AstraZeneca has not been approved in the US, but remains in use in much of the rest of the world.Īlso similar to J&J, blood clots are also a very rare but serious side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Similar to Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca is a viral vector vaccine, but it requires two doses instead of one. Most people experienced these side effects in the one to two days following injection.
According to the FDA, the most commonly reported side effects of the Janssen vaccine are headaches, nausea, fatigue, muscle aches and injection site soreness. Still, the J&J vaccine is available for those who need or prefer it. The risk of blood clots is highest, though still very rare, in women under 50. That's because of one exceedingly rare, but serious side effect associated with J&J: blood clots. As of December, the CDC recommends that people get Moderna or Pfizer instead of J&J. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires one dose as opposed to the two doses required for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. These effects should go away within a few days. In general, most people report worse side effects after the second dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, both of which are two-shot mRNA vaccinations, than the first. Other side effects that have been reported in both Moderna and Pfizer include swollen lymph nodes, vomiting and joint pain.
Read more: Which COVID booster shot should you get?Īccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common COVID-19 vaccine side effects include: So which side effects can you expect, either from a booster or initial shots? Here's what to expect if you get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster, whether it's the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson version - and how you can report side effects to the CDC. There are tens of millions of people in the US who are eligible for the vaccine but have yet to receive it, who now face pressure from federal mandates, city policies and more.Īnd even if you're fully vaccinated, you may hesitate to get your booster, especially if you experienced uncomfortable side effects with your first or second shot. Stories about side effects (fake or not) may make some people more hesitant to get the shot. You should wait two to five months after being fully vaccinated before getting your booster, depending on which vaccine you received (two months for Johnson & Johnson, five for Pfizer or Moderna). The CDC now recommends booster doses for all adults ages 18 and older, as well as children ages 12 and up who received Pfizer.
But a booster dose restores protection to around 75%.
Omicron's high number of mutations allow it to evade some immunity, so that a two-dose series of Moderna or Pfizer is now only about 35% effective against infection, per a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statement in December. And thanks to the omicron variant, staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccinations, including booster doses, is incredibly important. For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites.Īs COVID-19 cases surge across the US, the vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths continue to be in unvaccinated people.