Moderna 2 doses - my reactions

When the pandemic began I became very interested in the research to find a vaccine, going so far as to contact Astra Zeneca in the UK, which at that time was being lauded as the leader in the covid vaccine race.

I became so interested I volunteered for the Astra Zeneca trials in the USA. I recently withdrew from the trials to receive the Moderna, as I had been given the placebo.

Since March and now, I've witnessed the trail of errors and mistakes and bad science involving the Astra Zeneca journey towards gaining approval. It's been 1 thing after another - from mis-dosing (where patients were given the wrong dosage) to covering up mistakes and not being as open and forthcoming with results as they should have been.

I've read that many in Germany and others in the UK are reluctant to take the Astra Zeneca vaccine.

However when I talked to a doctor a few weeks ago, she told me that people should get whatever vaccine has been approved and is available. Here in the USA we now have the vaccines produced by Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and soon Astra Zeneca may be approved.

I believe the Astra Zeneca vaccine is a viable solution although if I had my choice I'd rather take the Johnson & Johnson which is only 1 dose, or the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.

In any case, I think you should get vaccinated as soon as possible with whatever vaccine is available.

I'm glad my post helped you make your decision.

Hi Sarah,

I had my first dose of the Oxford AZ vaccine last Thursday morning, I felt ok Thursday just tired in the afternoon.

I took 2 paracetamol before going to bed but woke in the night with a fever and a sore arm, took 2 more paracetamol and felt better when I woke, I went to work as usual but by the afternoon I was flagging and went straight back to bed as soon as I got home.

I still feel a bit tired and lethargic but I do anyway due to ongoing health issues. It wasnt as bad as Id expected, I was really nervous and spoke to a couple of the staff at the vaccination centre before having it, and afterwards as had some side effects, dizzy and nausea, but think that was just a panic attack. The staff are all so lovely, dont worry about being nervous, they will have seen it all, from near hand breaking grips whilst having the jab to people crying and even fainting, I was told a few stories which made me feel better as I felt like I was the only problem patient making a fuss!

I didnt take any pain medication beforehand as the symptoms dont present themselves immediately, I was advised to take paracetamol every 4 hours in the afternoon if I started to feel unwell which I didnt until the night, Ibuprofen was not mentioned by the staff but not unadvised when I mentioned it but I think I read somewhere that paracetamol is recommended, it is better for fever, Ibuprofen is better for pain.

I shouldnt worry, do speak to the staff when you get there if you have any concerns, they are there to help you.

Take care

Sx.

Thank for letting me know how you got on, its nice to know how other ppl react and what helped to alleviate some of the after effects. mines looming pretty quick, 3 days time I have mine, still feeling nervous but expect most ppl are the same 😳 My friend had hers she suffers from RA and said felt slightly off it but nothing she couldnt handle. Its strange how some ppl are quite ill ( my partners mum felt rough for 2 days and is dreading her second one) and others have no symptoms at all.