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What Are the Side Effects of COVID-19 Vaccines?
Common symptoms you may experience after a shot. Plus, simple ways to alleviate discomfort
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Key takeaways
- Common COVID-19 vaccine side effects include arm pain, swelling or redness, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, nausea and fever, and they are usually mild and short-lived.
- Staying hydrated, taking it easy after vaccination and using an over-the-counter pain reliever afterward may help ease discomfort.
- Experts say the updated COVID-19 vaccine can help protect against severe illness, while serious vaccine reactions remain rare.
COVID-19 cases are trending down after a late-summer surge, but that doesn’t mean you can let your guard down. Experts say now is the time for adults, especially older adults, to get their annual COVID vaccine before infections begin rising again this winter.
The vaccine has been updated for the 2026-2027 respiratory virus season to more closely match the latest circulating coronavirus variants, and doctors and researchers expect it will provide good protection against severe COVID-19 symptoms. But concerns over side effects could prevent some people from getting the vaccine this year.
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Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that when it comes to the shot, the most commonly reported concern among adults is “possible serious or unknown side effects.” Previous research from KFF has found that a common reason given by people who did not get vaccinated was concern about side effects.
Here’s a closer look at what some of those side effects are, and what the experts have to say about the risks and benefits of the COVID vaccine — especially for older adults.
No surprises from common COVID vaccine side effects
According to the CDC, the updated COVID-19 vaccine has the same common side effects as earlier versions of the shot and other routine vaccinations, including the flu shot.
Side effects may include:
- Pain, swelling, and redness on the arm where the shot was given
- Tiredness, headache, muscle pain
- Chills
- Nausea
- Fever
Not everyone experiences side effects after getting a vaccine. For those who do, keep in mind that they tend to be mild and temporary, and typically go away after a few days, the CDC says.
Alleviating COVID vaccine side effects
The good news: If you’ve been vaccinated for COVID-19 — and millions of Americans have been — you likely already know what to expect and how your body may react.
“I think people also understand how to manage the side effects better in terms of drinking plenty of water prior to getting a vaccine, drinking plenty of water after you get the vaccine, taking it easy the next day,” Robert Weber, administrator for pharmacy services at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and assistant dean for medical center affairs at the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, told AARP.
Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever afterward can help manage any discomfort, he added. Just know it’s not advised to take these medicines ahead of time to try to prevent potential side effects. And applying a clean, cool, wet washcloth to the injection site can help to relieve pain or swelling on the arm where you got the shot, the CDC says.
Another tip: If your schedule allows, clear your calendar the day after your vaccine.
“If you work during the week, you might want to get vaccinated on Friday or Saturday so that you don’t have to work when you’re not feeling great,” said Dr. Kawsar Talaat, an associate professor in the Department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Just know that one day of not feeling well from the vaccine is far better than several days of not feeling well with COVID,” she added.
If your side effects are worrying or linger longer than a few days, it’s important to call your doctor. Serious reactions are rare, the CDC says, but they can happen. Among them: anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can occur after any vaccination. Cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the outer lining of the heart) have also been reported following COVID-19 vaccination, though mostly in younger age groups.
Vaccines are key to preventing severe illness
While COVID-19 is not the same threat it was during the height of the pandemic, it still causes thousands of hospitalizations and deaths each year. A CDC report published in February found that COVID-19 was associated with an estimated 290,000–450,000 hospitalizations and 34,000–53,000 deaths from July 2024 to June 2025.
Keep in mind that older adults have access to two other tools that can help them avoid illness from respiratory viruses: the annual influenza (flu) vaccine and the newer RSV vaccine, which protects against complications from respiratory syncytial virus — a common bug that hospitalizes as many as 160,000 people 65 and older each year.
“We also know that you can get more than one virus at the same time and that people who do get multiple viruses tend to be sicker. And so, again, anything you can do to prevent infection is good,” Talaat said.
For those who do get flu or COVID-19 this year, antiviral treatments can help keep an infection from progressing to severe illness.
The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include new information.
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