Modnar Loc: Batley' West Yorkshire, UK

i had my first Pfizer shot in early December and my second just after the New Year. No side effects apart from the usual sore arm muscle as usual following any shot It disappeared after a day. Received wisdom is that if you have a reaction it shows it is doing its job. Don't take any painkillers - tough it out.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes! Definitely!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Thanks for that.

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

My wife and I have yet to receive our first. Living in rural Pennsylvania has proven to be a problem as the vaccine shipments are bvery limited to our area. also, the method for getting an appointment for the vaccine is difficult at best. Websites were not provided in the local newspaper announcements, plus the phone numbers given led to automated answering machines which basically said appointments were not being made as the vaccine supply was depleted and future shipments were not yet scheduled.

Our youngest son has receoved his first and second doses with only a mild fever after the second injection.

An article in the morning newspaper here today related that a significant number of "second" doses had been given out as first doses. That started me wondering, is there any difference in the doses? And does it matter if there is not?

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

My wife has had both shots (Pfizer); no problem either time. Me; 1st shot (Maderna) 1/02; No reaction. 2nd shot; 2/02. Read somewhere to not take Ibuprofen for till full efficacy. Did anyway, but have mostly stopped after reading. Who knows?

LEWHITE7747 Loc: 33773

Good point-will lower the immune response--you want antibodies to form from the inflammation caused by the vaccine.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It seems that both shots have the same ingredients, but the body is primed to respond after it gets the first shot.

Good article -

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/04/health/coronavirus-vaccine-second-shot-effects-wellness/index.html

ahudina Loc: Browns Point, WA

Had second Moderna shot on Tuesday. No symptoms after the first (except sore shoulder) About 12 hours after the second I was cold put on another blanket and went back to sleep. Awake an hour later with uncontrollable chills and was actually physically shaking. This lasted about an hour. The next morning had a lot of muscle soreness (probably from the shaking) and general fatigue. All back to normal today. Definitely beats covid.

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

My experience with Pfizer vaccine: very sore arm after 1st injection, mildly sore arm after 2nd injection.
No flu-like symptoms either time.

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

The first shot does the priming, by causing the body to make antibodies, which go into action (as they should) when you get the second shot.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Jerry, my husband & I have both had our 2nd doses of the Moderna vaccine. Mine on February 2, and hubby just day before yesterday. After my 1st dose, my upper arm/shoulder were a bit sore for a few hours beginning bout 12 hours post-vaccine. Hubby experienced fatigue and soreness in his arm for about 24 hours post-vaccine. The reactions after the second doses were a whole 'nother animal. My second dose was about 3PM. The following AM, I remarked that I felt great and emailed that info to my best friend. A couple of hours later, I was in the shower and was just suddenly overcome with a feeling of overwhelming fatigue. At that point, I decided that I was just going to "roll with it" and get into bed. Before I could get across the hall to bed, the aches and pains set in. An hour or so after that, some bone-rattling short-lived chills kicked in. Then came the headache. Those reactions began about 18 hours post-dose and developed over probably less than 2 hours. Mid-AM, I just turned out the lights, hopped into bed, and pulled up the covers. Less than 24 hours later, every one of my reactions had resolved 100%. A note here - I did NOT take any anti-inflammatory meds because the jury is still out as to their effect on the efficacy of the vaccine. What I did do was to pop 2 low dose benadryls to knock me out so I could sleep it off.
Hubby's reactions were pretty much the same as mine, except that the onset of his started the evening of his 2nd dose (less than 12 hours post-dose). He also complained of feeling light-headed. His reactions lasted longer than mine. As I write this, he is still complaining of being "somewhat light-headed", but that may just be to get out of working on his "Honey-do List".😀 Just a note here, he refused my offer of the Benadryl.
That's our personal experience. What I can say is that if those reactions are like a "very mild' case of Covid, neither of us wants to get the real thing!

Edit: spoke to 2 others I know who have also had their 2nd doses of the Moderna, and their experiences have been very similar to mine & hubby's.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Some science on the subject, with percentages of side effects for first and second shots;

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/heres-why-your-second-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-will-likely-have-stronger-side-effects

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Thanks for that link, John. I'd read that article a while ago, and was looking for it to add to my response but couldn't find it. It's a really excellent, plain English explanation, and it's based on science!

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

Apparently the Moderna vaccine has more frequent side-effects of sufficient severity to interfere with normal activity compared to the Pfizer vaccine.
https://www.10news.com/news/coronavirus/what-are-the-side-effects-of-the-moderna-and-pfizer-covid-vaccines
https://www.businessinsider.com/pfizer-moderna-covid-19-vaccines-comparison-how-the-shots-compare-2020-12?op=1

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

My fatigue from the second shot was so severe it started 10 years ago!