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For the most-recent information, please visit LVHN.org/vaccines.
Wondering how it feels the day after a COVID-19 vaccine? Since Thursday, LVHN has administered more than 1,000 vaccinations to front-line colleagues and plans to vaccinate about 6,000 more in the coming days. Of the colleagues who received a vaccination, only three people reported side effects – one person had redness and swelling at the injection site, one had an itchy throat and the other had a fever. Symptoms for each person subsided quickly. Of the colleagues who had known severe allergies, no side effects were reported.
We asked other colleagues how they felt 24 hours after their first dose of the vaccine. The most common symptom was slight soreness at the injection site, but otherwise it was business as usual.
"Except for a sore arm at the injection site, much like how I felt when I got the flu shot, it is business as usual today. I feel great knowing that this is the beginning to the end of the pandemic!" – Jennifer Rovella, DO, LVPG Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
"I’m feeling great today. My left arm is a little sore but nothing that is keeping me from my normal daily activities." – Chantal Branco, RN, LVHN Patient Care Services
"About 24 hours after getting the vaccine, I have no issues besides a slightly sore arm at the injection site. It hasn’t limited me in any way." – Glenn Thompson, RN, LVHN Emergency Services
“I feel fine. Worked out this morning without any problem.” – Anthony Valente, MD, LVH-Hazleton Critical Care Medicine
“I am feeling fine. My arm is no sorer than when I get the flu shot. It did not stop me from doing yoga at home last night, working yesterday and today, or shoveling snow this morning.” – Marcelo Gareca, MD, LVPG Infectious Diseases
“My only symptoms yesterday were some moderate right arm pain at the injection site and mild fatigue. I feel fine today.” – Charles Worrilow, MD, LVPG Emergency Medicine
Most commonly reported symptoms
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that the most commonly reported side effects are pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain and fever. It’s important to remember that even if you do experience some of these mild symptoms, they usually go away within a day or two and the symptoms are far milder that what most people experience when they are sick with COVID-19. The vaccine can NOT cause a COVID-19 infection.
While the shot itself cannot make you contagious, it is important for everyone to continue wearing a face mask and proper PPE. It is unclear at this point if the vaccine prevents people from becoming infected with COVID-19 or if it prevents feeling sick when infected. That means you could still transmit virus after you’ve received your shot.
To learn more, visit LVHN.org/COVID19vaccines.