Experts: severe side effects from COVID-19 vaccine are rare

WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than 106 million Americans are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Some people report feeling worse after their second dose, but why?

Common side effects include chills, aches and fatigue.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has this message posted on its website:

“If you received a second COVID-19 shot, the side effects may be more intense than the ones you experienced after your first shot.

Experts say those side effects are normal because your body is building protection to the virus.”

The Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Melanie Swift says your body begins to develop an immune response after the first shot, but it happens slowly.

“When you then come back with the second vaccine, your body is ready to attack it. So the second vaccine dose goes into your body, starts to make that spike protein, and your antibodies jump on it and rev up, and your immune system responds,” she said.

According to health experts, side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine should go away within about 72 hours.

They insist severe side effects - like blood clots and potentially life-threatening allergic reactions - are very rare.

When will Pennsylvania reach the goal of vaccinating 70 percent of the population?