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Original poster

I’ve had my second vaccine and I feel horrendous

349 replies

Gazelley · 24/01/2021 18:40

Absolutely bloody awful. Exactly like the flu. I had no problem after my first and I’m very pro vaccine so this is not a “don’t get the vaccine” post. Just be aware you might need a day off afterwards.

Had the vaccine at 8ish last night

  • woke up around 3 with a headache
  • woke up again at 6 with severe muscle aches all over
  • fever then chills, fever then chills on and off all day
  • vertigo and the room spinning when I turn over in bed
  • appetite is fine, I’ve still been hungry
  • very sore arm (same as the first time)

I’m hoping it’s going to be gone by tomorrow morning but I’m feeeling bloody sorry for myself

OP posts:
Shehasadiamondinthesky · 24/01/2021 20:43

My first pfizer was like this I could hardly stand the next day.
i will probably die after the 2nd!!

zzizzer · 24/01/2021 20:44

I thought vaccines created reactions and that meant they were working? As in, your immune system thinks its fighting something (even if it isn't).

I've read about a nasal vaccine being developed and am crossing my fingers for a miracle and being able to do that, purely because I really hate injections. But even I will psyche myself up for this one when/if it comes around.

Original poster
Gazelley · 24/01/2021 20:44

Sorry should have said I did have mine 21 days apart.

I work in the vaccine centre and had one of the left over doses at the end of the day (we never throw any away). It was snowing heavily and we had lots of pre booked appointments who didn’t turn up and their vaccine had already been “cooked”

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
tapdancingmum · 24/01/2021 20:45

Me, my DH and DD all had the vaccine last week. I had a painful arm for a couple of days. Couldn't sleep on it Sunday or Monday but by Tuesday it was all a distant memory. DH had nothing but DD always has a reaction to every jab she's ever had. Her arm blew up and she had a perfect circular red mark around the site of the injection and had some sort of reaction on her other arm. It was like the wasp sting that she had earlier in the year. She filled in the yellow card and it had gone down by about the fourth day. She does have asthma and mild allergies to certain things so she took paracetamol and antihistamines and now feels ok.

Interesting about the second dose. I will bear that in mind for when we are due.

oneglassandpuzzled · 24/01/2021 20:45

My elderly mother had a bad reaction after her second Pfizer—very fatigued and a bit nauseous. My daughter had aches and fatigue after the first. I know of others too, including GPS and nurses. But all of them would do it again, it was worth it.

EasterIssland · 24/01/2021 20:45

I’ve heard that the 1st one if you’ve had Corona or the second one if you have not ca. Make you feel rough as the antibodies in your body are making some of the work against the virus.

It’s like the kids second dose from mmr (I think it’s that one) the first one is fine but second one can give fever and so.

Hope you recover soon

Jessuk86 · 24/01/2021 20:46

This happened to my sister on her first one but turned out she had actually caught covid not sure if that’s possible on the 2nd dose x

spiralshell · 24/01/2021 20:46

Sorry you feel ill.

Just to add a positive story, my elderly family members have had their second doses of the Pfizer vaccine and were all fine, with no side effects.

percheron67 · 24/01/2021 20:46

RiddleDiddle and MotherofDragons - Thank you both for the info. Pleased to say that i am not needle phobic so shall trot along for my Jab. Riddle - I hope that your arm soon returns to normal. Glad you have both have had the jab.

Peeteea · 24/01/2021 20:47

@IDSNeighbour

This sounds awful Shock I thought side effects were quite rare. But the descriptions here sound worse than the virus has been for most of the younger, healthy people I know who have had it.

This thread makes me want to just take my chances with Covid, tbh. I probably won't because I don't want to be 'that person' but I'm definitely not in any hurry to get this vaccine!!

It sounds really the same as getting any vaccine for anything. I got a bunch of vaccines whilst pregnant and felt shit then, I get flu vaccines and feel shit also. It lasts a day or so and then you are back to normal.

Definitely please don’t be that person, and for you and anyone else getting the vaccine- just plan for a day or two of feeling a bit shit if you can once you get your appointment. Stock up on painkillers, lemsip, easy foods/snacks that require no effort, get your takeaway order ready if you’re inclined to order in, grab your favourite sweets to suck on or tea to drink and settle your stomach if you’re a sicky sort of person... whatever you will need to make you comfortable that you can get your hands on. I always do these things as best I can when I have vaccines or have to up my medication doses and it’s how I get through! You’ll be ok.

foodtoorder · 24/01/2021 20:49

@Muchtoomuchtodo
I wouldn't say I had any of the 3 main symptoms. Just aching all over so typical post vaccine symptoms but more extreme than I have ever had with yearly flu vaccine.

Peeteea · 24/01/2021 20:50

Also, OP, thanks for your honesty here, it’s really helpful. Lots of people don’t get vaccines much for anything and don’t know what to expect, plus with it being new- this is a useful breakdown and allows people the ability to plan as much as is reasonable just in case. Congrats on the vaccine and feel better soon ❤️

Tanfastic · 24/01/2021 20:51

@pointythings

I had the Oxford vaccine on Thursday and felt very rough on Friday - sore arm, temperature, raging headache, aches all over. Was warned that this could happen though and it was fine by Saturday. My arm is still a bit tender, but that's it.

I'm NHS and in my Trust, if you need 48 hours off after being vaccinated, it doesn't count towards your sickness absence. That really ought to be implemented everywhere, both inside and outside the NHS, so people don't end up financially penalised by doing the right thing.

That's really interesting what you say there about your trust and it not counting against your sickness record. I'm NHS staff and felt so rough after my vaccine I had to take the day off work. First day off in over three years. I was told it would need to go on my sickness record, fair enough, I'm too ill to work, what can I do? However was then told I'd have to have a covid test as I had a temp so that was one way of getting round the sickness as I'd be self isolating and awaiting a result. Tbh I'm dreading my second vaccine and will try and arrange it for a Friday afternoon if possible.

480Widdio · 24/01/2021 20:52

A reaction to the vaccine is completely normal.Shouldn’t be to severe for the majority of people.The body is building immunity.

It does tell you this in the leaflet you get given.

When I was in the Army I remember being poorly for several days after the Yellow Fever Vaccine,no drama,we just got on with it.

No idea why there is so much hysteria around the Covid vaccine!! It’s bloody ridiculous.

Norah8 · 24/01/2021 20:53

I was told that If I got these symptoms and they last longe rthan 24 hrs to get a covid test.
Ive had 1 dose of pfzizer and had a heachache and v sore arm and a weird feeling

Thimbleberries · 24/01/2021 20:53

@Gazelley

Sorry should have said I did have mine 21 days apart.

I work in the vaccine centre and had one of the left over doses at the end of the day (we never throw any away). It was snowing heavily and we had lots of pre booked appointments who didn’t turn up and their vaccine had already been “cooked”

That's lucky!! I read somewhere that they were told to get rid of spare doses if they couldn't find anyone to give them to that hadn't had a first dose, and that under no circumstances were they to give them as second doses - I suppose to discourage people trying to undermine the new policy of 12 weeks. It seemed like such a waste if they really did have to get rid of any.
gorillasinthemist · 24/01/2021 20:53

Hope you feel much better by tomorrow.

I work in healthcare and have noticed (not a scientidic study by any means) that healthcare workers (ie pre retirement age) are tending to have a lot more side effects that the 80+ year olds who have had the vaccine. I have hardly seen any significant side effects amongst the elderly but a lot amongst colleagues. I am thinking that the younger patients produce a more robust immune response.
Also, the second dose seems to cause a worse reaction compared to the first.

nicky7654 · 24/01/2021 20:56

My mum had to lay on her bedroom floor as she was incredibly dizzy for hours! She didn't tell me till later the next day. She is in her 70s and lives alone and couldn't get to her phone. I was so upset as she could have died as people have after the vaccine. The side affects was four hours after the injection so she had already told family she was fine. Sadly she wasn't later. We all need to me more aware of side affects especially for the elderly who live alone.

userxx · 24/01/2021 20:56

@saraclara

My daughter (a nurse) needed a day off work after the Pfizer vaccine. But she'd already had Covid, and she was told by the medics on her ward that her reaction was probably due to her immune system already being primed.

Really? That's interesting.

shinynewapple2021 · 24/01/2021 20:56

Interesting . My mum has had both doses of Pfizer vaccine, care home haven't reported any concerns to me but mum has dementia so wouldn't be able to self report .

I had flu jab early December and felt slightly 'off' for a day. I will be having Covid vaccine later this week but won't be needing to do anything the day after . I think if I feel poorly I'll just tell myself that Covid would be worse .

Am wondering about the arm pain as I'm currently experiencing problems with my left shoulder causing that arm to be uncomfortable , but presumably I'm still better to have the vaccine in the same arm so that at least one arm works . I'll take a paracetamol before I go .

Tangledtresses · 24/01/2021 20:56

My 6 yr Old sneezed into my eyes after his flu jab wow! Felt crap for days but I'm nearly 50 and really shouldn't be anywhere near a live vaccine... haven't had flu though 😀 so imagine the covid one is going to be a strong one too

I'd still have it though !

Tanfastic · 24/01/2021 20:56

I've never had covid by the way, been periodically tested in work and also antibody test so the theory that people only feel rough if they've had covid can't be correct.

Shmithecat2 · 24/01/2021 20:58

My DH had his second jab on thurs and felt rough Fri/Sat. Much better today though.

bigbluebus · 24/01/2021 20:58

Isn't this fairly common with some vaccinations though? I had a typhoid jab plus DTP last February (for a holiday i never actually got to go on) and 2 days later my temperature was 38.5 and I was aching and shivering. I was fine after 24 hours.

OhWhyNot · 24/01/2021 21:00

Hope you few better soon

I had my first this week (Pfizer) had a bit of headache and sort arm similar with my colleagues. A few of my colleagues who had the Oxford Vaccine have been unwell, fever, headache, aches and pains but not my colleagues who have tested positive (this may just be a coincidence)