I’ve had my second vaccine and I feel horrendous

[Gazelley]

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

I know several people who are hanging on for the Oxford vaccine.

A acquaintance of mine drove home from the vaccination center and barely made it for the pain. She was screaming and crying and her husband was so alarmed he rang 999. The ambulance came and the paramedics said her muscle had gone into spasm. Managed to treat her at home with some gel and very strong painkillers. She could easily have had an accident while driving. Another man I know said his arm felt like it had been ripped off and sewn back on. He had to get his son to help him wash and undress.

Im in my 70s but Im waiting for the Oxford one too.

@giao

A neighbour, in her 90's has recovered well from Covid, but her son didn't. She would still have him if the vaccine had been available earlier.

We are so incredibly lucky to have this opportunity, can't believe some people refuse it.

Gosh sorry to hear that, that poor lady losing her son like that in her dotage.

I’ve heard of a few people saying the same, fingers crossed it means it’s doing it’s thing! Feel better soon x

Thanks Peetea - I'm only 36 so hopefully the vaccine is a long way off for me (although I'm a teacher so who knows) but you're right, I won't be that person, I'll just have to steel myself for it. I've never had a flu vaccine (also never had flu!) and haven't had Covid so nothing really to compare it to.

I have some mental health issues and it's incredibly rare for me to get physically ill - therefore when I am ill, I'm the world's biggest wimp about it!

The only vaccine reaction I can remember having is a very sore arm from the yellow fever jab.

I don’t think this would put anyone off having the vaccine. Surely anyone can realise if the vaccine makes people feel this bad, imagine how bad they would feel with full blown covid

One third of people with covid don't even have any symptoms so this isn't universally true. What is true is that covid can get much more severe in a minority of people and that's what this all prevents.

It does factor into my thinking about it as I tend to just take my chances, as I've done with flu vaccines which I've never had to date. I'm likely to vaccinate for covid more because I'm worried that I won't be able to travel or go places without evidence I'm vaccinated, if it were just risk based, I'd probably take my chances (not just because of side effects, I'm also needle phobic so two lots of being injected and then being sick for a couple of days at a time is quite offputting to me).

@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.

My mum said she’d heard someone say that if you’ve had Covid the vaccine could be worse.

Thanks for sharing OP it’s definitely good to have this information. Nothing will be putting me off having it but it’s good to know

@ShirleyPhallus

I’m not sure how useful this post is tbh. I get that you feel unwell and wish you better but the last thing we need is people looking for excuses not to be vaccinated

Oh bore off. People who are planning to get the vaccine are so unlikely to be put off because it makes you feel crappy for a day. And people who aren't planning to get it won't be moved either way. Those on the fence I imagine will be swayed by something less trivial than the fact that they might feel lousy the next day.

Younger people also seem to have a stronger reaction to the vaccine, likely because they have a more robust immune system.

Exactly. I haven't heard a single person who has had the vaccine say they would have changed their minds or done anything different if they had known how it would feel. I kind of assume that a strong immune response means it's doing what it's supposed to do.

My 85 yr old parents has their 1st dose of the Pfizer vaccine 2 days ago, both have underlying conditions , all they have had is a slightly sore arm for a couple of hours.
Dad was voluntarily bringing in logs today so absolutely fine!

@ShirleyPhallus

I’m not sure how useful this post is tbh. I get that you feel unwell and wish you better but the last thing we need is people looking for excuses not to be vaccinated

It’s important for people to share side effects for this new type of vaccine. I know healthy people who were sick for days. They said it was worse than flu, and flu often leaves you bedridden. I haven’t reacted well to some vaccines in the past. I’ve also had allergic reactions to different medicine.

Pfizer aren’t releasing information on why people have had severe allergic reactions. Many people have died after having the Pfizer vaccine. This vaccine only lessens your reaction to covid19. It does not prevent transmission or you catching it.

What happens differently (inside the body/cells etc) with those that have already had Covid and those that haven't?

I mean how does the vaccine work differently for both sets of people?

And also - is it really necessary for those who've had Covid already to be vaccinated? Could it be dangerous?

My parents both in their mid 80's had the Pfizer vaccine and had absolutely no side effects whatsoever

I'm glad to be pre-warned about this. I would be so so anxious to get those symptoms without expecting it.

1st Pfizer dose, nothing but sore arm
2nd, given after 3 weeks, barely felt it but had chills and aching which came on the evening after the jab. Lasted all night and then just felt tired for another day.

And as far as I know I haven’t had COVID

DS2 and DDIL have had both doses of the Pfizer vaccine. DS2 had a sore arm and DDIL had a headache. My pain consultant told me the second dose put her in bed for 2 days but she’d had Covid last year so she thought it was because of that.

I was surprised that DS2 had no reaction at all because he’s sensitive to vaccines.

Do and I both had our first shot of Pfizer on Friday. He was fine apart from a mildly sore arm. I too had a sore arm but spent all of yesterday sleeping in and off. Felt absolutely fine today.

My parents were the same and were fine the next day

I’m sorry you do not base medical interventions on community, if the jab is safe for the person receiving it (no allergies) then that is enough.

I know two people who had the Pfizer vaccine in the last week and neither had so much as a sore arm. One of them is someone who tends to react badly to things and was prepared to feel unwell for a day or two — but nothing.

Please don't let a few scare stories spread by people you don't know on the internet put anyone off having the jab.

Had the Pfizer a few weeks ago. Felt nothing at time of vaccination. 3 days later lots of pain and swelling at injection site, no temp but just tired and under the weather. All totally manageable and fine shortly after. I was much worse after travel injections and the Prevnar13 Pneumonia jab.

We were told at work to stagger when we got it as side effects are common, particularly for the second dose. I’m the youngest on my team and was the worst affected by the Pfizer. Unsure if I’ve already had Covid as I had symptoms at the end of Feb which is possibly a bit early. Half of us have had the Pfizer, half the AstraZeneca. Anecdotally, the ones at work who had the AZ have complained much more and for much longer about side effects than all of us who have had the Pfizer. Our patients who had the AZ who previously had Covid aren’t too well since having theirs. But nothing serious. Achy, shivery, tired but very mild.

The flu jab was worse for the symptoms. I wanted to rip my own arm off because of the pain.

Where I work everyone who has had Covid felt utterly crap after the initial Pfizer dose - for me it was like a mild bout of Covid - I believe this vaccine contains the virus?

A few colleagues have had their follow-ups (like OP) and all said it was worse than the first.

My 77 yr old Mum had the Oxford Astra Zeneca jab on Saturday and didn’t even experience a sore arm 😂

Pfizer aren’t releasing information on why people have had severe allergic reactions. Many people have died after having the Pfizer vaccine.

Can you expand on the many people who've died, are you saying that vaccine killed them? Do you have a proven link for that you can share?