List of Possible COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects and Its Duration

The COVID-19 pandemic was the most challenging phase for everyone. This pandemic period has completely disrupted our daily lives, healthcare systems, and economics. During the peak period, vaccination was the best option for survival and recovery. Covishield played a significant role in helping us survive that time.

A top government official involved in the nationwide vaccination program has said that the Covishield vaccine of AstraZeneca has demonstrated the lowest incidence of side effects in India against the global average.

Some people who received the Covishield vaccine face common side effects, like TTS syndrome. A lot of new information has been made available regarding the side effects and potential health impact of the Covishield vaccine in India and worldwide. This post will discuss the possible side effects of Covishield.

After taking Covishield, it is advised to stay for 15 to 30 minutes at the vaccination center. It is recommended so that doctors can take immediate action. There are some medical reports where people reported long-term side effects of Covishield.

After taking the vaccine, our body develops immunity against the SARS-CoV-2. In this case, the immune system can be compromised due to other health conditions. If you face this, you need to consult your physician and take medications to overcome the long-term side effects.

Presently, research is going on to find more relevant data regarding the long-term side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. Some of the common effects of the COVID-19 vaccines are acute muscle pain, persistent fever with chills, deep vein thrombosis with thrombocytopenia, thromboembolism, and severe allergic reactions.

Some side effects of the Covid-19 vaccines are more serious but rare. A severe allergic reaction is such a rare side effect of COVID-19. Anaphylaxis or severe allergic reactions are rare. Hence, people are recommended to wait for around 15 minutes after their vaccination. However, the vaccinations are well-trained to manage any allergic reactions that happen. Some of the serious side effects of Covishield vaccine are;

Myocarditis is mainly an inflammation of the heart muscles. Pericarditis is inflammation of the tissues that form a sac around the heart. These conditions are caused by viral infections like COVID-19. These side effects are very serious and rare. Symptoms of pericarditis and myocarditis appear within a few days after you get vaccinated. Usually, people between the age groups of 16 and 30 face these side effects.

Symptoms of myocarditis and pericarditis are:

• Difficulty breathing
• Feeling dizzy or light-headed
• Heaviness or discomfort in the chest or neck
• Pounding heart or feeling like skipping beats.

It is a temporary one-sided facial drop. This rare side effect has been reported by many people. This rare disease affects every 1 person in 1,000, according to clinical trials.

Severe allergic reactions are a rare but serious issue. Hence, doctors recommend people wait at least 15 minutes after getting vaccinated. If you have a serious allergic reaction, vaccinations will handle the situation. In this condition, you should not have the same vaccine again.

Usually, the common side effects of COVID-19 vaccines last for around 2 to 3 days after the vaccination. In some people, the side effects of the vaccine stay for more than 3 days. This lasting period depends on your immune response to the vaccine antibodies. Every person responds differently to the vaccine.

It is normal for anyone to face any side effects of the Covid-19 vaccines. These vaccines are safe and vaccination is important as it will protect you against developing severe Covid-19 infection. These side effects of COVID-19 are more common after the second dose of vaccination.

Covishield

It is the Indian version of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. This vaccine is a recombinant and replication-deficient chimpanzee adenovirus vector. The Serum Institute of India made this vaccine. This vaccine was also launched for emergency use in January 2021. A huge number of people in India got the dose of the vaccine.

Covaxin

It is an inactivated COVID virus vaccine. Bharat Biotech developed this vaccine. They made this vaccine in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Virology. In India, Covaxine was launched for emergency use in January 2021. Millions of Indians have gotten the dose of the vaccine.

Both Covishield and Covaxine are highly effective in preventing COVID-19. However, these two vaccines differ in several aspects, like composition, dosing schedules, and storage requirements.

1. Covaxine uses an inactivated virus where the virus is killed already. Covishield, on the other hand, uses a viral vector platform. It employs a modified version of a chimpanzee adenovirus to deliver the spike protein of the SARS-COV-2 virus.
2. If you consider the efficiency, both vaccines are strongly efficient in preventing COVID-19. According to different studies, the Covishield efficacy rate is around 70% after the first dose. Covaxine on the other hand, has an efficacy rate of approximately 78% according to clinical trials.
3. For storage, both Covishield and Covaxine can be stored at 2 to 8 degrees Celcius. It is similar to standard refrigeration. Both of these vaccines are suitable for existing vaccine supply chains.

Hopefully, now you have a clear idea about the side effect of COVID-19 vaccines. You can report your reactions or someone's reactions. You don't need to worry about the side effects of this virus. You can consult with your physician to get the best advice.

The response of the immune system after the second dose is more obvious than the side effects after the first dose. However, after full vaccination, people can resume their regular activities. Make sure to follow precautions like wearing a mask, maintaining social distance, and using sanitizer. 

There is no head-to-head comparison between these two vaccines used in India. So, one can't choose one vaccine over the other. Both of these vaccines work well in preventing the COVID-19 virus.

A mild fever after the pentavalent vaccine usually lasts 1 to 3 days. The fever symptoms appear after the day of injection.

If you experience fever or pain at the injection site, you can take paracetamol. However, we don't recommend taking paracetamol routinely. You should check the fever level and consult your physical for any adverse events.

If the physician suggests, you can give paracetamol syrup to the child in case of fever after vaccination. If you face any adverse events make sure to consult a professional help.

According to Moderna's initial Phase 3 clinical data in December 2020, both Covishield and Covaxine showed around 95% efficacy for the prevention of COVID-19. 

* * Medical Disclaimer - The following information is for educational purposes only. No information provided on this website, including text, graphic, and images, are intended as substitutes for professional medical advice. Please consult with your doctor about specific medical advice pertaining to your condition(s).