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COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effect Tracker

Emma Yasinski

May 17, 2024

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Most Recent Updates:

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May 17, 2024: Astrazeneca is facing two lawsuits. One is a class action lawsuit from patients who experienced thrombosis after receiving the shot, and another is from a woman who was a clinical trial participant in the US. She says the company failed to support her after she suffered debilitating vaccine side effects such as nerve damage and double vision.
July 3, 2023: Researchers are studying a possible link between vaccination and long COVID-like symptoms in a small minority of patients. These symptoms include experiences such as fatigue, irregular heart rates, and headaches that last for weeks after vaccination. Read more here.
Feb 8, 2023: A booster shot of Moderna (the third shot, which is the same as the first two and is not the bivalent booster) was associated with spontaneously developing hives 8-13 days after the shot, that lasted six weeks or longer, according to a study in JAMA. The study suggested that 19-24 out of every 100,000 people vaccinated experienced the side effect.
Jan 13, 2023: Prizer’s Omicron (bivalent) booster seemed to be associated with a heightened risk of stroke in patient 65 and older for three weeks after getting the shot, according to data from the Vaccine Safety Datalink, a federal safety surveillance system. The CDC and FDA released a joint statement that several other streams of data including: the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services database, The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), the Veteran’s Affairs (VA) database, and data from other countries did not show an association between the shot and strokes, and that they believe the vaccine is safe. Moderna’s Omicron (bivalent) booster did not show similar signals.
July 15 2022: Of people with regular menstrual cycles 42% reported heavier periods after receiving Covid vaccines. The experience was more common among individuals with PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids or other hormonal conditions. Another 44% of those who did not have regular cycles (due to long-acting contraceptives or gender affirming treatments) reported breakthrough bleeding.
June 14 2022: Researchers compared the adverse effects experienced by patients who took Pfizer or Moderna’s mRNA vaccine over the course of 42 weeks. The risk was very low for both, but those that took Pfizer’s were slightly more likely to suffer heart attacks or strokes. The researchers say there is a possibility that these outcomes are not linked to the vaccines, but to Covid infections, and that the results could also belie a slightly lower efficacy of Pfizer’s vaccine. They emphasize the benefits of both vaccines still outweigh the risks.
May 6: The FDA has limited the use of the J&J vaccine after 60 cases of blood clots associated with thrombocytopenia syndrome have been discovered. 18.7 million doses of the shot have been administered, and regulators don’t yet know who is at the highest risk of clots.
January 25: COVID vaccination did not impact the likelihood of couples conceiving in a recent study.
January 21: The NIH is investigating the possibility that the vaccines cause long covid-like symptoms such as irregular heart rates and brain fog in very rare cases.
January 7: Moderna and Pfizer shots are associated with a temporary increase in menstrual cycle length of just under a day, according to a new study. The researchers say future studies will look at breakthrough bleeding and heavy flows, which have been reported anecdotally.
January 3: The FDA has authorized third shots of the Pfizer vaccine for teens 12-15 years old, and immunocompromised children between 5-11 years old. The agency also shortened the amount of time between the second and third shots from six months to five months.
December 31: CDC data shows that serious side effects of Pfizer’s shot are extremely rare in children 5-11. While many reported arm pain, fevers and muscle pain like the adults, only 11 out of more than 40,000 reported myocarditis. Seven of those have fully recovered and four are currently improving.
October 27: MedShadow reached out to cardiologist Jennifer Su, MD, to help you understand the risk of myocarditis in kids and teens who receive the COVID-19 vaccines. Read the article here.

The Weekly Wrap-Up

Independent reporting on drug recalls, medication safety and integrative health, including supplements. No pharma funding.

To help you sort through the news on the COVID-19 vaccine’s progress, MedShadow has created the MedShadow Vaccine Tracker, the only tracker focused on the side effects and adverse events associated with proposed COVID-19 vaccinations.

Rather than injecting patients with a weakened virus or proteins from the pathogen that our immune systems can recognize, which is what’s typically done when we get a flu vaccine, the new vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer — the two that made it to the market first in the U.S. — contain mRNA (messenger RNA), which is a genetic template that instructs our cells to build the viral proteins that our immune systems can then recognize. Its main perk is that allowing our bodies to produce the proteins (rather than growing them in a lab like traditional vaccines) slashes production time. For nearly 20 years, researchers have been interested in using mRNA in vaccines; and some were even tested in early clinical trials for rabies, influenza and Zika. However, the vaccines for COVID-19 will be the first mRNA vaccines ever authorized by the FDA.

Some risks and minor side effects, such as a sore arm where the vaccine is injected or a light skin rash, are clearly worth the benefit of being protected against a disease. Where to draw the line at what is or is not acceptable is a personal decision. That’s where the MedShadow Vaccine Tracker can help.

On the tracker, we will be publishing up-to-date Phase 3 results information about the risks of each vaccination. Phase 3 tests the vaccine for safety and efficacy in large groups of people (tens of thousands) and is the last stage before the FDA considers approval for use in the population at large. We continue following verified reports as the vaccines are offered to the general public. It is important to note that reports of events occurring after vaccination are not inherently linked to it. As countries begin to vaccinate hundreds of millions of people, some would inevitably be diagnosed with illnesses or pass away each day with or without the injections.

Jump to:

Moderna | Pfizer | CanSinBio (China) | Gameleya (Russia) | Johnson & Johnson

Moderna

Moderna started Phase III clinical trials for its vaccine candidate in July. In earlier trials, nearly half of patients experienced common adverse effects like injection site pain, rash, headaches, muscle soreness, nausea and fevers after the second injection. These effects generally subsided within two days. CNBC spoke to a few individuals, some participating in Moderna’s trial and some in Pfizer’s trial who said much the same thing: the side effects were intense and included a high fever, body aches, bad headaches and exhaustion, but were worth it for protection from Covid-19.

In the FDA report published in December, the most common side effects were pain at injection site (91.6% of patients), fatigue (68.5%), headache (63.0%), muscle pain (59.6%), joint pain (44.8%), and chills (43.4%). Three patients experienced Bell’s Palsy, a sudden, and usually temporary, weakening or paralysis of the facial muscles.

The CDC reports that 11% of patients experienced swollen lymph nodes after the first shot. That raised to 16% after the second shot.

A few patients with facial fillers experienced swelling after receiving the vaccine. They were treated with antihistamines and steroids.

January 18: In California, officials halted the use of one particular batch of Moderna vaccines (lot 41L20A) after a small cluster (fewer than 10) of patients at one particular site experienced allergic reactions that required medical attention.

February 1: A study posted on Feb 1 showed that patients who received the vaccine after having been previously infected with COVID-19 showed greater immune response to the first shot and more intense side effects that are associated with strong immune responses like fever and muscle aches. The study included patients who received either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. Some scientists believe these patients may only need a single shot to provide sufficient immunity, but more research is needed.

February 12: Out of the first 7.5 million doses administered from Dec 14- Jan 18, 19 cases of anaphylaxis were reported to VAERS after the Moderna vaccine. No patients have died from anaphylaxis. Patients are now being monitored for 15-30 minutes after receiving the vaccine to watch for signs of anaphylaxis. The CDC suggests that anyone who has an immediate allergic reaction to a single dose of an mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer) should not get the second dose. If your reaction was not immediate, you may be referred to an allergy specialist. The vaccines do not contain polysorbate, but do have a related ingredient, polyethylene glycol (PEG). If you have an allergy to either of these chemicals, you should not get the vaccines.

Many patients are reporting injection site reactions that show up shortly after the injection or up to a week later. These reactions — which are characterized by swelling, redness, itching, rashes, heat and pain — are expected to last a day to a week. Physicians emphasize that while these effects can be scary, they are not dangerous and should not prevent someone from getting the second shot. So far, doctors do not report seeing these reactions after the second shot, however so few have been given so far that scientists are not sure how common it will be on round two.

March 3: Allergy researchers at Mass General Hospital created a registry for healthcare professionals to report immediate and delayed reactions to COVID-19 vaccinations. On March 3, the researchers published a letter in the New England Journal of Medicine describing a series of 12 delayed injection site reactions including swelling and rashes. The researchers wrote that one patient received antibiotics although they were not necessary. Several others were treated with steroids or anti inflammatories. The letter included some photos and said that the reactions cleared up within a median of six days. Patients were encouraged to receive their second dose. Half of them did not experience the reaction the second time. A quarter did, but to a lesser degree.

Moderna has announced that it will begin testing its vaccine in children and adolescents, who they believe may have stronger immune responses, leading to more intense side effects.

April 20: Researchers have received over 25,000 responses to an online survey regarding menstrual changes after receiving any COVID-19 vaccine. The survey is ongoing as researchers hope to gain a better understanding of future directions of research. An op-ed in the New York Times explains how the vaccines could potentially interact with menstrual cycles, and why we really don’t know yet.

April 22: The CDC published an analysis of data from the first few months of voluntary V-safe surveys that suggested that the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are safe for pregnant women. Pregnant patients self-reported slightly fewer side effects like fever, headache and chills than the general population, but more said they experienced nausea and injection site pain. Rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as pre-term birth were similar to rates seen before the pandemic. While promising, officials noted that more studies will be required.

April 26: MedShadow asked doctors about some of the unusual symptoms we’re hearing about in the comments: heart palpitations and visual disturbances. They hadn’t had patients who reported long-term symptoms, but said that if the symptoms occurred very quickly after vaccination, they could be related to allergic reactions or presyncope.

April 27: Clinical trials of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines showed 7 cases of Bell’s Palsy. An analysis published today in JAMA suggested the experience was no more frequent after these vaccines than other vaccines. It is unclear whether vaccines raise the risk of facial paralysis at all, but the authors write, “if an association between facial paralysis and mRNA COVID-19 vaccines exists, the risk is likely very low, as with other viral vaccines.”

May 5: Researchers published a detailed analysis of skin reactions after Moderna and Pfizer vaccinations, including swelling and rashes. Most patients with first dose reactions did not have reactions after their second dose. Larger reactions on the arm spreading outward from the injection site were the most common reactions among those who received the Moderna vaccine, followed by smaller localized reactions and hives. Five patients (1.9%) experienced a zoster (shingles) flare after the first dose but none after the second dose. About 1% of patients experienced a flare of an existing skin condition after each dose.

May 20: An analysis published in JAMA suggests that hearing loss is NOT a side effect of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

June 10: The CDC says that as of May 31, VAERS had received 475 reports of myocarditis or pericarditis among people 30 years of age and younger who received a COVID-19 vaccine. Upon follow-up, the CDC and FDA confirmed 226 of the reports. They emphasize that more than 18 million people between ages 12-24 have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. A CDC Fact Sheet on the effect is available here.

June 23: About 1.9% of healthcare employees who received an mRNA vaccination had a skin reaction such as itching or a rash after the first dose. Most (83%) who reported a skin reaction after the first dose, did not experience it again after the second dose, according to a study today in JAMA Dermatology. Another 2.3% experienced a skin reaction after only the second dose.

August 18: The FDA and CDC authorized third shots for patients with specific conditions that compromise their immune systems. The Biden administration has also pushed for booster shots to be made available to everyone, eight months after their second dose, in response to waning antibody levels and a rise in breakthrough infections. People who took Pfizer, Moderna or J&J’s vaccines are still highly protected against hospitalization and death. This plan is not yet authorized. The agencies are also waiting for data to provide guidelines specific to J&J vaccine recipients in the coming weeks. Around a million people have gotten third shots so far in the US and abroad. The FDA hasn’t reviewed all of the data yet, but no new safety concerns have emerged thus far. See answers to frequently asked questions regarding the booster shots here.

August 19: The FDA and CDC are investigating the possibility that Moderna’s vaccine could be up to 2.5 times more likely to be associated with myocarditis (heart inflammation), especially for males under 30 years old. If true, the effect would still be exceedingly rare and scientists say the benefits still greatly outweigh the harms of vaccination. Most patients recover on their own with minimal intervention.

October 23:Researchers found that allergies to the mRNA vaccines are not likely due to the chemical PEG. Most patients (86.7%) who experienced an immediately allergic reaction after the first shot could safely receive the second dose if pretreated with antihistamines. None of the patients required hospital admission.

October 27: MedShadow reached out to cardiologist Jennifer Su, MD, to help you understand the risk of myocarditis in kids and teens who receive the COVID-19 vaccines. Read the article here.

June 14: Researchers compared the adverse effects experienced by patients who took Pfizer or Moderna’s mRNA vaccine over the course of 42 weeks. The risk was very low for both, but those that took Pfizer’s were slightly more likely to suffer heart attacks or strokes. The researchers say there is a possibility that these outcomes are not linked to the vaccines, but to Covid infections, and that the results could also belie a slightly lower efficacy of Pfizer’s vaccine. They emphasize the benefits of both vaccines still outweigh the risks.

Feb 8, 2023: A booster shot of Moderna (the third shot, which is the same as the first two and is not the bivalent booster) was associated with spontaneously developing hives 8-13 days after the shot, that lasted six weeks or longer, according to a study in JAMA. The study suggested that 19-24 out of every 100,000 people vaccinated experienced the side effect.

July 3, 2023: Researchers are studying a possible link between vaccination and long COVID-like symptoms in a small minority of patients. These symptoms include experiences such as fatigue, irregular heart rates, and headaches that last for weeks after vaccination. Read more here.

Pfizer

Pfizer began Phase III clinical trial for its vaccine candidate in July. In earlier trials, some patients experienced common adverse effects like injection site pain, rash, headaches, muscle soreness, nausea and fevers. These effects generally subsided within two days. CNBC spoke to a few individuals, some participating in Pfizer’s trial and others in Moderna’s trial who said much the same thing: the side effects were intense and included a high fever body aches, bad headaches and exhaustion in addition to the more common side effects, but were worth it for protection from Covid-19.

Some patients described the side effects as being similar to a bad hangover. A nurse who participated in the clinical trial reported feeling minimal effects after the first dose, but a fever that reached more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit after the second injection, along with chills, headache, and intense injection site pain. According to researchers, her experience of having all symptoms together was rare, though many patients had one or two of these side effects. “Clinicians will need to be prepared to discuss with patients why they should trust the vaccine and that its adverse effects could look a lot like COVID-19,” the nurse wrote on Dec 7.

The FDA report published in December said the most common reactions were injection site reactions (84.1%), fatigue (62.9%), headache (55.1%), muscle pain (38.3%), chills (31.9%), joint pain (23.6%), fever (14.2%). Swollen lymph nodes occurred in 0.3% of patients. The FDA reported that four patients who received the vaccine experienced Bell’s Palsy.

January 12: A doctor in Florida died 16 days after receiving the vaccine from a rare blood disorder, acute immune thrombocytopenia. Both Pfizer and the CDC are investigating, though the company has released a statement that so far, they haven’t seen any signs in the clinical trials or data collected from early vaccinations that the death could be related to the vaccine. The blood disorder immune thrombocytopenia, has also been seen as a rare complication of COVID-19 itself, in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

January 19: Twenty-three elderly patients in Norway died after receiving Pfizer’s vaccine. Officials are investigating whether or not the deaths are vaccine-related. Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, suggests that while the deaths may be coincidental given the fragile population, it’s possible that side effects of the vaccines, like fevers, may have strained the frail patients’ bodies and contributed to their deaths. Norway has vaccinated about 45,000 people so far, most of whom live in nursing homes.

February 12: Out of the first 9.9 million doses administered from Dec 14- Jan 18, 47 cases of anaphylaxis were reported to VAERS after the Pfizer vaccine. Patients are now being monitored for 15-30 minutes after receiving the vaccine to watch for signs of anaphylaxis. The CDC suggests that anyone who has an immediate allergic reaction to a single dose of an mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer) should not get the second dose. If your reaction was not immediate, you may be referred to an allergy specialist. The vaccines do not contain polysorbate, but do have a related ingredient, polyethylene glycol (PEG). If you have an allergy to either of these chemicals, you should not get the vaccines.

March 8: Researchers from Mass General Brigham published a Research Letter in JAMA analyzing allergic reactions in employees who received their shots there. Out of 52,805 participants, 2.1% experienced some kind of allergic reaction, including hives, itching, rash, swelling or respiratory symptoms within the first three days after vaccination. Allergies were slightly more common with the Moderna vaccine than the Pfizer vaccine (2.2% compared to 1.95%). Sixteen experienced anaphylaxis.

March 30: Researchers publish a case study of a single patient in which they suspect the Pfizer vaccine may have caused a rheumatoid arthritis flare. The flare was treated, and the patient is in remission. The researchers and RA advocacy groups still advise patients to get the vaccine as the benefits outweigh the risks of a flare up.

April 22: The CDC published an analysis of data from the first few months of voluntary V-safe surveys that suggested that the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are safe for pregnant women. Pregnant patients self-reported slightly fewer side effects like fever, headache and chills than the general population, but more said they experienced nausea and injection site pain. Rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as pre-term birth were similar to rates seen before the pandemic. While promising, officials noted that more studies will be required.

April 27: Clinical trials of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines showed 7 cases of Bell’s Palsy. An analysis published today in JAMA suggested the experience was no more frequent after these vaccines than other vaccines. It is unclear whether vaccines raise the risk of facial paralysis at all, but the authors write, “if an association between facial paralysis and mRNA COVID-19 vaccines exists, the risk is likely very low, as with other viral vaccines.”

May 5: Researchers published a detailed analysis of skin reactions after Moderna and Pfizer vaccinations, including swelling and rashes. Nearly a quarter of patients had smaller local reactions after each of the two shots. Hives were the most common skin reaction (26% after the first shot, 18% after the second,) among patients who received the Pfizer vaccine. Several also experienced flares of existing skin conditions.

May 10: Pfizer’s vaccine received Emergency Use Authorization for 12 to 15-year-olds. The company reported that common adverse effects like chills and fever were more common in this age group than adults. Adverse reactions in adolescents 12 through 15 years of age included pain at the injection site (90.5%), fatigue (77.5%), headache (75.5%), chills (49.2%), muscle pain (42.2%), fever (24.3%), joint pain (20.2%), injection site swelling (9.2%), injection site redness (8.6%), lymphadenopathy (0.8%), and nausea (0.4%). These effects generally subsided within 1-2 days. While data on syncope (fainting) was not included, the announcement mentioned that fainting after vaccination is more common in teens than adults, and that safety measures should be in place to reduce this risk.

May 20: An analysis published in JAMA suggests that hearing loss is NOT a side effect of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

May 23: The CDC is investigating reports of myocarditis in a small number of vaccinated teens. Myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart, has multiple causes but a viral infection is the most common trigger. In 2019, one million people were diagnosed with myocarditis, most of them under 40 years old. It’s not yet clear if these events were related to the vaccine.

June 9: A study in Nature Medicine suggests that there may be a very slightly elevated risk of blood disorders after receipt of the AstraZeneca vaccine, but NOT Pfizer’s. The study was based on an analysis of medical records in Scotland. Researchers say the vaccine’s benefits still outweigh the risks and that their results should not alter policy. The rates are similar to those seen with other common vaccines.

June 10: The CDC says that as of May 31, VAERS had received 475 reports of myocarditis or pericarditis among people 30 years of age and younger who received a COVID-19 vaccine. Upon follow-up, the CDC and FDA confirmed 226 of the reports. They emphasize that more than 18 million people between ages 12-24 have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. A CDC Fact Sheet on the effect is available here.

June 23: About 1.9% of healthcare employees who received an mRNA vaccination had a skin reaction such as itching or a rash after the first dose. Most (83%) who reported a skin reaction after the first dose, did not experience it again after the second dose, according to a study today in JAMA Dermatology. Another 2.3% experienced a skin reaction after only the second dose.

August 18: The FDA and CDC authorized third shots for patients with specific conditions that compromise their immune systems. The Biden administration has also pushed for booster shots to be made available to everyone, eight months after their second dose, in response to waning antibody levels and a rise in breakthrough infections. People who took Pfizer, Moderna or J&J’s vaccines are still highly protected against hospitalization and death. This plan is not yet authorized. The agencies are also waiting for data to provide guidelines specific to J&J vaccine recipients in the coming weeks. Around a million people have gotten third shots so far in the US and abroad. The FDA hasn’t reviewed all of the data yet, but no new safety concerns have emerged thus far. See answers to frequently asked questions regarding the booster shots here.

August 22: Researchers published two case studies of patients experiencing neurological effects such as losing balance and non-epileptic convulsions after the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines. They emphasize that functional neurological disorders are treatable.

September 2: Researchers in Israel reviewed medical records of patients who had experienced Guillan-Barre Syndrome (GBS) prior to receiving Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot. Of the 579 patients, five were transferred to the hospital for neurological symptoms such as tremors or prickling sensations. Only one patient required medical care for relapse of GBS.

September 28: V-Safe data from 306 people who received their third shots showed that nearly identical numbers of patients reported side effects to the second and third shots. 79.4% and 74.1% reported local or systemic reactions, respectively, after the third dose compared to 77.6% and 76.5% who reported local or systemic reactions after the second dose, respectively.

October 23: Researchers found that allergies to the mRNA vaccines are not likely due to the chemical PEG. Most patients (86.7%) who experienced an immediately allergic reaction after the first shot could safely receive the second dose if pretreated with antihistamines. None of the patients required hospital admission.

October 27: MedShadow reached out to cardiologist Jennifer Su, MD, to help you understand the risk of myocarditis in kids and teens who receive the COVID-19 vaccines. Read the article here.

Dec 8: The FDA authorized Astrazeneca’s monoclonal antibody treatment as an alternative to the vaccine for people over 12 years old who are immunocompromised or have a history of severe vaccine reactions. The treatment is given in two injections and protection is thought to last 6 months up to a year. It reduced the risk of symptomatic COVID-19 by 82%.

Dec 31: CDC data shows that serious side effects of Pfizer’s shot are extremely rare in children 5-11. While many reported arm pain, fevers and muscle pain like the adults, only 11 out of more than 40,000 reported myocarditis. Seven of those have fully recovered and four are currently improving.

June 14: Researchers compared the adverse effects experienced by patients who took Pfizer or Moderna’s mRNA vaccine over the course of 42 weeks. The risk was very low for both, but those that took Pfizer’s were slightly more likely to suffer heart attacks or strokes. The researchers say there is a possibility that these outcomes are not linked to the vaccines, but to Covid infections, and that the results could also belie a slightly lower efficacy of Pfizer’s vaccine. They emphasize the benefits of both vaccines still outweigh the risks.

January 13, 2023: Prizer’s Omicron (bivalent) booster seemed to be associated with a heightened risk of stroke in patient 65 and older for three weeks after getting the shot, according to data from the Vaccine Safety Datalink, a federal safety surveillance system. The CDC and FDA released a joint statement that several other streams of data including: the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services database, The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), the Veteran’s Affairs (VA) database, and data from other countries did not show an association between the shot and strokes, and that they believe the vaccine is safe. Moderna’s Omicron (bivalent) booster did not show similar signals.

July 3, 2023: Researchers are studying a possible link between vaccination and long COVID-like symptoms in a small minority of patients. These symptoms include experiences such as fatigue, irregular heart rates, and headaches that last for weeks after vaccination. Read more here.

CanSinBio (China)

China granted the CanSinBio vaccine emergency approval prior to beginning a Phase III trial in August. In the Phase II trial, nearly three-quarters of patients reported at least one common mild adverse events including injection site pain, rash, headaches, muscle soreness, and fevers. Five people also reported vomiting.

Gamaleya Research Institute (Russia)

Gamaleya Research Institute launched Phase III trials in August. But before they got started, President Putin announced that the vaccine was approved early, however, the Phase III trials are expected to continue. In the earlier trials, almost all of the patients experienced low-grade fevers. A small number of patients reported heart palpitations. Otherwise, reported side effects were similar to other vaccines and included injection site pain, rash, headaches, and muscle soreness.

Feb 2: The group reported efficacy data along with some data on side effects in The Lancet. The most common adverse events were flu-like illness (15.2% of those vaccinated) and local reactions (5.4% of those vaccinated).

The report also states that there were six grade 3 adverse events which were not associated with the vaccination: acute sinusitis, an exacerbation of urolithiasis along with renal colic and deep vein thrombosis (both associated with pre-existing comorbidities) and extremity abscess (due to physical injury and subsequent infection of the wound surface of the soft tissues of the finger).

Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson started a Phase III trial for its vaccine candidate in September 2020, but paused it on October 12 due to an unexplained illness and remains on hold. The company announced it would restart the trial on October 26. Pauses are common during clinical trials to evaluate specific adverse events, but the company has not shared details about the illness experienced by one of the trial volunteers. In earlier trials, about 70% of patients experienced at least one mild adverse effect similar to those seen with other vaccines, including injection site pain, rash, headaches, muscle soreness, and fevers.

On Feb 24, Johnson & Johnson shared data from its Phase III trials. The data suggested that while the vaccine is slightly less protective overall (but more protective against the 501Y.V2 variant that emerged from South Africa,) than the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, it produced fewer side effects.

The report says the most common reactions were injection site reactions (50.2%), fatigue (38.2%), headache (38.9%), muscle pain (33.2%), nausea (14.2%) and fever (9.0%). Reactions were more common in patients under 60 than over 60.

Injection site pain lasted a median of 2 days, but up to 7 days in 2.3% of patients.

April 8: A vaccination site in Colorado paused operations after 11 patients became nauseous and dizzy minutes after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Two patients were transmitted to the hospital, but the rest were deemed healthy enough to return home. Officials said that those vaccinated at the same site should not be concerned.

April 13: The U.S. is calling for a pause on distributing the Johnson & Johnson vaccine while the FDA and CDC investigate blood clots that occurred in six patients (out of 7 million who received the vaccine so far.) One patient died and another was hospitalized. All the clots occurred in women under 50 within two weeks of receiving the vaccine. The issue is similar to the one seen with the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe.

April 20: Researchers have received over 25,000 responses to an online survey regarding menstrual changes after receiving any COVID-19 vaccine. The survey is ongoing as researchers hope to gain a better understanding of future directions of research.

April 23: The U.S. is resuming use of the vaccine after finding only 15 total cases of blood clots out of the 7 million vaccinated. Patients will be warned about the risk at vaccination sites. Symptoms including headache, leg pain and abdominal pain occur 6-14 days after vaccination. If you have these symptoms you should seek emergency medical treatment. It is treatable with certain blood thinners.

April 26: MedShadow asked doctors about some of the unusual symptoms we’re hearing about in the comments: heart palpitations and visual disturbances. They hadn’t had patients who reported long-term symptoms, but said that if the symptoms occurred very quickly after vaccination, they could be related to allergic reactions or presyncope.

April 27: Doctors suggested that patients with a history of immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, such as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, should not get the Johnson and Johnson vaccine (mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna are ok). If you’re at an increased risk for other types of blood clots, (because you have obesity or you smoke, for example) you do not have an elevated risk of blood clots with the J&J vaccine.

April 30: Researchers published detailed data about 12 patients who experienced blood clots in JAMA.

May 13: The CDC has identified more cases of the rare clotting disorder associated with the J&J vaccine. The total is 28 cases. Three patients have died and four are still hospitalized. It’s more common in women than in men, and the benefits still outweigh the risks of vaccination, officials say. Nine million doses of the vaccine have been delivered in the U.S.

May 26: A 37-year old woman in Belgium died from a blood clot thought to be related to the Johnson and Johnson vaccine she received. The country has stopped using the vaccine in patients under the age of 41.

July 12: The FDA is attaching a warning to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine about a slightly elevated risk of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause paralysis, within three weeks of receiving the vaccine. About 100 cases have been identified. Most patients recovered. One 57-year-old man died. The benefits still out weight the risks of vaccination, it says.

August 22: The FDA and CDC authorized third shots for patients with specific conditions that compromise their immune systems. The Biden administration has also pushed for booster shots to be made available to everyone, eight months after their second dose, in response to waning antibody levels and a rise in breakthrough infections. People who took Pfizer, Moderna or J&J’s vaccines are still highly protected against hospitalization and death. This plan is not yet authorized. The agencies are also waiting for data to provide guidelines specific to J&J vaccine recipients in the coming weeks. Around a million people have gotten third shots so far in the US and abroad. The FDA hasn’t reviewed all of the data yet, but no new safety concerns have emerged thus far. See answers to frequently asked questions regarding the booster shots here.

Dec 16: The CDC’s vaccine advisors are meeting to review data that suggests a heightened risk of clotting disorders in patients who received the J&J vaccine. Women aged 30-49 appear to be the most affected, though the condition likely impacts 1 out of 100,000 vaccine recipients. Nine have died.

May 6: The FDA has limited the use of the J&J vaccine after 60 cases of blood clots associated with thrombocytopenia syndrome have been discovered. 18.7 million doses of the shot have been administered, and regulators don’t yet know who is at the highest risk of clots.

Astrazeneca

The vaccine has been approved for use in the U.K., Argentina, India, E.U. and Mexico, but in May 2024, the company stopped manufacturing the vaccine, citing low demand.

May 17, 2024: Astrazeneca is facing two lawsuits. One is a class action lawsuit from patients who experienced thrombosis after receiving the shot, and another is from a woman who was a clinical trial participant in the US. She says the company failed to support her after she suffered debilitating vaccine side effects such as nerve damage and double vision.

March 11: Denmark has paused the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine while it investigates whether it is responsible for blood clots — one fatal — in some patients.

“It is important for us that the citizens are confident in the offer we give them and trust that we can vouch for the quality of the vaccines we have in our program. Therefore, we react promptly until we have investigated whether there is a connection between the vaccine and the possible side effects ,” officials wrote in a press release.

March 15: Several other countries (Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, France and Germany) have also paused use of the vaccine while unusual clotting events are investigated. Meanwhile, Thailand, which paused its use on Friday, March 12 restarted it on Sunday, March 14. On Sunday, AstraZeneca released a statement that its own review revealed “no increased risk” of clotting issues with the vaccine and that “So far across the EU and UK, there have been 15 events of DVT [deep vein thrombosis] and 22 events of pulmonary embolism reported among those given the vaccine, based on the number of cases the Company has received as of 8 March. This is much lower than would be expected to occur naturally in a general population of this size and is similar across other licensed COVID-19 vaccines.”

March 18: The European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued a statement that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the risks. The vaccine is not associated with an overall risk of blood clots, though there may be a very small increased risk of certain types of clots. The statement reads, “These are rare cases – around 20 million people in the UK and EEA had received the vaccine as of March 16 and EMA had reviewed only 7 cases of blood clots in multiple blood vessels (disseminated intravascular coagulation, DIC) and 18 cases of CVST [clots in the vessels that drain blood from the brain.] A causal link with the vaccine is not proven, but is possible and deserves further analysis.” These cases were more common in women under the age of 55. Germany, France, Italy, Latvia, Bulgaria and Slovenia have all stated that they’d restart or continue to offer the AstraZeneca vaccine in light of the news.

April 7: The EMA still says the benefits of the vaccines outweigh the risks. However, the group has suggested that blood clots be listed as a possible, albeit rare, side effect of the injection and that both patients and doctors be aware of the signs which include: shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, persistent abdominal pain, neurological symptoms like blurry vision and blood spots under the skin beyond the site of injection. If you have these symptoms, seek medical assistance.

April 9: Out of 34 million recipients of the vaccine, 222 have reported blood clots. They appear to be more likely in younger patients, but it’s otherwise impossible to predict who will experience them. Some experts say they can be treated with intravenous immune globulin, which is currently used to treat immune disorders along with some types of blood thinners.

June 9: A study in Nature Medicine suggests that there may be a very slightly elevated risk of blood disorders after receipt of the AstraZeneca vaccine, but not Pfizer’s. The study was based on an analysis of medical records in Scotland. Researchers say the vaccine’s benefits still outweigh the risks and that their results should not alter policy. The rates are similar to those seen with other common vaccines.

August 22: Researchers published two case studies of patients experiencing neurological effects such as losing balance and non-epileptic convulsions after the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines. They emphasize that functional neurological disorders are treatable.

Novavax (United Kingdom)

Novavax began Phase III clinical trials with its vaccine candidate in the United Kingdom in September and is had planned to start a trial in the United States in October. The trial was delayed due to manufacturing problems. The U.S. trial started on December 28. During Phase I/II trials, patients reported adverse events similar to those of other vaccine candidates, including injection site pain, rash, headaches, muscle pain, fever, nausea and vomiting.

June 14: Novavax announced promising efficacy data in a press release. The release suggested that the vaccine has similar side effects to others already approved, but that they may be slightly milder. Complete data is not yet available.

Sinopharm (China)

In July, Sinopharm launched Phase III trials of its two vaccine candidates in the United Arab Emirates, Peru, Morocco, and Argentina, which are now approved for limited use in healthcare workers in China and the UAE. In earlier trials of one of the vaccines, made in collaboration with Wuhan Institute of Biological Products, about 15% of the patients reported adverse events similar to those of other vaccine candidates, including injection site pain, rash, headaches, muscle pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. There is little data available about the second vaccine, made in collaboration with the Beijing Institute of Biological Products.

Sinovac (China)

Sinovac opened Phase III trials of its vaccine candidate, CoronaVac, in July. It is already being used with emergency approval for high risk individuals in China. The earlier trials showed that about a third of patients experienced adverse effects similar to those in other vaccine candidates like injection site pain, fever, and fatigue, but the study included few details about more specific symptoms like nausea, headaches, and vomiting. On November 10, the trial was halted in Brazil due to a participant’s death. However, researchers say the death was not vaccine-related and the trial should continue. It has not been halted in other countries.

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (England)

The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute is running a Phase III trial repurposing Bacillus Calmette-Guerin — a vaccine developed nearly a century ago to prevent tuberculosis infections — to prevent Covid-19. Since the vaccine has been around such a long time, there are many reports on its potential adverse effects and the vaccine itself has been altered to minimize many of them. Injection site reactions are common, and lymphadenitis, swelling of the lymph nodes, is common.

Bharat Biotech

Bharat Biotech announced it would begin Phase III trials in India on October 23. In early trials demonstrated side effect profiles similar to those of the other vaccines, including pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, and fever. The country announced emergency approval, though no Phase III data was included in the announcement.

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TahaMarch 23, 2021 11:24 PM

Got 1st jab of Sinopharm day before yesterday.
First day, after 2-3 hours, experienced difficulty in freely controlling my legs. On my way back to home, faced traffic congestion, and moving my right leg from brake to accelerator back and forth became a challenging task. Felt pain in the Tibialis Anterior and had to concentrate to engage it. Went through a bad feeling that brain is probably not connecting to the legs and so, had to focus myself, or brain to feel and control my legs, while paying attention to the traffic. Upon reaching destination, getting off the vehicle and walking up to the home also felt like a tiring ordeal. Immediately crashed on the bed and went to sleep, way earlier than I used to. Sleep was good, and felt like not getting up at all during the night.
Second day; in the morning, I felt difficulty engaging legs to walk, so called-in sick. Felt very hungry in the morning. The whole day went in making efforts in walking. Had been having cloudy mind, heavy head, the kind of feeling when under influence of a heavy antibiotic dosage. Felt good having tea, especially when it passed the throat. Didn’t felt energetic after taking food. Sunflower seeds helped in passing time.
Third day, couldn’t get up at my usual time, I am an early riser, usually wake up at 5:00 A.M. but I got up at 6:30 A.M. with pain in temples . Found that walk was no more a challenge today. Was browsing the net to find side effects etc. after sinopharm vaccine and ended up on this website. Felt the computer screen more brighter than usual and this is up till now, at 7:22ish A.M.

David HMarch 23, 2021 10:30 AM

I received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in the early evening of March 18, 2021. That first night I developed pain on the left side of my tongue near the very back of my mouth. It was so far back that it was hard to see anything. I guessed that it was likely a canker sore, but couldn’t see it. Four days later, when I pulled my tongue out (like a dentist does) I could see a large ulcer on the side of my tongue. I am assuming it is a canker sore, or resulted from a canker sore. Appointment with my primary are three weeks out, so I will be seeing a Nurse Practitioner tomorrow. It is frustrating that canker sores and other mouth sores are not listed as a side effect in the official literature. There is a part of me that worries about oral cancer, but it was helpful to find this site and find other writing that canker sores are a legitimate side effect.

Mike AllenMarch 23, 2021 9:31 AM

I received my 1st Moderna shot on March 18th. On the 19th, I woke up with the usual sore shoulder that’s typical of receiving a shot in the muscle. Late saturday night or early Sunday morning, I woke up and couldn’t go back asleep. I had extreme anxiety all day. I also noticed muscle twitching in both of my legs. Here it is the 23rd and the twitching still continues. Every once in awhile I would get a muscle that would tremor , but this very rarely would ever happen – like once a year on a random part of my body for just a second or two. Now, different muscles in my legs are twitching all over, and consistently one place on my left butt cheek. I haven’t noticed the twitching anywhere except below my waist.

1 reply

AshleyApril 23, 2021 11:38 AM

Hi Mike, are you still twitching? It’s been a few weeks for me already…

Mike AllenMay 13, 2021 3:58 PM

May 13th and still twitching… it started about 3-5 days after the moderna shot on march 18th

Brian EdwardsJune 14, 2021 10:54 PM

Still twitching, Mike? Any improvement with Vitamin D and Magnesium?

Mike AllenJuly 11, 2021 11:18 PM

Hi Brian. Sorry for just now seeing this. I don’t like how this site shows comments.. I use to be and to hit “find” but now the find only works for the comments and not the replies. Anyways, the answer is no. Twitching in my calves hasn’t stopped. Here it is July 11 and its still happening – i received the first moderna shot on march 18. My neurologist who was the director of an ALS clinic, told me that I don’t have ALS. instead, he is calling it benign fasiculation syndrome. Basically there is no for sure root cause. I did have a vitamin d deficiency, and low b12. Magnesium & pottasium were normal. I started taking a super b complex vitamin, prescribed d2, magnesium, and multivitamin each day. I am scheduled to recheck the vitamin d soon. I suffered from extreme anxiety out of no where… i use to always be calm under pressure… within a few days of getting the 1st moderna shot, i would find myself scared for my life, crying in my truck to my wife and doctor for no reason asking for help to make it go away. I went 5 days no sleep, then was prescribed Vistaril 100mg to help me sleep. I also began a 5mg dose 3 times a day of buspar to help with anxiety. I no longer need the vistaril, and randomly take only 5mg of buspar a day. But, the twitching in calves continues. Ive found it helpful when trying to sleep to lay flat on my back and keep my calves pressed against the mattress. This seems to make it way less noticeable. Hopefully you’ve found some relief. If you havev any advice, please share it here. Take care.

thai JohnsonMarch 23, 2021 1:59 AM

Thanks very much, Edna! It takes a village to figure out all these more serious side effects for ourselves since the govt. is quashing all info beyond the “official” list of possible side effects. This is Not Right! Of course more serious events happen as millions of additional people are vaccinated!

Carmen MarieMarch 23, 2021 1:33 AM

Received Pfizer injection 19 March 21, Left arm. No adverse reaction for 36 hours. Woke up unable to breathe deep in in left lung, muscle pain from neck to shoulder to scapula to left breast. Frightening. No headache, no nausea, no fatigue, only highly sensitive pain when relaxing or sleeping. Approaching 72 hours, now I read that it can be in the lymph nodes and might persist for weeks. Mammograms are out as this may confound the data. Seeking solutions to clear the lymph of toxins.

TamickoMarch 23, 2021 5:45 PM

I am seeking the same. An explanation on how long the fatigue and lymph nodes swelling might persist, as well as how to clear the issue.

Emma YasinskiMarch 23, 2021 6:00 PM

Hi Tamicko,
We may not have all the answers yet, but some doctors are saying the swollen lymph nodes can last a few weeks to a month or two. Here is one article about it from the Cleveland Clinic. https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2021/03/03/why-lymph-nodes-may-swell-after-covid-19-vaccine/

Tamicko FairMarch 25, 2021 2:59 PM

Thanks so much!!

Fior SuzaMarch 22, 2021 9:37 PM

I just have my second pfizer vaccine Iam very sick nausea high fever very bad headaches but its worth it

EmilyMarch 22, 2021 6:47 PM

I got the Pfizer vaccine this morning at 9am (PST) and am now feeling an odd pain in my pointer finger on the same arm as my injection. Has anyone else experienced vein or joint tenderness? It is on the inside of my finger right where it bends.

JjMarch 22, 2021 10:03 AM

I hope to read some comments of individuals who got the AZD1222 vac. I’m wondering if you guys had experience similar A/E or S/E after getting the vaccine. Thank you

EdnaMarch 22, 2021 9:48 PM

My step mother lives in Cypress and they only have the AstraZeneca. She is about mid 70’s. She had her first shot. She had some arm pain but not much else.

MGUIMMarch 22, 2021 7:48 AM

Hello. DAY1: I received my first Pfizer injection 20 March around 3:45 p.m. As I was walking back to my car I noticed I was getting a little sleepy. Fast forward, I fell asleep in the car until I arrived home home which was around 5:00 p.m. – I ended up sleeping all the way through to the following morning. DAY 2: I noticed very minor arm soreness from the injection site and just a bit of dizziness. DAY 3: Dizziness is more prominent and I’m feeling quite lightheaded. Let’s see what tomorrow brings. At this time I don’t regret receiving the vaccine ; hoping the dizziness will go away by the end of the day.

TracyMarch 21, 2021 6:47 PM

I got my first shot of moderna on February 19th and had pain in my arm the next day with a slight fever and I got my 2nd shot March 19th which was Friday and yesterday I woke up with severe pain in my arm and then noticed a big knot and it was red and raised and hot to the touch. Also had chills and my whole body ached with a slight headache. And then about 7 hours later the chills subsided. And today when I got up I noticed the knot on my arm seems even bigger and it’s still red and hot to the touch. Even though I’m having symptoms I can honestly say I would do it again in a heartbeat if that means protecting my family and the other people I come into contact with. Thanks for listening.

Darrin BowenMarch 21, 2021 5:51 PM

I received first Pfizer shot on 3/7/21 and felt no side effects except for some tenderness to the touch where i rec’d the shot. That has been the case for the past two weeks as well. I’ve felt fine this whole time and am looking forward to receiving my scheduled second shot next week on 3/28/21. But yesterday, out of nowhere, I had body aches and flu like symptoms that are supposedly common side effects associated with the second shot. My question is simply has anyone experienced DELAYED side effects from either the first or second shot? LIke as long as TWO WEEKS LATER? I’m wondering if maybe i contacted the virus sometime between my first shot and now and the symptom just showed up now. thanks in advance!!

2 replies

MarviaMarch 22, 2021 10:31 PM

Darwin, I had symptoms started about the 10th day after first shot of Pfyzer on and off for a couple weeks but nothing with my second dose. Please read where I posted earlier. I was wondering too as I never heard of anyone with delayed but since then found a few others.

Emma YasinskiMarch 22, 2021 8:54 AM

Hi Darrin,
Most delayed reactions that have been reported so far (1 week to 10 days or so after the shot) have been injection site reactions (local to the arm or side where you received the shot- things like swelling and redness), as opposed to systemic symptoms like fever and aches. It’s best to check with your healthcare provider, as MedShadow cannot give medical advice. It’s possible it’s a vaccine side effect or that you’ve contracted the disease or even the flu.

JBMarch 21, 2021 4:31 PM

I had my first Moderna shot on March 11. Every night since March 12, I’ve been unable to sleep through the night, despite taking sleep aids (including melatonin, valerian, sleepy time tea, and store brand nyquil), reducing caffeine intake, and using blue light filtering glasses before bed. I wake up around 3am with my heart pounding (heart palpitations) and can’t get back to sleep unless I take more medication. Sometimes, that still doesn’t work, and I have to do something for a bit and then take a hot shower to fall back asleep. I already reported to the CDC site and to VAERS and I’m hoping this passes soon. I’m 29 and have never had sleep problems like this before. I went to the urgent care clinic today, and my EKG came back normal. I’m waiting on blood work and they recommended that I follow up with my primary care doctor. I’m going to try CBD gummies tonight and see if that helps. Sorry to see this is happening to other people, but glad I’m not alone. I’m hoping that if this is a side effect of the vaccine, it will pass and I’ll be able to sleep again.

3 replies

MSApril 9, 2021 12:43 PM

You are not alone. Here is my story who has never ever had sleep problem until now. We all have 2 problems in what I understand – inability to fall asleep and inability to sustain it on eventually sleeping.

I had exposure to Coronavirus on Jan 3rd. Coincidentally I had my Moderna 1st shot on Jan 4th. I had my symptoms of the virus on Jan 10th and that night I had sleeplessness same as many of you describe below. Eventually I slept at 3 30am to wake up at 7am. However for the next 3 weeks I had no sleep problem (may be the virus caused me to sleep). I had mild covid during the 2 weeks. Around about 29th Jan – 1st of Feb I had my sleep problem reappear. I tried Melatonin, home remedies but nothing worked. I called my Dr who put me on Lunesta 3mg. I had sound sleep for 1 month on 1 tablet and again another 1 month on ½ tablet on self initiated tapering.

This week, my Dr and I had a talk to get away from medicines and let the brain figure out as medicine cannot cure Insomnia but solve the symptoms. I then tried Banyan Botanical – Sound Sleep (it contains Valerian root, Ashwagandha etc) but that did not help at all. I am back to my original sleeplessness (go to bed at 9 30pm and sleep at 3 30am for 3 to 4 hours). My good friend in the neighborhood had similar sleep issues as stated by many here and he is on sleep aid ( FYI he had no covid.)
Also all through these EVERY Day to be fit, I
1. Do intense walking for 4 miles
2. Do 14 flights in 1 session up and down my house
3. Do Breathing meditation for 20 minutes.
My take: On hindsight I would have still taken the vaccine as I have underlying condition and vaccine saved me. However definitely not Moderna, as that is for sure the cause. It’s a rare side effect that no one talks in media or CDC and even Drs are not aware. I responded to v-safe CDC to connect with Moderna on this. Hope one day we all get our full sleep. Its tough but hang in there!!!!

JBApril 8, 2021 2:42 PM

Hey everyone, I’m about to get my second dose of Moderna today and wanted to provide an update. The insomnia and heart palpitations side effect lasted about a week and a half. The day of my last reply, I started taking CBD before bed and that helped enormously, so I recommend that (as long as it’s safe for you and legal in your area) if you haven’t tried it yet. I took 25-50 milligrams the rest of that week, Sunday through Thursday, (3/22-3/25) and was able to sleep Friday and Saturday night without help. I’ve also completely stopped drinking coffee, but I’m still drinking black tea in the morning. To be fair, my symptoms could have been due to the coffee, but my doctor said it isn’t normal to have such a sudden and drastic change where I’ve been drinking coffee every morning for nearly half my life without any issues, and then one day just can’t sleep. I’m going to see if my symptoms come back (although I hope not) after the second Moderna dose. It if does, that might point pretty conclusively to the vaccine as the cause of my insomnia. So, if this is happening to you, I’d say to definitely visit your doctor, but take some sleep aids and hang in there–hopefully, your insomnia will go away soon!

JB (it won't let me post just my initials)June 23, 2021 7:28 PM

Final update, the insomnia did come back pretty immediately after my second shot and this time, it took about two months to go away. In the past 2-3 weeks, I’m finally sleeping normally again. After the second dose, a combination of CBD and valerian worked best, but didn’t always work. I also tried passion flower and hops extracts, and ashwagandha, and those pills didn’t seem to do anything. The calm/sleep drink from CVS helped, and of course taking some nyquil knocked me out, but I didn’t want to get dependent on that stuff. I’m still glad I got vaccinated, but on the assumption we’re going to need boosters for the rest of forever, I’m going to talk to my doctor next time and see if I can take something other than Moderna. Back in March, this was one of the first results when I googled Moderna insomnia, and now there are several articles and sites pointing to that as a side effect. Hopeful this symptom is getting more attention and that we’ll all get back to sleep.

marenMarch 22, 2021 2:55 PM

Hi JB,
You are not alone. I haven’t gotten a good night sleep in 22 days and it’s been torture. I’ve even been taking prescription sleep aid (Trazadone) and it occasionally helps but my nights are still interrupted. I felt I was getting better sleep last week, but the last two nights have been horrendous. I also had an EKG and several labs and everything came back normal as well. I also hope this passes as well as all of my other symptoms. Sending you hope and hugs.

Saba NMarch 29, 2021 6:44 PM

Unfortunately, I am in the same boat. I am 41 and healthy. First Moderna shot was on 3/19. Had palpitations that night itself and woke up every 2 hours. Since then I have this horrible insomnia. Could not fall asleep at all. Would only get 2-3 hours of sleep each night. 5th day I saw my PCP and was put on Trazadone. It helped fall asleep but can’t sleep more than 2 hours at a stretch and only get about 4 and if lucky 5 hours of sleep each night. And the time between the two stretches of sleep is 4-5 hours which is the most frustrating time. I know a couple of other people that are having the same issue. Other than palpitations I still get at night and loss of appetite, insomnia is my major problem. At this point, I am looking for answers and more importantly some hope/studies that show that this will get better over time and also any treatment recommendations. Nothing on CDC or Moderna’s website. Surely there are more people out there with this same issue. The least CDC can do is list this as a side effect and warn people. Also, it will help to know what the prognosis is or has been with other people. Please update how you are doing, because right not you the about the only two people that have reported this online.

marenMarch 30, 2021 4:02 PM

Hi Saba, This has been my exact experience with regards to the sleep. The trazadone doesn’t even really work for me at this point so I have stopped it. I started seeing alternative practitioners along with my Kaiser doctors, and my acupuncturist/functional medicine doctor has given me an herb combination that contains Valarian root and while I’m not sleeping a full night yet, I am hopeful I will. As words of encouragement, I had an appointment with a neurologist yesterday. He was so reassuring. He told me he has other patients who have similar symptoms and they all received the moderna vaccine and those who received the vaccine early, have recovered. I will inquire how long it has taken people to recover the next time I meet with him. Even though this is hell, it comforting to know that it’s not forever.

marenApril 18, 2021 9:08 PM

Hi JB and Saba,
I wanted to check in with both of you and to let you know that my sleep finally returned a couple of weeks ago. Admittedly, it’s still not totally normal, but I’m actually getting a full night sleep after 5 weeks. I was very lucky to have been put in touch with Dr. Kivlahan at UCSF who has been a PCP for > 30 years in academic settings b) long-Covid patient c) UCSF contact tracing medical director (she sees all vaccine reactions and is aware of all Covid patient histories as well as long Covid patient struggles since April 2020.) She was extremely generous and spoke to me over the phone for an hour and told me that all of my symptoms parallel that of a covid long-hauler. She said I likely had asymptomatic covid in 2020 since I have no memory of being sick and the vaccine triggered my antibodies to create an inflammation cascade that mimics that of a covid long hauler. She told me that I will get better but that it will take time (possibly months). She told me that my sleep would come back and that I needed to start exercising every day to help improve all of my symptoms. I wanted to share this with you because her words were inspiring and gave me the hope that I needed. I am doing much better than I was 7 weeks ago and much better than even 2 weeks ago. I truly believe I will get better. I know you will too and I wish anyone on this thread going through this the very best…Don’t give up hope. You will get through this. Here is an article about Dr. Kivlahan: https://www.wsj.com/articles/this-doctor-understands-her-long-term-covid-patientsshes-been-one-herself-11597073022
Sending positive healing vibes to you all.

4 replies

SabaMay 4, 2021 3:52 PM

Hi Marem, I was trying to find out if your sleep issues have resolved completely. I am 6 weeks out since the 1st dose and still struggling with falling asleep and maintaining sleep and only getting 4-5 hours, if I am lucky. Please share your progress. Thank you.

SabaApril 20, 2021 3:17 PM

Hi Marem,
I also meant to ask you what medications/supplement worked in your case until your sleep returned to normalcy. You had mentioned that trazodone didn’t work for you and that you were using something with Valerian root in it. Any other meds/supplements you took or are taking besides the one for sleep issues? This will help a ton! Thanks in advance.

MS covid insomniaApril 19, 2021 2:40 PM

Thanks Maren. Kindly see my same problems of insomnia below. What # did you contact Dr Kivlahan please?

SabaApril 19, 2021 2:39 PM

Hi Marem,
It is so great it hear back from you especially with the positive and hopeful news!! My PCP thinks that it may or may not be the vaccine but more than likely it is just an anxiety issue which will go away. I never had this issue ever in my life until after I took the vaccine so it is really hard to accept tag it is just anxiety but I can argue with me PCP on that of course. Plus it looks like the only cure is time. Glad that Drs such as Kivlahan are aware and willing to accept that it is a vaccine/Covid related issue. I never had Covid but maybe I had it and was asymptomatic and like in your case the vaccine triggered something and disrupted sleep. For now I am using sleeping aids and manage to get 4-5 hours of sleep. But I am continuing to exercise and meditate daily. I am sk looking forward to getting back to normalcy without using any sleeping aids like I used to. Thanks for sharing the information and the link to Dr Kivlahan’s article. Wish you a speedy and full recovery! And thanks so much again for keeping us updated and giving us hope! Hope to hear back from you with more good news. Thank you!

MS covid insomniaApril 21, 2021 11:26 AM

Hi Saba
I am 100% in your same boat but its nearing 3 months now. II do 100% exercises and meditation and it keeps me calm. I am taking Ashwagandha (herbal). I had better sleep with the more powerful one Banyan Botanicals – Sound Sleep that contains Valerian root. My sleep is only 4 hours but sometimes 6. My Dr also does not believe its the vaccine. However frankly this is all new to them too. I connected with Dr Kivlahan via email . She said that she cannot talk to anyone on their clinical situation but strongly recommended contacting the local long covid help. I have a scheduled appointment with my PCP. For me falling a sleep was never ever a problem. Also I dont have any COVID left over symptoms. I believe the Moderna vaccine is the cause. If I have take a 3rd shot I will 100% not take Moderna and will take Pfizer. Our problems are not life issues but hellish issue and I doubt Moderna or CDC or media will ever cover this as this will treated as collateral.

SabaMarch 30, 2021 5:37 PM

Hi Maren, I cannot tell you how grateful I am for the information you shared!! That is exactly what I was looking for- hope- that this won’t be forever. Thank you very much. It definitely feels like hell right now. I am on day 11 and still unable to sleep more than 3-4 hours each night. Trazadone helped somewhat first couple of days but has not worked as well last 3 days. PCP has given ambien to try. At this point in time, I will take anything that helps. Did or your doctor not consider ambien? Or are you avoiding drugs like ambien for a reason? Please share what you find out from your neurologist about how long it took to recover for some of his earlier patients. When you find out. Hope that things getting for your soon. Thank you very much.

marenMarch 21, 2021 1:51 PM

I was very excited when my team at Kaiser was offered the Moderna vaccine, but now I am very regretful that I decided to get it. I want to share the very health manifestations I have experienced since getting the Moderna Vaccine and which continue to affect me – most notably an anxiety event, insomnia, irregular period, irregularities in heartbeat, internal thermostat dysregulation (shaking cold and hot), brain fogginess, burning sensation on my back and down my arms, occasional blurry vision (particularly on laptop), weight loss, appetite changes, upper back muscle tension and overall uneasiness etc. Vaccine #1 (1/14); Vaccine #2 (2/11). I am five weeks out and most of my acute symptoms have occurred in the last 3 weeks. I have had many labs done and everything comes back normal, but my body is far from normal. I have been in consistent communication with my doctor, who believes my health manifestations have been caused by the vaccine and potentially triggered an endocrine disruption. She believes this, in part, because she had the vaccine around the same time as me and has had a few similar symptoms (and others that are very different). I also recently met one of my father’s friends who said she has suffered insomnia since getting the vaccine as well as other symptoms. This has been very scary as these health manifestations have completely disrupted my life – some symptoms have dissipated and some have remained. I have reported my symptoms to VAERS. I really want to get better and I know I am much better than March 1st, but I’m not my normal yet.

GraceMarch 26, 2021 10:15 AM

Hi Maren,
I noticed you mentioned an irregular period in the list of your symptoms. I had Moderna shot 1 about 17 days ago, and have experienced
an irregular menstrual period which is completely unusual for me. I was reading a news article about women in Israel reporting this occurrence
after Pfizer shots there, not much other reference to it as a side effect so thank you for mentioning. I will be checked out to eliminate other
possibilities but the timing made me suspect. Just a thank you for listing and wanted it out there in case other women experiencing the same
that it could be a possibility. Hope you are feeling better soon.

marenApril 18, 2021 9:12 PM

Hi Grace! Thank you so much for your reply and for referencing the Israeli study. I would love to read it. I responded to a post below about my symptoms starting to wane if you want to read it; however, my period is still quite irregular. I’m hoping it will get better with time. Two of my best friends of 30 years both had the Pfizer vaccine and both of them have also had weird periods so I’m sure this is not an uncommon symptom despite the lack of information about it. I hope that you are getting better and that your experience with the second shot has been positive.
Sending healing thoughts.

GiGiMarch 21, 2021 1:53 AM

I got my 1st vaccine shot (Pfizer) on March 5th. I was very tired from it and a little sore in the arm I got the shot. BUT the 4 days after and ongoing to today (11 days later) the pain is HORRIBLE! I have shooting pain in my left arm/left shoulder nonstop. I am very afraid to get the 2nd shot.

KrisMarch 21, 2021 1:14 AM

FIRST DOSE PFIZER REACTIONS: Has anyone else experienced EDEMA IN THE FEET/LEGS (major swelling/buildup of fluid)? Within a couple of days I experienced SIGNIFICANT edema – more on the injection site side. Plus dizziness, headache and feeling like I had a chest cold – hard to catch my breath and wheezing.

AmyMarch 22, 2021 8:01 PM

My mother currently has severe bilateral foot swelling and audible wheezing after her 2nd dose.

EricMarch 20, 2021 11:57 AM

Received second Moderna shot Friday approx at noon. First shot just sore arm and bruise at injection. 2nd a little sore at arm but now at 8;30 am I have blurry vision. Just got new glasses in January so it’s to do with the vaccine I believe. Also started to have slight fever Friday night and this am, 102 * but feel fine otherwise. Any thoughts on vision issue ? I see others had some type of eye reaction?

AlMarch 19, 2021 7:26 PM

I got my first Moderna shot 16 days ago. 30 minutes after the injection, I experienced strong but brief palpitations that took my breath away. I have had less intense (and still brief) palpitations several times a day every day since. One night, about a week after the shot, I woke up with palpitations and a few seconds of chest pain. I’m going to see a cardiologist just before I’m due for shot #2.

I have pernicious anemia and get daily vitamin B12 injections. I am also on a small daily dose of levothyroxine.

PLEASE report your side effects to VAERS. You do NOT have to give your name or any identifying info. It is easier for people to be taken seriously by doctors if others have corroborated the side effects they are experiencing. Reporting your experience helps others.

Jerry UnderwoodMarch 19, 2021 5:51 PM

I had my first Moderna shot on Jan 8th. Within 24 hours I had sudden total hearing loss in my left ear. Had a hearing test which showed no ability to hear in left ear. My ENT placed me on 60mg Steriods for 14 days. (at that time he did not think in was because of the Vaccine shot) At the end of 14 days still no hearing. He then gave me the first of three direct injections of steriods into the ear. At that time he believed it was the result of the vaccine shot, given what he was then seeing on his ENT blog. He followed up with and MRI and it showed nothing! Obviously did not get my second shot. I still have no hearing in my left ear, with little hope that my hearing will ever return. I reported it to VAERS but of course have heard nothing. I have found almost nothing about this, how often it has occurred, or if there is any hope of regaining my hearing! There is no transparence by the CDC. Even thought
it seems to be rare, I believe the public has a right to know! Can anyone help me with information about this??

pc95March 22, 2021 2:25 AM

Sorry to hear about your hearing – how old are you? Keep working with your doctors – if you aren’t satisfied, ask for a different one. Perhaps investigate alternative
remedies/avenues as well.

Barbara NavenMarch 19, 2021 1:12 PM

I am an American living in Turkey and want to come home so badly but the fear of Covid being what it is in America really concerns me since I am 67 years old. However, I also have concerns for the only vaccine that we are getting here in Turkey since there is little or no information about the Sinvac vaccine. I decided because of my age that I had no choice but to take it and pray for the best result and also be O.K. some years later about the effects that it may cause if any. I believe that we all have concerns but what choice do we have, get the vaccine or take the chance of dying. I had my first injection on February 18, 2021 and my second injection on March 18, 2021 just yesterday. After the injection I felt fine but last night when I was sleeping I woke up and my left arm felt like I was hit with a baseball bat but it went away after about 20 minutes. I was able to go back to sleep. When I woke up and get ready for the day I started to feel so tired and a feeling in my head and neck that felt like a very strange headache and so tired that I just did nothing for the rest of today. I never sleep during the day and this is all I have wanted to do. Hopefully this will pass soon. My main fear is this, these vaccines tend to protect us for about three months but there is little to no information about that. I would like to know where we go from here since there are so many people that are no protected yet and so many that are refusing to be vaccinated. what will we do when these vaccines loose there ability to protect us. Do we get vaccinated again and again ? No one has this information and that is a really big concern for all of us. When will these manufactures release this information and what will our governments do to protect us long term ? I believe that the manufactures know this and why are they not coming forward to inform is. The people who have been vaccinated is the way for data and information and I think it is time to let us know once and for all. I have contacted Sinovac three times and no one has responded back to me. If anyone has any information please reply. TY…

EdnaMarch 19, 2021 6:49 PM

I have mentioned this before on this site. I am not a physician and this is not intended to be medical advise. I am a dentist. Maybe some people have a stronger immune response. They don’t know how long the Ab stay in the body and each one of these Vaccines is different. Usually when you contract a virus your body builds an immunity that last for quite some time. Years. I am not sure why this virus is different except that it is changing and producing variants. Therein lies the deeper mystery. You can ask your doctor to give you a script for an antibody blood test to see if you have Anitbodies to the virus. I am not sure if the antibody tests on the market include the variants but it may give you some indication of how well you build up Antibodies. I am not sure if it will help but it might.

Susan M. MocklerMarch 19, 2021 8:12 AM

Received J & J on 3 18 21. Experienced mild light headedness and back pain/arm pain that subsided after about an hour. I woke today with extreme dry mouth and minor back and neck soreness. I am 64 years old. Reading everyone’s experiences is like reading a horror story. The government will not openly report these as they don’t want to scare people from getting vaccinated. If I had found this site before getting vaccinated I’m not sure I would have as I was wary to begin with. Definitely knew I wouldn’t get any of the other vaccines.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effect Tracker

Most Recent Updates:

The Weekly Wrap-Up

Moderna

Pfizer

CanSinBio (China)

Gamaleya Research Institute (Russia)

Johnson & Johnson

Astrazeneca

Novavax (United Kingdom)

Sinopharm (China)

Sinovac (China)

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (England)

Bharat Biotech

Want to Share Your Story?

RECOMMENDED:

‘Do Your Own Research’ Has Been Hijacked

Arm Pain After COVID-19 Vaccine Is Common

Is Tamiflu Safe for Kids? Exploring the Risk of Hallucinations

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