Health Conditions A-Z Infectious Diseases COVID-19 What Are COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Side Effects? Side effects from booster doses can be very similar to other COVID-19 shots. By Kaitlin Sullivan Kaitlin Sullivan Kaitlin Sullivan is a health and science journalist based in Colorado. She's been part of multiple award-winning investigations into health topics including the international medical device industry and maternal mortality in New York City. health's editorial guidelines Updated on December 15, 2023 Medically reviewed by Kashif J. Piracha, MD Medically reviewed by Kashif J. Piracha, MD Kashif J. Piracha, MD, FACP, FASN, FNKF, is a practicing physician at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. learn more Fact checked by Marley Hall Fact checked by Marley Hall Marley Hall is a writer and fact-checker specializing in medical and health information. She uses her experience in medical research to ensure content is accurate across multiple Dotdash Meredith brands. health's fact checking process Trending Videos Close this video player Kanawa_Studio / Getty Images The best prevention against COVID is to stay up-to-date on COVID vaccines, which include booster shots. It's safe to get COVID shots, but you can experience side effects afterward. The temporary monovalent and bivalent booster side effects of vaccination—including chills, fever, headache, and body aches—are an immune response rather than an illness. The side effects generally only last a few days. Read on to learn more about what to expect from COVID-19 booster shots. What Boosters Are Available? There are three different boosters available: Pfizer-BioNTech: A bivalent mRNA vaccine with two different components of SARS-CoV-2Moderna: Another bivalent mRNA vaccineNovavax: A monovalent protein subunit vaccine based on the original SARS-CoV-2 variant About the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine In the U.S., the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is no longer available. Individuals 18 and older who received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine should receive either a bivalent Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech dose. They should be given this dose at least two months after the completed Johnson & Johnson primary series or the last monovalent booster dose. Who Is Eligible for Booster Shots? Eligibility for booster shots is as follows: Moderna: Moderna's bivalent booster is approved for people ages 6 and older who do not have a health condition preventing them from safely getting vaccinated, such as a previous allergic reaction, which is very rare.Pfizer: Pfizer's bivalent booster is approved for those ages 5 and older.Novavax: Novavax's monovalent booster administration is available under limited circumstances. Individuals ages 18 and older may get a Novavax booster if they completed FDA-approved or authorized vaccines, did not receive previous booster shots, and cannot or will not receive an mRNA vaccine and booster dose. Common Booster Side Effects Side effects from COVID-19 booster shots are similar to those from primary series vaccinations. Additionally, side effects are generally temporary. They only last for a few days. Here are the side effects you should look out for. Side Effects of Moderna Booster Common Moderna booster side effects have included: Chills Fatigue Headache Injection-site redness and swelling Muscle or joint pain Pain Side Effects of Pfizer-BioNTech Booster The Pfizer-BioNTech booster shares many side effects with the Moderna booster. Researchers also found that Pfizer-BioNTech booster side effects, like fatigue, fever, and bone pain, were similar to those after the second dose. Side Effects of Novavax Booster The side effects of this booster shot are the same as those for the Moderna booster, with the addition of injection-site tenderness. Also, adults reported having side effects more frequently following the Novavax booster compared to the second dose of the primary series. Rare Side Effects Of more than 192 million people in the U.S. who were vaccinated against COVID with an mRNA vaccine, 1,626 developed an inflammatory heart condition called myocarditis within seven days of getting their shot. Most cases were in adolescents and men in their early 20s. Other reported rare side effects from booster shots are: Bell's palsy Concentration difficulties Constipation Dizziness or vertigo Extra hair loss Painful and heavy menstruation Sore throat Precautions There are some precautions to consider when getting COVID booster vaccines. Healthcare providers may need to administer other COVID vaccine options if a person has a history of a non-severe allergy or non-severe, immediate reaction to a COVID vaccine ingredient. Another precaution is related to any current illnesses. People with moderate or severe acute illnesses will have to wait to get vaccinated until their illness has improved. People who have had heart muscle or heart tissue inflammation within three weeks following any of the COVID shots may not be able to get another dose. Also, individuals who had a rare condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) in the past three months should wait to get a booster. They should also talk to a healthcare provider about the risks. When To Contact a Healthcare Provider While it's normal to have booster side effects, talk to a healthcare provider if you have concerns about your side effects or if the effects last longer than a few days. Some symptoms also require medical attention. Seek immediate medical care if you have signs of severe reactions or allergic reactions like: Abdominal pain Chest discomfort or tightness Diarrhea Difficulty breathing Dizziness and weakness Heart palpitations Hives Low blood pressure Nausea or vomiting Slurred speech Swelling of your face and throat Tips for Reducing Booster Side Effects Ways to reduce side effects from a COVID-19 booster shot include: Dressing comfortably if you experience a feverDrinking enough fluidsKeeping your arm moving throughout the dayResting if possibleUsing a clean, cool cloth for swelling or discomfort around the injection site A Quick Review COVID booster shots can cause side effects just like the primary series doses of COVID-19 vaccines. These symptoms may include headaches, muscle pain, and swelling at the injection site. There are also rare side effects, like sore throat and menstruation changes, and serious side effects, like severe allergic reactions, that warrant immediate medical attention. Fortunately, in some cases, you can reduce side effects by, for example, getting rest and staying hydrated. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 12 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccines for COVID-19. MedlinePlus. COVID-19 vaccines - what to expect. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Interim clinical considerations for use of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: FDA authorizes Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent COVID-19 vaccines for use as a booster dose. American Medical Association. Answering patients' questions about the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC allows Novavax monovalent COVID-19 boosters for adults ages 18 and older. American Medical Association. COVID-19 booster shot patient FAQs. US Food and Drug Administration. Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: FDA shortens interval for booster dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to five months. El-Shitany NA, Bagher AM, Binmahfouz LS, et al. The adverse reactions of Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster dose are mild and similar to the second dose responses: a retrospective cross-sectional study. Int J Gen Med. 2022;15:6821-6836. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S376316 Oster ME, Shay DK, Su JR, et al. Myocarditis cases reported after mrna-based COVID-19 vaccination in the US from December 2020 to august 2021. JAMA. 2022;327(4):331-340. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.24110 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Getting your COVID-19 vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Possible side effects.