The bivalent COVID-19 booster, often referred to as the Omicron COVID booster, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as of earlier this month. The booster shot is now widely accessible at primary care physician clinics as well as large pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens. It makes sense that if you’re getting yours, you’d want to know what side effects to anticipate and what the Omicron COVID booster adverse effects are.
But before we get into the negative effects, in case you’re not familiar with this booster, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it comprises elements of both the original virus strain and the Omicron variety (CDC). It is called a bivalent COVID-19 vaccination for this reason. The vaccinations are intended to target the predominant Omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5, although there is limited information on their effectiveness or negative effects. But it’s crucial to remember that the FDA carefully examined the information prior to authorizing the vaccinations for emergency use.
Additionally, since you cannot receive the Omicron booster if you have never received the original immunization series for COVID-19, it is likely that you are at least somewhat familiar with the negative effects of the COVID vaccine. The bivalent COVID-19 booster, however, differs differently from prior booster doses since it has a modified code and a lower dose than the original vaccine shots.
Omicron COVID-19 booster side effects
It’s crucial to note that there are actually two alternatives for Omicron boosters, one from Moderna and the other from Pfizer-BioNTech, despite the fact that they have all been grouped together. Both SARS-CoV-2 original strain and Omicron subvariants are targeted by the bivalent vaccinations (including BA.4 and BA.5, which are currently dominant in the U.S.).
Of all, there are potential negative effects for almost anything in medicine. The FDA lists the following as the most typical side effects associated with the Omicron booster vaccines:
- Pain at the injection site
- Redness and swelling at the injection site
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain
- Chills
- Swelling in the lymph nodes in the same arm as the injection
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and an infectious disease specialist, advises that if you have already had a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, you should anticipate experiencing more of the same potential adverse effects. It’s unlikely that Omicron-targeted boosters will have much different negative effects, he claims.
Moreover, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is less likely to result in side effects than the Moderna vaccine, according to Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and director of infectious diseases at the University of Buffalo in New York. However, he claims that additional variables are at work. The more symptoms you have, the younger you are, he claims. Additionally, females are more likely than males to experience reactogenic symptoms.
However, each person is unique, according to Dr. Russo. You never know what the adverse effects will be in a specific person.
How do bivalent Omicron booster side effects compare to primary vaccination series side effects?
According to Dr. Russo, you are often less likely to experience negative effects with a booster dose than you are from an initial vaccine series. He claims that this is frequently the result of the lesser dose.
The negative effects of a COVID-19 booster, however, may be comparable to those of your initial immunization series. The following are listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as possible negative effects of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine:
- Pain at the injection side
- Redness and swelling at the injection site
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Chills
- Fever
- Nausea
But once more, each person is unique. According to Dr. Russo, “all bets are off for a given individual on a given day.”
After receiving your Omicron booster shot, you can feel great or you might have some grogginess for a few hours, according to Dr. Russo.
Dr. Adalja advises people to “play it by ear” when deciding whether or not they need to take a day off. It will vary, and a decent rule of thumb is to use past vaccine experiences. Consequently, the likelihood that you will feel great after receiving your second booster dose is high.
What to do if you have side effects from your bivalent COVID-19 booster
If you experience vaccination side effects, the CDC advises that you take the following actions to feel better:
- Try to take it easy and, if possible, get some rest
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Take over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin, or antihistamines if you’re uncomfortable
- Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over your arm if you have redness or swelling
- Use or exercise your arm to reduce discomfort
.Dr. Russo advises patients who experience side effects from the Omicron booster to try to see the big picture. These signs that your body is reacting to the vaccine, he says, are symptoms. The majority of the time, side effects go away within a day or less.
Also Read ABout FDA Approves Second Booster for Certain Groups