The common side effects after all the COVID-19 vaccines happen less often in people aged 65 and older.

The common side effects after the AstraZeneca vaccine are more likely after the first dose of vaccine.

AstraZeneca vaccine

After the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, more than 1 in 10 people may experience:

  • feeling tired
  • tenderness, bruising, pain, redness or itching in the arm where they had the vaccine injection
  • headache
  • muscle pain
  • joint pain
  • nausea, diarrhoea or vomiting
  • fever (temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above)

More than 1 in 100 people may have redness or swelling where they had the injection.

Moderna vaccine

After the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, more than 1 in 10 people may experience:

  • feeling tired
  • tenderness, swelling, redness or itching in your arm where you had the vaccine injection
  • headache
  • swollen lymph glands under the arm where you had the injection
  • muscle pain
  • joint pain
  • nausea or vomiting
  • fever (temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above)

The common side effects after the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are more likely after the second dose of vaccine.

Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine

After the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, more than 1 in 10 people may experience:

  • tenderness, swelling or redness in your arm where you had the vaccine injection
  • feeling tired
  • headache
  • muscle pain
  • joint pain
  • nausea
  • fever (temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above)