Whether you’ve already got your COVID survey or are still waiting for your chance, you’ve probably heard a lot of comments from friends, family and internet strangers about the side effects they experienced after vaccination. While discussing side effects against vaccines can help people know what to expect, it is also important to know that reactions vary widely depending on age, gender, and what vaccine you are getting.
Recently it Mother Jones charts made using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that break down the most common side effects by age and vaccine. Read on to discover the most common side effects in your age group, and for more information on vaccine reactions, discover the common side effect of vaccines that no one is talking about, experts say.
Most common side effects if you are between 18 and 55 years old: injection site pain (78 percent), fatigue (59 percent), headache (52 percent)
Most common side effects if you are over 56: injection site pain (66 percent), fatigue (51 percent), headache (39 percent)
And doctors warn you to be prepared for the night when you get your COVID vaccine.
Most common side effects if you are between 18 and 64 years old: injection site pain (90 percent), fatigue (68 percent), headache (63 percent)
Most common side effects if you are over 65: injection site pain (83 percent), fatigue (58 percent), muscle aches (47 percent)
And for more guidance on vaccines, doctors may say if doing so after your vaccine can make side effects worse.
Most common side effects if you are between 18 and 59 years old: injection site pain (59 percent), fatigue (44 percent), headache (44 percent)
Most common side effects if you are over 60: injection site pain (33 percent), fatigue (30 percent), headache (30 percent)
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Although the most common side effects people experience are usually injection site pain, fatigue, headaches and muscle aches, there are other side effects that occur frequently. Muscle pain was mostly reported by Moderna recipients, with 61 percent of people aged 18 to 64 and 47 percent of people older than 64 reporting the side effect. It was also fairly common among the other vaccines, with 37 percent of the younger group and 29 percent of the older Pfizer recipients reporting muscle pain. According to the data, 39 percent of the younger Johnson & Johnson recipients reported muscle pain, while 24 percent of the older group said the same.
Nausea and vomiting are fairly common in people who receive the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but it is rare in those who get the Pfizer shot, with less than 3 percent of people reporting it. Fever has not been reported across the board, and less than 18 percent of recipients of any vaccine have reported it. The side effect was also less common among the older groups. And for more unusual vaccine reactions, find out about the bizarre new COVID vaccine side effect that even doctors confuse.