Vaccines work just fine without side effects says a new Lancet study

Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines also have side-effects like other vaccines. It could be a sore arm where the needle went in, a headache, or nausea. But, this only means that the immune system is doing what it is supposed to do.

So, should you be worried if there is no side-effect? Absolutely Not.

According to a new study published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, only one in four people experience mild, short-lived systemic side-effects after receiving either the Pfizer Inc or the Oxford University-AstraZeneca Plc vaccine.

Clinical trials conducted by Pfizer show that 50 per cent of the participants did not experience significant side-effects during the trial. Yet 90 per cent of the participants developed immunity against the virus. Most side-effects peaked within the first 24 hours following vaccination and usually lasted 1-2 days.

Scientists have also noticed that people above the age of 65 get fewer side-effects after vaccination. In the United States, a study found that women reported 79 per cent of the side-effects. A higher testosterone level may contribute to fewer reports of side-effects in men.

The study also reports a significant decrease of infection rates after 12-21 days of the first dose (Pfizer 58 per cent and Oxford-AstraZeneca 39 per cent).

Most people achieve immunity against SARS-CoV-2 on vaccination, regardless of the presence or absence of side-effects.