Looking at the initial data, the
CDC reported that 77% of recipients of the Pfizer vaccine had at least one systematic reaction.
The one you're most likely to get is fatigue and a headache, but there is a whole other realm of possibilities of course.
I'm feeling mostly fine today, with no fever, no chills, and only minor muscle and joint pains. The first 36 hours was by far the worst and then it gradually got better. If you're concerned about how you'll react to the vaccine, it's probably best to look at how you've reacted to other vaccines in the past. Also, by the time most people here at eligible for the vaccine there will be enough data that will give you a really good indication of what you probably can expect. Right now the only data we really have is from healthcare workers, older people, and anyone apart of the trials. In the grand scheme of things, adults age 18-39 don't really have a big data set currently.
By April/May most people should be able to get a vaccine if they want one so it'll be worth it to check out the side-effects between Moderna and Pfizer. I had the Moderna one, but most people I know got the Pfizer one and they've all said they only had a minor reaction.
I'm not sure how being previously exposed to COVID plays into this either. I have no idea if I've actually had the virus or not, but I suspect I had it in February of last year since I had a mysterious illness that had many of the COVID symptoms. I had an influenza test and it came back negative. I also contracted the flu a few weeks later which was confirmed via a positive flu test. I really should've gotten an antibody test prior to getting my vaccine, but it always slipped my mind.
Based on my completely non-medical opinion, I believe anyone healthy enough and without allergies to any of the ingredients should get the COVID vaccine. You might feel like crap for a couple of days, but given how many people feel with COVID, it seems like the least bad option out of the two. My brother-in-law spent 12 days in the hospital with COVID and still probably had several more weeks of recovery to do at home. He's in his late 30's and as far as I know reasonably healthy. With that in mind, I'd hate to see anyone else end up like that. Obviously, if you do have any concerns, please talk to your doctor. They will likely layout all the facts for you and help you decided if the vaccine is an acceptable risk or not. Most healthcare systems right now are launching education campaigns to dispel myths around the vaccine itself since the amount of completely BS information out there regarding both of them is astonishing.
