Wait, Is This Normal? Vaccine Symptoms To Look Out For

More and more people are currently getting vaccinated against Covid 19. That’s a good thing because it brings us closer to an end to the pandemic. But some people have suffered severe adverse reactions — generally to the second shot of the two-shot vaccine program.

But knowing what symptoms to take seriously and which ones are just normal is hard for many people. Because the vaccine stimulates the virus, you will more likely than not get some virus symptoms for a few days.

These symptoms are not to be worried about. It’s when you get specific symptoms that you have to be careful and see your doctor.

Symptoms like fever, dry cough, or fatigue are just a normal part of getting the vaccine. They are not to be worried about.

The same goes for chills, dizziness, or sore throat. While they won’t make you feel great, all of these symptoms will pass in a couple of days.

Yes, it seems weird that you will get sick to prevent getting Covid-19, but that’s how disease and vaccinations work. Most of us have gotten the flu shot, for example, and felt a bit off the next day. These reactions are normal.

The symptoms you should be concerned about indicate you may have gotten a blood clot. Take it seriously and see your doctor right away. The symptoms of a blood clot include:

• shortness of breath

• chest pain

• swelling in your leg

• persistent abdominal (belly) pain

• neurological symptoms, including severe and persistent headaches or blurred vision

• tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the site of injection

You’ll notice these symptoms are very different from the ones you usually associate with the vaccine. They don’t feel like the flu or a bad cold. That’s what makes them different.

They do not imply the general reaction to the vaccine — which is to give you flu-like symptoms. Instead, they are easily distinguishable from those symptoms.

For example, they may feel a bit like a heart attack. Or they may make you feel like you’ve had a stroke.

What they indicate is a blood clot. But don’t panic. Blood clots are very easy in most cases for doctors to treat. And they are not that uncommon.

For example, 1 in 600 women on birth control pills will get a blood clot. They are dangerous if they are not treated, but if you see a doctor as soon as possible can easily be handled by a medical professional.

You should also not let the fear of blood clots keep you from getting the Covid-19 vaccine. The incidence of blood clots is very, very low. You have a roughly 1 in a million chance of developing one.

The risk of contracting Covid-19 if you are not vaccinated is much higher and carries a much stronger incidence of death.

So, the bottom line is to be careful and watch out for symptoms, but don’t let them scare you off getting the vaccine. The signs you have to be cautious about are pretty obvious and can be treated as long as you are aware of them.

Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash