Like with all vaccines, there is a chance you may experience some symptoms as your body builds an immune response. Potential side effects may include pain, soreness or swelling at the injection site on the arm, fatigue, fever, or headache. These are signs the vaccine is working and your immune system is responding to the vaccine and learning how to fight off the virus. Mild pain relievers should help you feel better, but should not be taken before you feel symptoms or before you get the vaccine. If you don't feel better within two or three days you should follow up with your doctor.
If you experience other COVID-19 symptoms, such as congestion, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat or loss of taste and smell, they are not related to receiving the vaccine and could mean you have COVID-19. You should consult your healthcare provider and get tested. The vaccine does not cause COVID-19 and contains no ingredients that could cause COVID-19, but you could have already been exposed to COVID-19 before receiving your vaccine or before you were protected.