Thanks for this OP. There was a thread last week where the OP was accused of being an anti vaxxer for talking about side effects. I feel very strongly about discussions being shut down like that.
Firstly because it creates mystery and fear over the side effects. People will blow a day or two of feeling rough out of all proportion, because they weren't expecting it.
Secondly it would be wise for people to plan, if possible, for a day or two of rest if necessary.
And thirdly, because the level of education around vaccines in this country is atrocious as it is.
I have only realised this. I am no scientist or medic. But I thought everyone knew that no vaccine is 100%,that many vaccines can have unpleasant but harmless side effects, but that overall it's still worth getting them.
People seem to think a vaccine is like a lightning bolt magic pill, rather than a tool to fight infection and disease, a tool which will occasionally malfunction or get a little rusty but which essentially still works perfectly well.
People also have so little knowledge of the history of vaccines in this country, because we are so far from the days when polio or measles could wipe out half a classful of children in weeks. Many anti vaxxers, in my opinion, would not be antivax if they'd studied a little more of their history.
My husband was absolutely floored by his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. He is fit, healthy and in his thirties, though he does have a condition which could get nasty if he took covid badly - not enough to make him CEV or anything, but still.
He would get it again in a heartbeat. Lying in bed with me bringing him tea is hardly a hardship. He is absolutely fine now.
Some people in his work refused the vaccine - they are in their 50,overweight, heavy smokers. Height of foolishness in my opinion