Will side effects from COVID vaccine boosters be different?
With the Delta COVID variant wreaking havoc in and around the world, breakthrough infections have become a source of major concern. Not only are unvaccinated people highly susceptible to the SARs-COV-2 virus, but those who have received both the doses of the COVID vaccine are also prone to the infection it seems.
While some continue to remain hesitant of the vaccines, blaming them to be ineffective, others believe that the protection or the antibodies acquired from the two vaccine doses wane over time, leading to such infections. Especially when it concerns people with weak immune systems, there could be a chance that the effectiveness of the vaccine may have diminished over time.
This has led to the debates and discussions around the need for a COVID vaccine booster shot. Currently, many scientists, pharma companies and several government officials are in talks to develop a third vaccine dose. In fact, Israel and the United States of America have started administering booster shots to those who are immunocompromised.
What are COVID vaccine boosters?
There is a possibility that vaccine-induced immunity may wane over a period of time, as per experts. This may in turn lead to people requiring a third vaccine dose, also known as a "booster" shot. That said, booster shots are given to people who have been fully vaccinated, so as to re-expose their immune system to the immunizing antigen, the memory of which (after the previous dose) could have been lost over a period of time.
Who will need them?
Just like COVID-19 vaccines were first made available to the most vulnerable in the society, similarly, COVID booster dose will be prioritized for people who have a compromised immunity.
As per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the list of people who are eligible to get the vaccine booster include people who have been receiving treatment for tumours and cancers, those who have been dealing with advanced or untreated HIV infection and also those who have undergone organ transplants.
Additionally, people who have received a stem cell transplant and are taking immunosuppressant medications can also receive COVID booster shots.
Will there be any side effects from vaccine booster shots? What to expect
It is a known fact that vaccines are a mimicry of the actual virus. That said, people who receive their COVID shot may be prone to side effects that are mild. Having side effects does not mean that you're developing an infection, rather it indicates that your body's immune system has begun to recognize the pathogen, or in case of COVID-19 vaccine, a fragment resembling the actual spike protein of SARs-COV-2 virus and started to produce antibodies to fight these viral particles.
Similarly, vaccine boosters may also trigger some side effects, as per reports. Clinical studies about the safety and efficacy of additional doses are still ongoing and while only a few countries have begun administering the booster shot, the little data accumulated so far suggests that the side effects experienced from it may be mild and may resemble the side effects from the first two doses.
According to the CDC, "“So far, reactions reported after the third mRNA dose were similar to that of the two-dose series: fatigue and pain at [the] injection site were the most commonly reported side effects, and overall, most symptoms were mild to moderate."
What has the study found?
As of now, the third dose of Pfizer's or Moderna's COVID vaccines are the first ones to receive Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).
In Israel, people aged 60 and older have been offered a third dose of the vaccine since late July. That said, as per a study conducted by Israel’s largest health provider, Clalit, it was found that among more than 4,500 people who received Pfizer's vaccine booster shot between July 30 and August 1, about 88% reported feeling “similar or better” than how they felt after the second shot.
Side effects to expect from the booster dose
According to the study, some of the side effects experienced by the people who received the third vaccine shot are as follows.
- Pain, redness and swelling at the injection site
- Fatigue
- Headache, dizziness
- Muscle and joint pain
- Fever and chills
Read more: What is COVID-19 vaccine booster? Do you need it after being fully vaccinated?
Should you be hesitant to take the COVID vaccines?
While COVID vaccines come with various side effects, it is not a matter of concern. All vaccines trigger certain immune responses in the body which may not be very pleasant. As is known, vaccines are a mimicry of a pathogen, which when injected into the body activates the immune system to produce antibodies and fight the foreign particles. This in turn causes inflammatory responses in the body, leading to fever, fatigue, headache, etc.
If you're someone who is hesitant to get your COVID vaccines, it is important to understand that besides taking safety precautions, vaccination is the only way you can steer clear of severe infection for the SARs-COV-2 virus.
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