Two Covid vaccines on offer include the Pfizer/BioNTech jab or half a dose of the Moderna vaccine; the latter of which, as confirmed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has risks associated with it. For some people, the Moderna jab has shown to cause ‘hypoaesthesia’ – a reduced sensation to touch, pain and temperature. This is said to affect less than one in 1,000 people, carrying the same risks as:
- Swelling of the face
- Acute peripheral facial paralysis or palsy.
“They may affect more than one in 10 people,” the EMA stated, adding that most side effects were usually “mild or moderate”, and got “better within a few days after vaccination”.
Also fairly common – affecting less than one in 10 people – is developing hives, a rash, or redness at the injection site up to one week after vaccination.
Other side effects might include itchiness at the injection site and dizziness, although this may only affect one in 100 people.
“A very small number of cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane around the heart) have occurred,” the EMA added.
“Allergic reactions have also occurred in people receiving the vaccine, including a very small number of cases of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).”
What about the Pfizer Covid vaccine?
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) pointed out the “possible side effects” from getting the mRNA booster vaccine.
In the arm where you get the booster Pfizer shot, pain, redness and swelling could occur.
Throughout the rest of the body, you might experience:
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Chills
- Fever
- Nausea.
The British Government’s Department of Health and Social Care made clear the Covid booster vaccination programme is set to go ahead to help protect the most vulnerable in society from Covid as winter approaches.
Data published from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) demonstrated that around 99 percent of all deaths involving Covid were in those who were unvaccinated in the first half of 2021.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Our vaccine roll-out has been phenomenal.
“I urge all those eligible to get their COVID-19 and flu vaccines as soon as they can, so you have the strongest possible protection over the winter months.”