These are the side effects you should expect after a Covid vaccine - and why you shouldn't be worried

As the nation prepares to start distributing the recently developed Covid-19 vaccinations, some might be concerned about possible side effects after receiving one.

The Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines have all announced successful trials over the last two weeks, with all three saying that they found no major side effects.

However, it is likely that many people will feel some effects after having the vaccination. Dr Sandara Fryhofer, from the American Medical Association, has said that patients need to be aware “this is not going to be a walk in the park”.

Here’s what you need to know about what to expect after getting vaccinated.

Why do we feel side effects after vaccinations?

After getting a vaccination, people will often feel an unpleasant and temporary reaction as a side effect.

Vaccines teach your body’s immune system to recognise and fight an infection they have been designed to protect against.

Feeling poorly after getting a vaccination is the body’s normal response to the entrance of the inactivated virus in the vaccine.

Dr Nisha Phillip, a lecturer in infection at the University of Edinburgh, said that a number of factors could cause vaccine side effects and that they are usually mild, while adverse reactions are extremely rare.

She added that some of the factors could be from “the actual injection, including soreness at the site of injection, immune reaction to the weakened virus, or an allergic reaction, which is very rare.”