Vaccine side effects

[FuckingFabulous]

I've got my Covid jab booked for Friday and DH is tomorrow. Thrilled, tbh. A big step in getting out of this dense gloom.

But I want to be realistically prepared. I don't know if we are having AZ or Pfizer jabs. I suppose we could have different. Can anyone who experienced side effects please let me know what they were and how long they lasted? I have a high needs DD to care for and I want to be sure I'll still feel capable if I were to experience the side effects.

Can I ask how long onset of side effects took after having the jab?

I'm due mine on Thursday after which I'll be heading to my parents overnight as I help with caring for Dad.

I've never reacted to a jab before and they've both had theirs and were fine so I've not really considered the possibility of side effects until reading this.

AZ on Saturday, chills and fever that night and shattered the next day. But what has surprised me is how painful my arm has been, not the injection site but the bicep area of that arm has been incredibly painful and continues to be - paracetamol doesn’t touch the sides of the pain and I’ve struggled to get it comfortable to sleep. It’s feeling a bit better tonight - but still can’t lift it above my head. I wasn’t expecting such a strong pain (obviously don’t let this out you off the vaccine just I can’t pick up a kettle with this arm for context).

I'll make sure they do my left arm!

Will just have to cross my fingers I guess!

@MintyCedric mine was almost exactly 12 hours later and seems to have been same sort of timescale for others I’ve heard about

My arm is fine personally - mildly tender but certainly can still use it - though others have clearly had a much sorer arm.

It does seem quite random how it affects people - bit like covid itself I guess!

I know lots of people who have had both AZ and Pfizer.

Generally this seems to hold:
Pfizer/1st dose = no real effects, 2nd = may feel grotty for 24 hours
AZ - 1st dose = might feel grotty for 12-24+ hours; 2nd dose = mild/none

Basically flipped. Drink lots and lots of water before and after the injection. All normal - all worth it! :)

My Olds had Pfizer so that makes sense @elevenplusnightmare

Pfizer - sore arm that got worse over 24-48 hrs then went quickly.

Pfizer - sore arm only

Have my first does on Saturday morning and am hoping for little reaction as it my birthday the day after.

Understand where you are coming from. One of my dc has asd and very challenging behaviour so the thought of me having bad side effects was really worrying.

I had the AZ yesterday. About 10 hours later had very bad shivering and I was freezing for a couple of hours, then my shoulder, injection site and back muscles really ached. I took myself to bed with a hot water bottle as it was evening anyway, and my asd dc of course played on this and mocked me, then had a laughing fit and was then antagonising.

I then took some pain meds which helped a lot. I had a headache all day which was manageable with pain meds.

Side effects were not as bad as I thought they might be and I could still function and look after the dc although I felt a bit crap.

Currently headache is only slight. Still fair bit of pain in my arm and it hurts to move it up.

Some people seem to get no reactions, hopefully it will be you.

I had the AZ last Friday . Headache came on at 10pm , accompanied by freezing body , shakes and teeth chattering . Had to dress for bed in 3 layers and wear a woolly hat . Poorly all weekend and unable to work yesterday . Feel ok for the first time today .
Wish I hadn't had it , was so awful

Same as many here, AZ yesterday, today feel achey, like onset of flu, very tired. Arm hurts but nothing too awful.

I had Pfizer a week ago. My arm was sore for a couple of days, and felt a little fatigued. But, aside of that, genuinely not a thing. My mum (65) had AZ a few weeks ago, and felt completely fine, not a single side effect - she said she felt worse after the flu jab. Try not to worry xx

I had the AZ one yesterday afternoon, felt fine last night but woke up today with every bone in my body aching and have spent most of the day sleeping. Thumping headache and feeling like I'm coming down with flu. I'm starting to feel better now though so hopefully be back to normal tomorrow.

The MHRA publish good weekly updates on reported side-effects here

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-adverse-reactions

My experience was what they describe below. It's good that you and your husband are getting them on different days, just in case you're ill for 24h.

'For both vaccines, the overwhelming majority of reports relate to injection-site reactions (sore arm for example) and generalised symptoms such as ‘flu-like’ illness, headache, chills, fatigue (tiredness), nausea (feeling sick), fever, dizziness, weakness, aching muscles, and rapid heartbeat. Generally, these happen shortly after the vaccination and are not associated with more serious or lasting illness.

These types of reactions reflect the normal immune response triggered by the body to the vaccines. They are typically seen with most types of vaccine and tend to resolve within a day or two. The nature of reported suspected side effects is broadly similar across age groups, although, as was seen in clinical trials and as is usually seen with other vaccines, they may be reported more frequently in younger adults.'

It depends on the say different deliveries. Ours even change at lunchtime on occasion. I had AZ on Saturday, heavy feeling in arm for an hour or two and nothing since not even a sore arm. H had Pfizer yesterday, sore arm this morning but nothing else so far.

I had mine yesterday morning AZ, and started feeling ill in the evening, headache, body aches, stomach cramps and then really high temperature in the night, I've had Covid and it felt very similar, I now feel like the fever has broken and I feel a bit better but will see how it goes today, definitely next time I would book for a Friday so I could have the weekend to recover. I've never had a reaction to any kind of vaccine before, but apparently prior exposure means your body has a more heightened response to the antigen (as your body recognises it) so you can feel worse. This is the same reason why side effects are more commonly reported after the second dose than the first (apparently). Bit of a shock to have felt so bad but I think it will hopefully be much more short-lived than actual covid!!

I had AZ. Side effects were like full on flu, spent several days in bed and took 5 days off work.

I think it might be due to my dodgy immune system though (I'm CEV). My mum had the AZ too and had barely any side effects.

@JemimaMuddledUp

I had AZ. Side effects were like full on flu, spent several days in bed and took 5 days off work.

I think it might be due to my dodgy immune system though (I'm CEV). My mum had the AZ too and had barely any side effects.

Have you had covid as research is showing those who have, are often reacting more to the AZ vaccine?

Just to update despite feeling terrible for 12 hours I'm now feeling pretty much back to normal, so it definitely wasn't nearly as bad as actual covid!

Had AZ yesterday morning, by 10pm uncontrollable shivering, joint pains and headache. This morning sickness and headache and general ‘unwell ness’ High needs dd but just about managed to get her up and out for school!

My DS, parents and FIL all had Pfzier and no side effects . My dd and my sister had AZ and both had temp, fevers, my sister was so dizzy with it she couldn't stand up.
I have mine on Friday as am group 6, catching up on chores in case i have AZ and feel rough! Although teen ds has assured me he will hoover and put dishwasher on, not sure if i believe him

I had AZ early yesterday morning.
Had no side effects to speak of- no sore arm, very slight headache and feel slightly more tired than usual but haven’t even had to take any painkillers. My DH had Pfizer jab last week and had a sore arm and headache for which he took a couple of paracetamols m. Most of the people I know have been the same

I had the Pfizer jab with no side effects.

My husband had the Oxford one, that evening his temp shot up to over 39, along with uncontrollable shivering.
He soon recovered though.
This is better than bad covid.

AZ at 14:30 on Monday. Was relatively OK, just felt a bit ‘off’ and almost like I was due on my period. I was woken at 05:00 this morning with a fierce pain in my arm and armpit. I feel nauseous and lightheaded, mild fever. I thought I’d dodged the worst of it, didn’t expect this 2 days later.