Side effects of COVID-19 vaccinations and reasons for concern explored
Health authorities have recognised that each of the 33 authorised COVID-19 vaccines can cause side effects, which are often mild and last for only a few days. The side effects vary between vaccines, but common ones include injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling), fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills, nausea, fever, rash, and swelling of lymph nodes.
However, there have been some reports of more serious side effects. For example, there have been reports of Guillain-Barré syndrome developing in people who received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, and 30 cases of blood clots have been reported as of March 2021. The Janssen vaccine has also been linked to cases of blood clots.
In addition, there have been reports of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart) after receiving mRNA vaccines, but the chance of having these side effects is very low. There are concerns about the use of polysorbate 80 and polyethylene glycol (PEG) in some vaccines, as they have occasionally triggered anaphylaxis in other drugs.
The CDC and FDA paused the distribution of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine due to cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). The EMA advised Janssen to include a warning about TTS in the product information for their COVID-19 vaccine. Multiple countries also paused the distribution of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as a precautionary response to initial reports of blood clots.
The vaccines are categorised into types based on how they function: mRNA, viral vector, inactivated, protein subunit, and others. The efficacy rates of the vaccines vary, with some having a 95% efficacy rate and others having unreported efficacy data.
Anaphylaxis is an extremely rare side effect of vaccination, affecting fewer than 0.001% of people vaccinated in the U.S. Adverse events, including allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, are reported to the government's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).
Individuals with certain medical histories (allergies, previous severe vaccine reactions, myocarditis/pericarditis history, bleeding disorders, immunocompromised status, pregnancy/breastfeeding) are often advised to inform healthcare providers before vaccination.
Recent concerns have been raised about serious side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, but there is currently not enough conclusive evidence to link these effects to specific vaccines. The FDA has added a warning that some people who receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine might develop Guillain-Barré syndrome. After a safety review, the CDC and FDA concluded that the vaccine's benefits outweigh its risks and recommended updated precautions and warnings. The EMA also concluded that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine should carry a warning of TTS as a very rare side effect.
This summary is based on comprehensive safety data and side effect reporting from leading authorised vaccines but may not cover every rare adverse event associated with all 33 authorised vaccines worldwide.
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). COVID-19 Vaccines. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html [2] European Medicines Agency. (2021). COVID-19 Vaccines. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/covid-19-vaccines [3] World Health Organization. (2021). COVID-19 Vaccines. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines [4] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021). FDA Authorizes Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-johnson-johnsons-janssen-covid-19-vaccine
1) Science plays a crucial role in ensuring the health-and-wellness of individuals, as it informs health authorities about immunizations/vaccines and their potential side effects, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine or blood clots linked to the Janssen and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines.
2) Despite concerns about serious side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, health authorities like the FDA and CDC advocate for the immunizations/vaccines due to their substantial benefits in preventing the disease. However, individuals with specific medical histories, including allergies, previous severe vaccine reactions, and immunocompromised status, should inform healthcare providers before vaccination, as certain vaccines may cause rare adverse events.
