Side Effects from COVID-19 Booster Shots are Likely to Be Mostly Mild

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Side effects after the third dose are also likely to vary from person to person, with some people experiencing minimal discomfort. Getty Images
  • Booster studies are ongoing but limited data suggests similar side effects after third dose as after the initial doses.
  • Side effects after the third dose are also likely to vary from person to person, with some people experiencing minimal discomfort.
  • The most common side effects for a third dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine were pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, and chills.

People in the United States could begin receiving third doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines as early as the week of Sept. 20, President Joe Biden’s administration announced in mid-August.

This is pending approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But some people may already be wondering about the side effects of a third dose — especially those who were hard hit with fatigue or muscle pain after their second dose.

Several clinical studies on the safety and efficacy of vaccine boosters are ongoing, but the limited available data suggests that the side effects will be similar to those of the first two doses.

Source: healthline