Pfizer versus Moderna side effects

[Mme. Defarge]

Had my fourth shot yesterday and chose Moderna based on my understanding that it is somewhat more protective than Pfizer’s vaccine. My arm is considerably more sore and I’m feeling much more fatigued today than on the days following each of my 3 Pfizer shots.

Am curious about others’ experiences with mixing vaccines.

[LoisB]

1. All three of mine were Moderna. A little tired for a couple hours after the first but other than

a sore injection site for two or three days, I had no side effects at all. I have not had a fourth.

[lagomorph777]

2. I've had 3 Pfizers; did not know a 4th was "legal" yet.

Pfizer #1: Puked the next morning, groggy that day, sore arm
Pfizer #2: Groggy for about 2 weeks
Pfizer #3: Severe diarrhea the next day, followed by a bout with AFIB (only the 2nd AFIB incident in my life)

[Mme. Defarge]

4. Yikes!

Sorry you had such a rough go of it.

[lagomorph777]

5. Yeah - not so sure I'm up for a fourth (though my third was only a month ago anyway).

[Mme. Defarge]

7. My booster was a little over 5 months ago

and beyond that the 4th shot is recommended for immune compromised folks.

[LisaL]

8. But that hasn't been approved?

Did you just show up in a pharmacy to get it, or did you have to do something else?

[LoisB]

19. Wow. Sorry you had such a bad experience. Are you okay now

[lagomorph777]

20. Yeah OK now and I don't regret getting the shots.

A little wary about getting any more though...

I'll watch the market and see if some milder ones are introduced.

[LoisB]

24. I have seen some articles about a pill in some stage of development. Don't know how far off that

is. Maybe if there is a 4th shot available, you (or we) could opt for the children's dosage?

[lagomorph777]

26. I recall hearing about a pill version of monoclonal antibodies...

Supposedly lasts 6 months, which is basically the same as an actual vaccination at this point.

I don't know how far away that prospect is, but sounds very interesting.

[LoisB]

29. Hopefully, sooner rather than later. I would much rather swallow a pill.

[lagomorph777]

30. I could barely feel the shots at all. Needles were miniscule.

Shot versus pill is irrelevant to me.

I would just like to skip the side effects next time.

[democrattotheend]

31. What about Novavax?

Novavax got really good results in trials, including against Omicron, has fewer side effects, and they FINALLY requested an EUA from the FDA on Monday. I know several people who are waiting on it for either their primary shots (these are people who didn't even consider the existing options, so I am very excited about the prospect of getting them vaccinated) or for boosters. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be a priority for the FDA. If you want another option help put pressure on the FDA to make it a priority. Based on my own unscientific poll of people I know, I think Novavax approval would do more than most other measures to get more adults vaccinated at this point, which would be good for everyone.

[lagomorph777]

42. I don't know anything about it; will look into it.

Thanks!

Found this:
"Novavax asked the Food and Drug Administration on Monday to authorize its protein-based Covid-19 vaccine for adults.

The vaccine is already available for use in at least 170 countries, but if cleared for emergency use in the United States, it would provide an alternative to the popular mRNA-based shots from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

For certain groups of people — particularly young men — the mRNA vaccines carry a slightly elevated risk of a heart condition called myocarditis. Novavax's vaccine has not been linked to myocarditis.

The decision will now go to the FDA, which is expected to take several weeks to review the application. Novavax CEO Stanley Erck has said the vaccine could be authorized by U.S. regulators as early as February.

Clinical trial results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in December, found two doses of Novavax’s vaccine, given 21 days apart, were safe and highly effective against moderate to severe disease.

The Gaithersburg, Maryland-based biotech company has also said two doses of its vaccine triggered a strong immune response against the Covid omicron variant, though three doses appeared to be better. Still, Novavax said it is developing a modified version of its vaccine tailored to protect against the extremely contagious strain.

Unlike the mRNA vaccines, which trick the body into producing a harmless piece of the virus, triggering an immune response, the Novavax vaccine introduces synthesized coronavirus proteins to kick-start the body’s immune system. It uses an older technology found in other widely used vaccines, like the flu shot."

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/covid-vaccine-novavax-asks-fda-authorize-adults-rcna14199

[MineralMan]

3. All three of my shots were Moderna.

Side effects were not worth mentioning, really. Sore arm for a day, maybe a little fatigue. However, side effects vary widely from individual to individual. Some have more than others.

I didn't mind the side effects, when I considered the protection I was getting.

[LisaL]

11. I also had 3 Modernas.

So I can't compare to Pfizer.
I had a worse reaction with shot of Moderna, though.
First one, almost nothing.
Second one, arm hurt and not feeling well for a couple of days.
Third one, arm hurt, fever for the next two days, not feeling well for several days, and "Moderna" arm.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Pretty Similar, Here

Moderna, as well.
Just like you, nothing on shot one.
It was #2 that got me. Symptoms like your booster, but for only about 14 hours.
The booster was like your #2. But, for a couple hours when i woke up
We kind of flipped 2 & 3, but symptoms were identical, though mine were shorter.

[Ex Lurker]

21. All three of mine were Moderna

The first one made my arm so sore I couldn't lift it and I had severe fatigue and body aches. The second, my arm was less sore but the other side effects were the same. The third (half dose) made my arm only slightly sore but I still had the fatigue and body aches, although not quite as bad as the first two.

[Bobstandard]

6. It's about the same for both

Some people getting either product report a wide variety of side effects ranging from none to enough to complain about.

I dont know of any non-anecdotal analysis.

So I’m watching here.

[intrepidity]

9. 1st two Pfizer, booster Moderna

Just a bit of soreness at injection site for me

[LisaL]

10. How did you get the fourth shot?

It hasn't been approved as far as I know. It's been 6 months since my third shot, so I feel like I am due for another one.

[Mme. Defarge]

12. Through my health insurance company.

Perhaps it’s only for immune compromised patients.

[LisaL]

14. But did somebody tell you to get it?

Or did you have to ask?

[Mme. Defarge]

25. There was a mysterious little red alert

in my Kaiser app indicating that I was overdue for a Covid vaccine. After seeing a segment on CNN about the confusing CDC language in their current recommendation of a fourth shot, I connected he dots and scheduled a vaccine appointment through the app.

[BlueIdaho]

15. Yes.

I have a friend who has had a liver transplant. He had his fourth jab last week.

[BumRushDaShow]

44. It has been for certain individuals

Earlier guidance (before the approvals for younger children - one of the slides from the 10/21/22 CDC ACIP meeting)





Latest guidance (as of 1/7/22) - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html



Also -

Who Is Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised?

People are considered to be moderately or severely immunocompromised if they have:

Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood

Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system

Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system

Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)

Advanced or untreated HIV infection

Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

People should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional primary shot is appropriate for them.

Because of the confusion of the language of "booster" vs "regular dose", the severely immuno-compromised have been recommended to get a "3-dose series" for their initial shots and and then come back 5 months later for a 4th dose to be used as a "booster" (instead of a 2-dose series and then a 3rd to be used as a booster after 5 months).

[joshcryer]

16. My arm was sore for 5 days with Moderna...

...but I hadn't had a shot in 20 years before that. So I don't know if soreness is relevant.

I felt actually very good after getting Moderna (likely placebo), and had zero negative symptoms other than soreness at the shot. Interestingly, I didn't feel the needle going in and was surprised when they said they were done. I only felt soreness after the fact which is interesting to me.

The way mRNA vaccines work is that the lipids release the mRNA for the ribosomes and it is fairly local to the injection site. That may be the reason it has a persistent pain more so than other vaccines.

[greatauntoftriplets]

17. I had no reaction at all from three Pfizer shots.

YMMV.

[Tree Lady]

18. I heard Moderna puts more in their

Shot that's why it's more effective and more side affects. I had it all 3 times and got sick every time but no Covid for 2 years so I figure either that, masking or being careful is working along with trying to eat better.

[Johonny]

37. I believe this is true

although the booster is less than the original

[BlackSkimmer]

22. A fourth?

Haven’t heard that’s a thing yet.

[Mme. Defarge]

27. See reply number 10 and read through the responses.

[Whiskeytide]

23. Two Pfizer and then a Moderna booster. Injection ...

… site soreness for a day or so with all three. After my second Pfizer, I was very tired the following day. Other than that, I was fine.

[Mossfern]

28. Three full doses of Moderna

Arm a bit sore (remember to try to relax during jab and move your arm around and massage after)
After all three shot's felt a little off and yucky/achy for a few days.

Got Covid about a month ago- mild case, but still have headaches.
Can I consider that as a fourth dose?

[Meowmee]

32. I have only had three pfizer so far

Last edited Wed Feb 2, 2022, 07:53 PM - Edit history (1)

How were you eligible for a fourth? I have not heard anything about that are you living in the US?

Moderna has a higher dosage I believe so that may be why some people have a stronger reaction to it. I always have a reaction to every type of vaccination but my third Pfizer I did have a really bad reaction to and I think something different was going on with that one.

[Mme. Defarge]

34. See reply number 10 and read through the responses.

[Meowmee]

36. Yes I did

I am not sure if I am yet eligible. I will ask my hematologist. It has been almost 4 months since my last shot and I am at continual risk now teaching in person.

[Mme. Defarge]

38. My hematologist definitely approved!

😻

[Meowmee]

39. Great 😀

Mine is a good doc overall, one of the few left. He was the one who told me to start wearing masks and gave me some when they were pretending it wouldn't help. But it was too late, I already had covid and had pneumonia soon after. He thought it was not covid from bw, but he was wrong. Eventually after my neutrophils dropped a lot.


How long did you have between the 3rd and 4th shots? 😻

[Mme. Defarge]

40. 5 months.

If you’ve already had Covid and been vaccinated, you may be quite well protected. Just do what your good doctor says. 😎

[Meowmee]

41. Yes I will ask him

Having one strain does not protect you from another though apparently. There have been reports of people surviving one strain and dying from another. Plus we don’t know even how many people actually had Covid and didn’t know about it or died from it.

[beaglelover]

33. My first 2 shots were Moderna and got a Pfizer booster.

No real side affects other than a sore arm from shot 1.
Felt a bit under the weather after shot 2 with same sore arm but was better in a day.
Didn't really feel anything other than a bit of a sore arm after the booster.

[Trailrider1951]

35. I had Pfizer for all three so far

Only side effects were a next day sore arm for all three and next day tiredness and sleepiness for the third one. If I need a fourth in the future, I'll stick with Pfizer. YMMV

[Fix The Stupid]

43. 1st was Aztra-Zeneca - next two were Moderna...

The 1st one almost killed me..no exaggeration. I had paralysis, fever, shakes, memory loss, you name it. There were two or three times when I was paralyzed I thought I was taking my last breath...

The Moderna? Nothing...and I mean nothing. Not a sore arm, no fatigue, absolutely no reaction whatsoever.

Make of that what you will.

[ARPad95]

45. I had Moderna for all 3 of mine.

1. Mild side effects. I don't really remember anything in particular.

2. Super sore arm for several days. I attribute it mainly to the person standing above me and injecting the needle down into my arm. Chills over night and mild headache.

3. Most serious side affects with booster included extreme chills 2 nights in a row, headache, fatigue and lower back pain (might be attributed to laying in bed too long). Felt close to normal after 3 days.