This is what you can expect after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine

A growing number of North Texans have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine since the shots were first approved, and more residents are eligible for their second doses with each passing week.

The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been approved at an unprecedented rate and are ready for the public, and there are still questions about the short- and long-term effects of vaccination.

This is what people can expect after receiving their first and second doses of vaccinations.

Will there be side effects?

Like most vaccines, the Pfizer and Moderna shots can cause mild side effects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The most common side effects are pain, swelling and redness in the arm where the dose was received. People can also experience chills, fatigue and headaches.

In clinical trials of both vaccinations, mild to moderate side effects were common within a week after vaccination, the CDC said. However, most side effects usually occur within a day or two and disappear within a few days.

The CDC says side effects in the body, which can feel like flu symptoms, are more common after the second dose.

To reduce the pain in the arm where the vaccine was administered, the CDC recommends applying a cold, wet washcloth to the area and using and exercising the arm. Drinking plenty of fluids and wearing lightweight clothing can reduce flu-like symptoms.

If the pain in the arm increases after 24 hours, people should call their healthcare providers, the CDC says.

What about serious side effects?

The Food and Drug Administration says there is a ‘far’ chance of serious side effects with the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

Symptoms of severe allergic reactions, according to the FDA, include breathing problems, swelling of the face and throat, rapid heartbeat, rash, dizziness and weakness.

A severe allergic reaction will usually occur within a few minutes to an hour after vaccination (this is why healthcare providers monitor patients for a few minutes after receiving shots).

Health experts say serious side effects of the vaccine are rare.

Of the more than 4 million first doses of the Moderna survey given between December 21 and January 10, only 1,266 serious side effects were reported, according to the CDC, or about 0.03% of all people taking it during that time. received a first dose.

Of the more than 1.8 million initial doses of the Pfizer survey administered between December 14 and 23, only 4393 reported serious side effects, or about 0.2% of all people taking it during the period, according to the CDC. received a first dose.

The CDC recommends that people call their healthcare providers if they experience any symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, or if their symptoms do not go away after a few days.

Do people have any protection after the first shot?

People will have some protection after their first shot. Preliminary data showed that the Moderna shot was 80.2% effective after one dose, while the Pfizer vaccine was 52.4% effective after the first dose.

However, patients were only followed for a short period of time, so long-term immunity after one dose is not known.

When will I be fully protected from COVID-19?

The health experts say the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are about 95% effective.

But immunity does not happen immediately. Vaccinations work by teaching the immune system how to respond to a virus, and it takes a while before the body learns the response.

People should receive two doses of each vaccine a few weeks apart to build up immunity. For the Moderna vaccine, the second dose is administered 28 days after the first dose. The second dose of the Pfizer vaccine comes 21 days after the first.

It is important to get the second dose as close to the right time as possible, but people can still be protected if they get their second dose up to six weeks later with both vaccinations, the CDC says.

Health experts say that the time it takes to build up full immunity after the second shot varies, but that it usually occurs up to two weeks after vaccination.

Can I still get COVID-19 if I have been fully vaccinated?

It is possible that someone could test positive for the virus, even if they were fully vaccinated, health experts say.

No vaccine is completely effective. Since the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are only 95% effective, it is possible that some people may be completely vaccinated and still become infected.

As more people are vaccinated, it will become unlikely, health experts say.

It is also possible that someone may become infected with the virus before receiving their first or second dose and test positive after vaccination.

Can I distribute COVID-19 if fully vaccinated?

It is clear that the COVID-19 vaccines protect patients against serious diseases, according to health experts. But researchers are still gathering data on whether anyone can spread the virus after being fully vaccinated.

The initial trials with the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines focused on how many people developed symptoms of the virus, but not on the way the vaccine protects people with an asymptomatic infection.

This means that it is possible for a vaccinated person to encounter the virus and have enough of it in his body to spread it to others without developing symptoms himself, say health experts.

How often will I need to get the COVID-19 vaccine?

According to the CDC, it is not known how long immunity lasts after someone has been fully vaccinated.

It may eventually become an annual vaccine, such as the flu shot, or it may require a booster dose every few years. More research is needed to know for sure, say health experts.

Do I still have to wear a mask and social distance after being fully vaccinated?

Health experts say that vaccines should continue to act as if they are not completely immune.

Because little is known about whether people who have been vaccinated can spread the virus to others, and because the vaccine is not 100% effective, it is important to continue to follow public health guidelines such as social distance and mask wear .

It will probably also take some time before enough of the population is vaccinated to bring about herd immunity, a term that means that enough people have immunity to significantly reduce the likelihood of infection in a community.

The CDC said it is not yet known what part of the people need to be vaccinated to bring about herd immunity, as the dose varies per disease.

As long as a large portion of the population is not vaccinated, it is important that people continue to take steps to protect themselves and others from the virus, health experts say.