Here’s what to expect after you get the COVID-19 vaccine

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

The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines were approved and ready for the public at unprecedented speed, and questions remain about the short- and long-term effects of vaccination.

Here’s what people can expect after they get their first and second doses of the vaccines.

Will there be any 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 in which the dose was administered. People can also experience chills, fatigue and headaches.

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

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

To reduce 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 a lot and wearing light clothing can reduce flu-like symptoms.

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

What about serious side effects?

The Food and Drug Administration says there is a “small” chance of serious side effects with the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include difficulty breathing, swelling of the face and throat, rapid heart rate, rash, dizziness, and weakness, according to the FDA.

A severe allergic reaction usually occurs within a few minutes to an hour after vaccination (so healthcare providers monitor patients for a few minutes after they receive an injection).

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

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

Of the more than 1.8 million first doses of the Pfizer injection administered between December 14 and 23, only 4,393 serious side effects were reported, or about 0.2% of all people taking a first dose during that time, according to the CDC. got.

The CDC recommends that people call their health care providers if they experience symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, or if their symptoms don’t clear up on their own 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 injection 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 longer term immunity after a single dose is not known.

When am I fully protected against COVID-19?

Moderna and Pfizer’s vaccines are about 95% effective, health experts say.

But immunity doesn’t happen right away. Vaccines work by teaching the immune system to respond to a virus, and it takes time for the body to learn the response.

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

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

Health experts say the time it takes for a person to build up full immunity after the second injection varies, but it usually happens up to two weeks after vaccination.

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

It’s possible someone could test positive for the virus even if they’ve been fully vaccinated, health experts say.

No vaccine is perfectly effective. Because Moderna and Pfizer’s vaccines are only 95% effective, it is possible that some people are fully vaccinated and still become infected.

As more people are vaccinated, that becomes less likely, health experts say.

It is also possible for someone to become infected with the virus before they received their first or second dose and test positive after vaccination.

Can I spread COVID-19 if I am fully vaccinated?

Clearly, the COVID-19 vaccines help protect patients from serious illnesses, health experts say. But researchers are still collecting data on whether someone can spread the virus after being fully vaccinated.

Initial trials of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines focused on the number of people who developed symptoms of the virus, but not how the vaccine protects people with an asymptomatic infection.

That means it’s possible for a vaccinated person to come across the virus and have enough of it in their body to spread it to others without developing symptoms themselves, health experts say.

How often should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

It’s not known how long immunity lasts after someone is fully vaccinated, the CDC said.

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

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

Health experts say vaccinated individuals should continue to act as if they were not fully immune.

Because little is known about whether vaccinated people 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 distancing and wearing a mask, say health experts.

It will also likely take time for enough of the population to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, a term that means that enough people have immunity to significantly reduce the chances of infection in a community.

The CDC said it is not yet known which proportion of people need to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, as the rate varies by disease.

Until much of the population is vaccinated, it’s important that people continue to take steps to protect themselves and others from the virus, health experts say.