Dr. Frank McGeorge shares experience with the second dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

DETROIT – As the COVID-19 vaccinations continue, we have now come to a point where many people who have received the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine have received their second.

That includes Dr. Frank McGeorge from Local 4 News. He recently talked about the side effects he had from the second dose so that you know what to expect.

Related: COVID-19 Vaccine Questions? Ask the doctor

“My experience with the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine was pretty much what I expected. Mainly only pain in my arm where I got the injection, although it was more severe than I’d ever experienced with any other shot. The pain responded to Motrin and was gone within a day. My second shot was a different story, ”said McGeorge.

He shared some thoughts from a video diary recorded after his first recording.

“Something just came to mind as I drove home to do the news, an early side issue, three weeks from today, the date on my vaccination card when I should get my second dose of the vaccine. Shifts. That was a bad one. planning by me, as based on the study data, the highest incidence of side effects such as fever, body aches, etc. is the day or two after the second injection, ”said McGeorge.

Fortunately, he was able to reschedule his second dose after his night shifts.

Data from the study that Pfizer submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization clearly shows a significant number of side effects after the second dose.

Nearly one-third of people aged 18 to 55 had a fever, 35 percent had chills, 52 percent had headaches, 22 percent had joint pain, 37 percent had muscle pain, and nearly two-thirds had fatigue.

McGeorge was in the breakdown group and felt all the side effects.

He received the injection on Sunday morning at 7:30 am and went home to sleep.

Four hours later, when he woke up, McGeorge had a sore arm. During the day on Sunday, he felt fine until around 9 p.m. 2 p.m. after the admission.

He got pain in the body. By 10 p.m. he had taken some Motrin. The next 12 hours were really unpleasant.

McGeorge says he has experienced muscle aches, joint aches, headaches, chills and a fever of up to 100 degrees.

He didn’t feel normal until 36 hours after the injection.

‘I want to be clear. I’m talking about this so you have an idea of ​​what might happen after the second shot and you’re prepared. Make sure you have a light day planned and have some Tylenol or Motrin nearby. I have spoken to many of my colleagues who also received their second dose and at least a third of them had significant side effects, ”said McGeorge.

“I would also like to note that I have seen the consequences of a serious COVID infection. The vaccine is definitely the better choice. “

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 525,612 since Tuesday, including 13,501 deaths, state officials report.

Tuesday’s update includes 1,994 new cases and an additional 100 deaths.