The NHS is offering Covid vaccines to eligible groups this autumn and winter, and recipients are being urged to recognise rare but serious side effects that require immediate medical attention.
Who can get the Covid vaccine this season
Adults aged 75 and over, care home residents, and anyone aged six months or over who is immunosuppressed can receive the jab. Vaccinations run until December, with the most at-risk people called forward first.
The Covid vaccine can be given alongside the annual flu jab or booked separately, provided at least three months have passed since the last Covid dose. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) notes that different vaccines may be offered to different people, including updated Pfizer, Moderna, or HIPRA formulations designed to boost antibody responses against Omicron strains.
Common side effects are usually mild
Common side effects include a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where the injection was given, typically worst one to two days after vaccination, as well as general aches, mild flu-like symptoms, headaches, and fatigue.
When to seek urgent medical attention
According to patient information leaflets, certain symptoms require urgent medical care. For the Moderna Spikevax vaccine, signs of heart inflammation (myocarditis or pericarditis) include chest pain, breathlessness, and palpitations. Signs of a severe allergic reaction include swelling of the lips, face, tongue, or throat, shortness of breath or wheezing, feeling faint or light-headed, changes in heartbeat, hives or rash, nausea or vomiting, and stomach pain.
For the HIPRA BIMERVAX vaccine, severe allergic reaction signs include swelling of the lips, face, or throat, shortness of breath or wheezing, feeling faint or light-headed, changes in heartbeat, itchy swelling under the skin (hives) or rash, nausea or vomiting, and stomach pain. You should also consult a doctor, pharmacist, or nurse if common side effects persist for more than a few days.
For the Pfizer Comirnaty 10 and Comirnaty 30 vaccines, signs of heart inflammation include chest pain, breathlessness, and palpitations. If you experienced serious side effects after any previous Covid-19 vaccination, you may be advised to avoid or postpone further vaccination, and should discuss this with your doctor or specialist.
