ‘booster’ shot,” saysRobert Weber, PharmD, MS, BCPOS, administrator of Pharmaceutical Services at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and an assistant dean in the Ohio State College of Pharmacy. So you may be wondering: What will the side effects of the COVID booster be like? We asked the experts.
What is the current status on the necessity of COVID boosters?
Depending on which vaccine you got, the requirements for a booster shot are different. Pfizer/BioNTech: “The FDA has adjusted the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to cover a single booster six months or more after you received your second dose for three groups of people,” says Dr. Bruce Y. Lee, MD, professor of Health Policy and Management at City University of New York (CUNY) School of Public Health. “One is if you are 65 years and older. The second is if you are in the 18-64 year age group and have medical conditions that make you at high risk for severe COVID-19. The third is if you are in the 18-64 year age group and may have frequent exposure to the virus (e.g., health care worker).” Moderna: “For those who got the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, FDA so far has authorized a booster dose, i.e., a third dose, only for those who have undergone an organ transplant or have a similar level of immunocompromise,” says Dr. Lee. “This may be expanded to others in the coming weeks or months, so stay tuned.” Johnson & Johnson: “For those who got the J&J vaccine, right now there is no FDA authorization for a booster dose. This may change in the coming weeks or months though,” says Dr. Lee.
What are the side effects of the COVID booster?
Wondering what you can expect in terms of side effects? Side effects from a COVID booster shot are likely similar to the side effects from your original shots. “The booster should be the same as the first and second shots. The potential types of side effects should be the same as the first two doses as well,” says Dr. Lee. “The most common side effects include pain and swelling around the injection site, fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea. Severe side effects have been rare for the first two doses, and are likely to be rare for the booster dose as well.” There is, however, a chance that your symptoms may be worse than your first shots. “This is possible since such side effects seem to be more frequent with the second dose compared to the first dose,” notes Dr. Lee. “This may be because by the time you get the second dose, your immune system has already seen the virus spike protein from the first dose, and thus is more sensitized and ready to react the next time it sees the spike protein. Therefore, it’s possible that your immune system may be even more responsive when you get the third dose.” Your age could also influence your symptoms. “Many patients experience no side effects, and based on my experience, this seems to be related to age,” notes Dr. Weber. “Younger patients tend to have more effects such as fever, muscle pain and fatigue compared to older patients.” However, there are ways to minimize side effects. “Taking Tylenol or Motrin (or another Motrin-like drug) after receiving the vaccine may help,” says Dr. Weber. “It is important to drink plenty of water and take it easy for a day or two after the COVID booster shot (or any vaccine for that matter).” You also may want to plan to give yourself a few days of rest afterward. “Clear out the few days after the booster as much as you can. Don’t make important plans during this time, and instead give yourself the opportunity to rest,” adds Dr. Lee. “If you are having discomfort around the injection site, you can wet a clean washcloth with cool water and place it over the area. Moving your arm may help ease the discomfort as well.” However, you may experience zero side effects at all. “For a large majority of patients, the side effects from this vaccine and other vaccines is very self-limiting; please don’t be discouraged or skip any vaccines if you have experienced a side effect,” says Dr. Weber. Next up: You Can Expect Delta Variant Symptoms to Appear In This Order
Sources
Robert Weber, PharmD, MS, BCPOS, administrator of Pharmaceutical Services at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and an assistant dean in the Ohio State College of PharmacyDr. Bruce Y. Lee, MD, professor of Health Policy and Management at City University of New York (CUNY) School of Public Health
