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These Are The Side Effects You Can Expect From The New COVID Vaccine, According To Immunologists

It's officially fall, and that means pumpkin spice lattes are back—and that a new COVID-19 booster is available.

It couldn't come at a better time, as COVID infection rates have been sharply on the rise since August thanks to the new Eris variant. While immunologists agree that it's important to get the new COVID-19 booster, it shouldn't be your only means of protection from the virus, especially with the rates spiking at the beginning of autumn and ahead of the holidays.

"The vaccine should be used in conjunction with other protective measures such as masking and ventilation for those people at higher risk for severe disease (like people over 65 or with underlying medical conditions)," immunologist and University of South Florida associate dean of internal medicine Dr. Michael N. Teng, MD, tells Parade.

Related: Why Some People Never Test Positive for COVID-19

What Are the Side Effects of the New COVID-19 Vaccine?

According to Dr. Kirsten Hokeness, Ph.D., immunologist and professor of biological and biomedical sciences at Bryant University, you can pretty much expect the side effects of the new COVID-19 booster to be like the previous COVID vaccines. These can include:

Some patients may also experience mild muscle aches, chills or a low-grade fever.

Do the side effects stink? Yes. But the good news is, having them is an indicator that your immune system is getting to work—and so is the vaccine—at protecting you from a more serious COVID infection down the line.

It's important to note, however, that some patients may not experience any side effects at all. This doesn't mean the vaccine isn't working! Everyone's bodies and immune systems are unique.

Related: What a COVID-19 Sore Throat Really Feels Like

How Long Do COVID Vaccine Side Effects Typically Last?

While COVID vaccine side effects can be pretty crummy, most people get over them within a few days at the most. Immunologist Dr. Jenna Podjasek, MD, says that most COVID booster side effects are mild and subside within 24 to 48 hours. (Compare that to, say, a severe case of COVID or worse, long COVID—which the vaccine may help prevent—and it's basically a cakewalk.)

Related: The No. 1 Early Sign of COVID That Most People Miss, According to Infectious Disease Experts

Do the Benefits of the New COVID Vaccine Outweigh the Risks?

Immunologists almost unanimously agree: Yes, the benefits of the new vaccine absolutely outweigh the risk of side effects!

"The benefit-risk profile indicates that serious side effects that have the potential to cause long-term health issues are very rare following the COVID vaccine as opposed to the reported damaging impacts the infection can cause, including long COVID and even death," Dr. Hokeness explains.

The other obvious upside to getting the new booster is that it's more effective against new variants.

Related: The Most Common Symptoms of the COVID Variant Eris

"The updated vaccine matches the circulating strains much better than the original vaccines, so there is a clear benefit to it," Dr. Teng says. "Also, our antibody response wanes over time from both vaccination and infection. It is a good idea to bolster our immune protection as we head into the holiday season where there will be a lot of travel and interaction in enclosed spaces."

In short, the chance that you'll have severe side effects from the vaccine pales in comparison to the chance of severe impacts from getting COVID or long COVID, which can be outright debilitating for many.

What Are the Best Ways To Manage the New COVID Vaccine's Side Effects?

"Everyone will experience different symptoms to varying degrees, so it is important to listen to your body and rest as needed," Dr. Hokeness recommends.

You can also take over-the-counter pain medication after your vaccine to manage pain and soreness. If you have more severe symptoms that aren't alleviated with over-the-counter medicines or rest, however, Dr. Teng advises you to check in with your doctor.

Next, Find Out The One Simple Thing That May Make Your COVID-19 Vaccine Even More Effective

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What Doctors Wish Patients Knew About Flu VaccinesCommentary

InsideSources.Com

The flu season is about to rev up in the United States and is a serious public health challenge. From 2010 to 2020, between 12,000 and 52,000 people in the United States die of flu annually. Many of these deaths could have been prevented by flu vaccines, but many Americans fail to get them even though they know they should.

According to a National Foundation for Infectious Diseases survey, 69% of adults in the United States agree that annual influenza vaccination is the best preventive measure against flu-related deaths and hospitalizations. Yet, only 49% planned to get an influenza vaccine during the 2022–2023 flu season. That percentage is likely to be even lower this year, given COVID fatigue and the barrage of anti-vaccine propaganda circulating on social media and certain news channels.

Of those who said they would forgo vaccination, about 40% either didn't think flu vaccines work very well or had concerns over the side effects. In addition, 28% said they never get the flu, 24% are concerned about getting the flu from the vaccine, and 20% don't think it is a serious illness.

Here are a few pertinent facts for the doubters.

• The vaccine won't give you the flu.

The active ingredient in the flu shot is made of pieces of the virus. Although the nasal spray vaccine contains a whole virus, it's a weakened form, so neither kind can actually give you the flu. Although you might have a low-grade fever or feel a little fatigued for a couple of days after the vaccine, that's the immune system responding to the vaccine and doing its job.

• This year's vaccines seem like a good match for circulating flu viruses.

Midseason data from the Southern Hemisphere (where the fall-winter flu season precedes that in the Northern Hemisphere) suggest the current season's flu vaccines protect quite well against the most serious outcomes, according to a Sept. 15 report by CDC researchers. They concluded that the 2023 Southern Hemisphere seasonal flu vaccines reduced the risk for flu-associated hospitalizations by 52%, which is in the usual range for flu vaccines of 40 to 60%.

• Any time during the flu season is a good time for the vaccine.

The flu season generally runs from September to February or March. Because the efficacy of the vaccines starts to wane gradually a couple of months after administration, late September or October is generally optimal to get the vaccine, but any time during the flu season affords some protection.

• Hate shots? There are nasal sprays, too.

The sprays, typically about as effective as the shots, are approved only for people ages 2 through 49. If you'd prefer that option, discuss it with your doctor.

• Everyone should get a flu vaccine, especially seniors.

Seniors are especially at risk for serious illness, hospitalization and death from flu. Therefore, it is vital for them to be vaccinated, and because as we age, we don't mount as robust an immune response, some "higher potency" vaccine options available for seniors. If you're a senior, remind the person administering the shot that you're eligible.

• You can get the flu and COVID vaccines at the same visit.

The newly updated COVID-19 vaccine, designed to better match the SARS-CoV-2 virus subvariants that are now circulating, is now available for patients 6 months or older. Co-administration of flu and updated COVID-19 vaccines (via separate shots) is permitted at the same visit to a health-care provider.

Vaccines are some of modern medicine's greatest miracles. Take advantage of them.

Henry I. Miller, a physician and molecular biologist, is the Glenn Swogger Distinguished Fellow at the American Council on Science and Health. He was the founding director of the FDA's Office of Biotechnology.

When Should You Get Your Fall Covid-19, Flu, And RSV Vaccines? The Science Of Timing It Just Right

Fall is more than the start of flu season. Now, it's also the time to get vaccinated against up to three viruses: flu, Covid-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). But is there an exact science behind vaccine timing? In short, ideally before November 1.

It's safe to get boosted for flu and Covid-19 at the same time, according to public health expert and vice president of science, medicine, and public health for the American Medical Association (AMA) Andrea Garcia. The main advantage there isn't necessarily linked to a more fortified immune system, but rather a trip saved. Pairing flu and Covid-19 vaccines saves you an additional appointment, and delaying one could mean putting it off entirely.

Garcia also suggests the best months for vaccination. "In general, September and October are really good times to get the flu vaccine," Garcia said on the podcast AMA Update. The Centers for Disease Control agree that September and October are prime vaccine months because they immediately precede peak flu circulation, which is historically between December and February. This also goes for RSV. The RSV vaccine, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for adults over 60 this past May, is now available in major pharmacies. For those who need all three, it's safe and convenient to get them all at once.

Elderly adults and other people vulnerable to these viruses should also wait until this window to get vaccinated so their immunity will be strongest when infections are most rampant, according to the CDC. Healthy adults, however, have flexible timing because neither virus poses as large a health risk as it does to the elderly and more vulnerable adults.

The priority, however, is to get vaccinated before sickness starts spreading. Jennifer Nuzzo, epidemiology professor and director of the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health, previously told Inverse that the best time to get inoculated is, essentially, before you're infected. Of course, when flu, Covid-19, and RSV cases rise in later autumn, you're much more likely to contract at least one of them.

"The goal is generally to get vaccinated before the virus is spreading in your community," Garcia said.

If you have or recently had Covid-19, then you'll want to hold off on the vaccine. Once you're symptom-free and testing negative, the infection acts as a natural boost of immunity that can last about three months, Nuzzo said; there's no point in also getting vaccinated if you're naturally immunized. When you're through with Covid-19, get your flu (and possibly RSV) vaccine — Covid-19 immunity does nothing against influenza.

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