What types of symptoms are normal after receiving the vaccine?
Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson – Janssen COVID-19 vaccines

Like other routine vaccines, the most common side effects are a sore arm, fatigue, headache, and muscle pain.

These symptoms are a sign that the vaccine is working. In the Pfizer and Moderna trials, these side effects occurred most often within two days of getting the vaccine, and lasted about a day. Side effects were more common after the second dose than the first dose. In the Johnson & Johnson clinical trials, side effects lasted an average of one to two days. 

For all three vaccines, people over 55 were less likely to report side effects than younger people.

Clinical trials found that approximately:

Pfizer
  • Eighty percent of people reported pain at the injection site
  • Fifty percent of people reported fatigue and headache
  • Thirty percent of people reported muscle pain
Moderna
  • Ninety percent of people reported pain at the injection site
  • Seventy percent of people reported fatigue and headache
  • Sixty percent of people reported muscle pain
Johnson & Johnson 
  • Sixty percent of people reported pain at the injection site
  • Forty-five percent of people reported fatigue and headache
  • Forty percent of people reported muscle pain 

You may see some rumors about untrue side effects online or on social media. Make sure any time you see a claim about a side effect that you check the source of that claim. This video can teach you more about how to figure out if a claim online is true or not.

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1. How are COVID-19 vaccines made?
2. How will a COVID-19 vaccine work in my body?
3. What are the ingredients in COVID-19 vaccines?
4. What is an mRNA vaccine?
5. What is a viral vector vaccine?
6. What types of symptoms are normal after receiving the vaccine?
7. Can I get the COVID-19 vaccine if I've had an allergic reaction to a vaccine in the past?
8. Can I get the COVID-19 vaccine if I'm pregnant, lactating or planning to become pregnant?