COVID-19 vaccine potential side effects
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- As Colorado prepares for the arrival of its first doses of coronavirus vaccines, some may be concerned about the potential side effects.
"While it's important that it works, it's just as or more important to be sure that it's safe," Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Eric France, with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said.
Governor Jared Polis announced Wednesday, Colorado is anticipating 46,800 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 96,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine within the next few weeks.
"We'll hear about fevers, fatigue and headaches. These are symptoms that affect the whole body's system," France said.
According to state health officials, the process of building COVID-19 immunity can also contribute to symptoms. It's similar to the side effects seen when administering the flu vaccine.
"This vaccine definitely stimulates the immune system," Dr. Ripley Hollister said.
Hollister, who is leading the Moderna vaccine clinical trials at the Lynn Institute in Colorado Springs, said this is a common effect seen in their trials.
"People a lot of times don't understand when we stimulate the immune system, it doesn't feel good. A lot of times patients say, I'm going to feel better if you stimulate my immune system, but you don't."
Of the 270 active participants, Hollister said half receive the vaccine, while the remainder are given a placebo. However, he said it's fairly easy to determine who is getting the drug, based on what each participant is experiencing.
"They tended to react a little bit more to the second vaccine, which is administered 28 days after the first one."
New data presented by the state indicates a similar result from recent Pfizer vaccine trials. According to the data, 4 percent of participants who received the first vaccine dose, reported a fever. The number increased to nearly 16 percent, after the second dose was administered.
"It seems to be a common theme that with the second dose, the reactions are greater," France said.
State health officials also warn people who have a history of severe allergic reactions to medications or other vaccines, may be at an increased risk of an allergic reaction with the COVID-19 vaccines.
