The Covid-19 vaccines BNT162b2 from Biontech/Pfizer and mRNA-1273 from Moderna have been found to cause only rare critical side effects, with no deaths attributed to the vaccines. A study conducted by the 1CDC COVID-19 Response Team and published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report analyzed the side effects of the vaccines administered in the US until January 13, 2021. Of the 13.8 million people vaccinated with the two vaccines, 1.6 million used the smartphone app “V-Safe” to document any potential side effects. The app revealed that the most common side effects were pain and swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headaches, and muscle pain.
The study also found that the rate of people experiencing side effects increased after the second dose of BNT162b2, with fatigue being the most commonly reported symptom. However, critical complications were rare, with only 113 deaths reported out of 6,994 adverse events in the first month. The deaths were not found to be related to the vaccine, with causes including heart disease, dementia, pneumonia, and general weakness. Anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, was also reported in 62 cases, with a rate of 4.5 cases per million doses.
Overall, the study provides reassurance that the Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective, with only rare and mostly mild side effects. The use of the V-Safe app to document side effects is a useful tool for monitoring the safety of the vaccines, and the low rate of critical complications is encouraging. As more people receive the vaccines, continued monitoring and reporting of side effects will be important to ensure their safety and efficacy.
In conclusion, the Covid-19 vaccines BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 have been found to cause only rare critical side effects, with no deaths attributed to the vaccines. The most common side effects include pain and swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headaches, and muscle pain. Critical complications were rare, with only 113 deaths reported out of 6,994 adverse events in the first month. The use of the V-Safe app to document side effects is a useful tool for monitoring the safety of the vaccines, and continued monitoring and reporting of side effects will be important as more people receive the vaccines.
