Up until now, I’ve only gotten the Pfizer vaccines. And while I’ve reacted to them, it was never particularly bad. Light muscle aches and some fatigue were basically it. Worst was the second one - I could feel my hair follicles and eyelids with that one.
But the Moderna one seems to be quite the beast.
When I found out I could get the new Moderna, I was excited, since I’ve heard that mix-and-match is probably the strongest immunity you can get. And I figured it wasn’t going to be that bad when after several hours, I only had some light fatigue.
But today has been awful. Consistent fever around 102.3, chills, headache, nausea, whole-body aches, and ludicrous levels of exhaustion. I’ve been utterly useless.
Is this what Moderna vaccines have been like all along? I’ll take it over contracting COVID-19, definitely… but ouch. It’s hurting me plenty.
Next morning update: Chills are gone, fever seems to be gone, muscle aches aren’t entirely gone, but they’re fading. All in all, 10/10 would feel like shit for a day again to help stop the spread of a dangerous disease.
When I took the Moderna two dose in 2021, I was stuck in bed having fever dreams for a couple of days. Like I was hallucinating that I was in different places. Sickest I’ve ever been in my life.
I think the moderna dosing is still double the pfizer dose. So I think it’s always caused a larger immune response. Ibuprofen will deal with most of those symptoms if you’re really not feeling good.
I believe one can’t 1:1 compare the dosage, Pfizer’s MRNA was supposed to be a little more stable and hence less of it was needed. But, yeah, Moderna’s dosage is higher.
I’ve gotten both over the years and Moderna always knocked me out harder, but never like OP. Symptoms have always been medium to strong fatigue and at most a mild headache.
I haven’t gotten the new booster yet.
First shot of the Moderna vaccine I was not doing bad, bit tired for a week but nothing else really note worthy.
But the day after my second shot I woke up to heavy chest and heart pains. I didn’t know what was the matter, my first thought was: “am I having a heart attack?!”
Couldn’t move and hardly breath from pain, it took over a half hour before I could finally grab my phone and call my house doctor’s office. I explained what was going on and that I had my shot the day prior. Was being told that was just a side effect from the shots and that just should take painkillers and try to tough it out. If it wasn’t going any better in a day or two I should call back to make a appointment.
After a short half day a couldn’t take it anymore, called my doctor back and he told me to go to the hospital.
Luckily I could come the same day and they did multiple tests. Had to stay the night because the results wouldn’t be ready till the next day.
Well it turned out that had a inflamed heart muscle pouch, had to translate. Hope it’s correct.
Stayed in the hospital for almost 3 weeks. I got oxygen, because I had trouble breathing and I got all I kinds of drugs all day long to help me out.
After that they said I could go home but call right away when there was any problems.
I couldn’t work for almost three months and during that time went back to the hospital 2 times because returning heavy pains on my chest.
After those three months I figured it’s time to go back to work but only like 2 or 3 days per week to start with because I still had breathing problems and sometimes the pain would come back.
I’m doing better but still sometimes I have trouble breathing and have to take it easy.
I didn’t even wanted to get the shots but had to because of my work.
So interesting to hear all of the individual reactions. I had the Pfizer primary series - the first shot was rough but the second shot, and the Moderna booster I had later, only caused some arm pain.
I just had my fourth shot, the Moderna Spikefax, along with the flu shot at the same time. Caused malaise overnight and pain in the COVID shot location for 3 days.
Whatever pain and inconvenience the vaccine shots cause it’s nothing like having COVID. Ask me how I know.
Guess I’ve been lucky. The first vaccine I got (which was Pfizer) made me a bit sick for a couple of days with a brutally sore arm. Since then, every booster I’ve gotten (Pfizer and Moderna) has just given me a sore arm for a few days. I usually get cold-like symptoms after I get a flu shot, so I guess the Covid shots aren’t as hard on me somehow.
Moderna was the easiest on me - did not feel a thing, not even a shoulder pain. I guess this is individual.
Yes, my first vaccine was Pfizer and second was Moderna, which caused heart issues. I went to a heart specialist and was diagnosed with pericarditis from the vaccine. It took awhile for symptoms to improve (pain, shortness of breath etc.). I feel lucky though.
An unusual amount of people had severe symptoms in our area after the Moderna vaccine. Healthy people in their 30s for the most part. Our electrician had a heart attack and a few people died. Needless to say I didn’t go for a third. We know a guy who technically died from it, but he was revived - they got his heart going.
I really just get muscle ache and chills really bad. It lasts a day or two for me at most. What’s weird is when I got my last booster of Pfizer a few months ago, I got a dtap (the giga vaccine) in both my arms at the same time and had zero sickness the next day lol. Then I took the flu vaccine and still got sick a few weeks later so I feel scammed.
Also just remember, the covid vaccine doesn’t stop the spread, that is misinformation. It greatly improved your immunization towards it so you don’t get nearly as sick.
I think it’s good if you have a strong immune system response to the vax. It means your immune system will be charged up with antibodies.
I always plan to take 1-2 days off after getting vaccinated.
I’ve always gotten Moderna and just got my third (or fourth…I lost count) booster last week. This one was the first to barely bother me. I just got a little tired. The previous ones though were full beasts that knocked me out for 24 to 36 hours.
EDIT: From what I’ve read, Moderna’s latest booster is supposed to be effective against the two strains rampaging about this year. Pfizer can only confirm efficacy against one.
Pfizer’s previous version was original+b.1, and their current is original+b4+b5.
Source: my left arm.
