• Some symptoms could include swelling and muscle aches
• At least two of the vaccines will be two different shots
• There’s a concern that people will avoid the vaccine

Health professionals are expressing concern about the preparedness of the public for coronavirus vaccine side effects, which can feel similar to a mild case of the virus.

Some of the side effects acknowledged by both Pfizer and Moderna include high fever, chills, and muscle aches. Participants in trials said their symptoms went away reasonably quickly and that they would rather experience side effects than the coronavirus itself.

A secondary concern being expressed is that the symptoms and uncertainty around the vaccines and how they are expected to play out in the body may deter patients from getting the vaccine’s second dose. This second dose is vital to the vaccine’s effectiveness. 

Multiple healthcare workers discussed the possible coronavirus vaccine side effects with CNBC, noting that the time some may need to take off work to cope with symptoms will need to be weighed against having a vaccinated workforce.

“I think we do have to think about the vaccine itself,” Stanford University School of Medicine Pediatrics professor Grace Lee told CNBC. “While there may be some short term work loss issues, I do think that has to be balanced with the risk of getting an infection.”

Participants in vaccine trials also reported “goose egg” swelling at the injection site, as well as hot and cold flashes, according to Science magazine. A subset of the public may experience these more intense symptoms, or immune responses, which have not been heavily popularized with the vaccine’s arrival. 

Read more on the coronavirus vaccine:

• Who will be the first to get coronavirus vaccinations?
• For a coronavirus vaccine to work, tens of millions of people will have to actually get it
• Yes, Dolly Parton really does deserve credit for the newest coronavirus vaccine candidate
• Coronavirus vaccine distribution could take months, depending on where you live
• Several successful vaccine candidates could mean good news for the U.S. economy
• How many coronavirus vaccines are in phase 3 right now?
• Fauci says life won’t return to normal after a COVID-19 vaccine is developed
• Here’s how a lack of dry ice could stymie coronavirus vaccine distribution
• How the anti-vax movement could ruin the chances for a successful coronavirus vaccine
• Will the coronavirus vaccine be free for Americans?
• Until now, what’s the quickest a vaccine has ever been developed?

Sources: CNBC, Science Magazine, NBC

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