What v-safe registrants wrote to the CDC after their Pfizer or Moderna shots, in their own words. Each card is one person, with all of their free text. This page shows only the longer stories: the 116,000 people who wrote at least 400 characters in all. The text is as the CDC released it, except that email addresses and phone numbers are hidden. You get a random set of these people on every visit.
3.4.2021 – I have been experiencing moderate heartburn which began last night and has been occurring off and on. I have experienced only a few incidents of mild heartburn previously in my entire life. Maybe not related to my vaccination but so unusual for me so I thought I would report it. It kept me awake last night so that may be why I also experienced some tiredness today. Also accounts for fair rather than good rating for how I feel.
3.9.2021 – Last Wednesday, March3, I developed right sided eye and facial drooping with numbness. Unable to close my right eye. ER evaluation with diagnosis of Bells Palsy. Placed on Prednisone 60mg qd and Valtrex 1Gm tied for 7 days.
3.16.2021 – The symptoms of the Bells Palsy have increased. Headache and right ear pain.
9.22.2021 – Had total right knee replacement on 9/15. Dealing with post op pain and decreased mobility. Attending outpatient PT. Outpatient surgery
1.30.2021 – This is day 4 after the shot. Day after shot headache, fatigue arm swelled as large as baseball diameter
3.2.2021 – Occasional mild, lasting 30 min headaches. I am not someone who gets headaches ever. In addition I am a nurse practitioner outpatient seeing covid patients daily
1.26.2022 – Covid in September 4 days before schedule booster and Covid 3 weeks ago. 1 and 1/2 month after booster. Important to know I am front line NP-C
3.13.2021 – Hives on face
3.14.2021 – Finally out of the woods. Feeling fantastic but seriously reconsidering getting the second dose
3.25.2021 – Chest congestion
4.1.2021 – Chest congestion like a bubbling feeling like drowning
4.8.2021 – Rash on arms and constant gurgling in chest.
4.15.2021 – Night sweats
4.16.2021 – Chest fluid
5.3.2021 – Chest congestion just like after the first shot
5.17.2021 – Thought it was reoccurring chest congestion but had a chest x-ray it turns out there's something in my throat causing me to continually have to clear it and phlegm
5.24.2021 – Cough, chest congestion, fatigue. If it's not covid I don't know what the heck it could be
7.14.2021 – I had something that closely resembled covid. Trouble breathing, chronic cough, general malaise, achy bones from a co-worker who got it from her kids at preschool. She said it was allergies but then I got it and she told me so did her husband. Zpac I work as an ultra sonographer and the surgeon on staff saw me so sick after 8 days. He doesn't believe in covid but gave me a z-pack and I felt better. Did not test because the surgeon said why test? So you can tell others you have it?
10.11.2021 – Swollen glands in the neck but I have not fallen ill. The covid vaccination works and I know because I went to Vegas and was in a pool with maybe a thousand other young people and no masks anywhere. That should have been instant covid right there.
4.12.2022 – Dizziness and desire to pass out with covid.
5.15.2022 – unexpected fatigue out of nowhere. Spent an entire Sunday in PJ's which is so unlike me. Woke up with a scratchy throat and felt a little chest congestion. Immediately I suspected covid but I just had covid in March. Afraid to test. Job not paying .
3.12.2021 – 5 min after shot-medium dizzy for 45 min, extremely hot w sweat running down face, rapid heart few min, big bump hives on neck and chest esp. Left shot side. Felt terrible 4 days-95.6 temp, body aches, purple arms and lavendar toe nails, headache, nauseous, very low/bad feeling. Day 5 and 6 easily tired but better.
4.6.2021 – After shot I was a little light headed and heart raced a little. Reaction not as bad as first shot.
4.7.2021 – Fist shot lots of nausea, chills, fatigue. 2nd shot lots of body and joint aches. Feel like flue. A Little nausea.
10.8.2022 – Light headed, wobbly
1.24.2021 – I am 43 days past the day I became infected with Covid-19
1.25.2021 – Felt as bad as when I had COVID-19 about 40 days ago
1.26.2021 – Havent eaten anything for two days. Simply asked for authorization not to work
1.27.2021 – Havent been able to eat for three days.
2.21.2021 – Dizzyness
2.22.2021 – Gastrointestinal distress
3.24.2021 – Shortness of breath and wheezing. I am asthmatic but have rarely experienced wheezing in my life.
5.21.2021 – Very fast resting heart rate up to 183, very slow resting heart rates, some days in the high 30s.
3.27.2021 – They are symptoms I experience daily from my medical conditions/disorders/diseases from my current medical conditions
3.31.2021 – Addison's disease/adrenal insufficiency 100%
4.10.2021 – Muscle spasms, which are not abnormal for me but the last few days much more than usual.
5.3.2021 – Very itchy
5.10.2021 – Way over the top itching, worst migraine I've had since 2005 with vomiting
10.20.2021 – Sick with a cold/flu, negative for Covid-19. One week later received my flu & pneumonia shot and had a reaction that put me in Addison's crisis. Terrible muscle spams, one week later back in Addison's crisis from migraine caused by muscle spams.
4.19.2022 – Complex cyst in kidney
2.9.2021 – Nausea on occasion, headaches
2.24.2021 – Yesterday about one hour after the shot my memory was foggy and it was difficult to pronounce words but ended about two three hours later
3.23.2021 – Stomach ache
3.30.2021 – Nausea
5.27.2021 – Chest and localized back pain
11.19.2021 – Itchy rash
11.26.2021 – Hives and a rash
12.3.2021 – Still have a traveling rash but no longer have hives Prescription
12.18.2021 – Streaky rash
11.5.2022 – Since getting COVID decreased frustration tolerance, my period has been off now also, got COVID pneumonia the booster wore off and took out essential workers
4.19.2021 – For the first 48 hours after my 2nd shot I was sicker than a dog with Fever, Chills, body aches, HEADACHES, and extreme lethargy, but couldn't complete a daily check-in because you either didn't send a link or when you did it was sent just before midnight while I slept and wouldn't work in the morning. So this has been pretty much a worthless service. .
10.28.2021 – It's 2 days out from booster now but had moderate symptoms including , the first 6 plus #8 yesterday.
3.21.2021 – Itching on my right leg and on my back. Runny nose. Pain on my left knee and left index toe nail (a hammer toe, but the pain was a bit more clear, distinct and intense than usual).
3.23.2021 – Runny nose, mild
10.9.2022 – I catched enteramoeba histolytica in a trip outside the USA. The metrodinazole treatment has me feeling a bit weak and nauseous.
10.23.2022 – Unrelated to the vaccine, I was detected gastrointestinal amoebiasis that had caused GI symptoms and am now in treatment with antibiotics, that have their own side effects.
2.20.2021 – Overall I have felt slightly crummy today, but nothing too major
2.21.2021 – I have a slight headache this afternoon, but it could be from lack of water/caffeine
3.20.2021 – Some fatigue this afternoon.
3.22.2021 – A little sore around injection site, but not much
3.23.2021 – A little bit of a headache this afternoon, but could be from my child being up a lot in the night
3.24.2021 – Mild headache from child being up in the night, and working long days
3.26.2021 – Dont know if tired from vaccine, just a long week, or combination of both
5.3.2021 – No
5.8.2021 – Fatigue nit likely related to vaccine though...
7.31.2021 – Not involving Covid-type symptoms
5.3.2022 – Problems with being lightheaded
7.19.2022 – Quite a lot of difficulty with dizziness!
7.20.2022 – Dizziness that prevents normal activities and driving!
7.21.2022 – Dizziness is really severe today! This occurred after the booster and also occurred after the first booster
7.22.2022 – Dizziness is still an issue. Testing negative for Covid. No other health issues that would cause this.
7.23.2022 – Dizziness continues to be an issue
7.26.2022 – Dizziness
8.23.2022 – Dizziness that was prominent early after the booster has occ been occurring again!
4.8.2021 – Very disoriented, difficulty focusing (confusion), throat discomfort (mild), loss of appetite, breathing issues
4.28.2021 – Still very tired, nauseous, and extremely poor appetite. Thought all of these would have completely dissipated by now, but to no avail, I'm STILL experiencing them. Doctor visit with PCP
5.7.2021 – Disorientation
5.8.2021 – Advil helps but the problems are still obvious. Still have disorientation
5.9.2021 – Dizzy, disorientation
5.10.2021 – Confusion, disorientation - noticeable
5.15.2021 – Keep experiencing stiff neck
5.20.2021 – Itchy all over
6.3.2021 – Exhaustion has been intense, out of no where lately. Also, very dehydrated and dizzy, with abdominal pains. Not sure if related, but I did not recover for two days
6.10.2021 – Exhaustion. Most days it's unbearabl. makes staying awake/alert hard. It does make it difficult for me to function in school, work, and at home, especially because sleeping all day is not ideal. Started after 1st and definitely after 2nd shot
8.5.2021 – Constant forgetfulness and moderate confusion, stiff neck, zero appetite, exhaustion continues, depression symptoms are increased more than usual Regular doctor visits
12.28.2021 – Congestion, no appetite, post nasal drip
12.29.2021 – Congestion itchy throat nasal drip
12.30.2021 – Severe Congestion Face to face visit with PCP
12.31.2021 – Congestion in head and chest (severe), blocked air passages, could not breath PCP visit, under their care with medications
1.1.2022 – Congestion severe
1.2.2022 – Congestion in head and chest, severe
1.16.2022 – Still exhausted, cannot get rid of this body shaking cough, shortness of breath, headaches, body aches, and congestion in chest
1.24.2022 – Cough remains with dizziness and fatigue. Appetite is terrible. Always nauseous with and with vomiting. Still have diarrhea when I'm able to eat
1.30.2022 – Extremely fatigue. Body too heavy to move. Starting to lose my taste. Still have diarrhea, headaches, coughing, moderate body pain, insomnia despite fatigue. Dizzy often. Just finished second round of antibiotic and steroids Did not keep me due to unavailability of bed
2.8.2022 – Fatigue, dehydration, bad headaches, no appetite, dizzy, very weak, cough, congestion, taste comes and goes, diarrhea, foggy cognition, nausea, ab pain, & always cold. Dx: COVID long haulers. Now have Blood glucose problems. Infertile permanent
3.27.2022 – Diagnosed with type II diabetes; constant dizziness, nausea, vomiting, unexplained weight loss (-45-55lbs in 3 months), migraines, body pain, fatigue, confusion, poor concentration, throat issues, changes in vision not due to diabetes, gastric probs No beds available
11.15.2021 – Moderate muscle weakness, Numbness and tingling in my right hand and arm . Right face pain and numbness extending from eyebrow to lip Trigeminal nerve area on face.
11.16.2021 – Moderate Right arm/ hand numbness& fatigue extending from the shot area, around my armpit, and down both sides of my arms and hands. My right side of my face numbness from below the jaw line to above my right eye. Right eye irritation with sunlight. Phone call to neurologist. Spoke with nurse who documented symptoms and with have appt set up with neurologist
11.23.2021 – Face continues to be numb and eye muscles feel weaker. Right Arm is weak. I can do basic things, dress, shower but not lifting large pans to cook.
11.30.2021 – Headaches, front of forehead. Eye weakness.
12.9.2021 – Right hand becomes numb after using it 1 hour. I use to go all day without numbness.
12.14.2021 – Right side of face now has a rash, same location as pain and burning sensation. Right eye becomes blurry after use. Primary doctor prescribed prednisone and blood work to be done, F/U with neurology.
5.12.2022 – Still have radiating pain down arms and right side of face nerve pain.
11.9.2022 – Inflammation in my neck, face, arms/ hands causing pain, numbness, tingling. Put patient surgery
3.19.2021 – Ive been on oxygen for only a week. This morning my my chest felt little achy, harder to breathe. This afternoon its fine my arm is just sore!
3.25.2021 – I had night sweat last night. That is not normal for me
4.16.2021 – Sweat at night
4.17.2021 – Woke up with little headache but its gone now
4.22.2021 – Last night sweat around my hair line
4.29.2021 – Night sweat once or twice and pain in my arm
10.14.2021 – I have had night sweat a few times! But not in awhile now. Not sure what caused it??
10.28.2021 – Just a little ache
10.29.2021 – I wouldn't call it (b)(6) but my stomach has been a little uneasy since yesterday afternoon
11.1.2021 – I normally have aches but I think what I'm feeling isn't new!
11.2.2021 – Sweating around hairline last night
11.3.2021 – Night sweat again last night
12.8.2021 – Occasional night sweat
2.11.2021 – Sore throat
3.9.2021 – Sore throat, low grade fever, tired, slight ear ache Tested for Covid, flu, and strep...no results yet Covid, flu, and strep tests
10.8.2021 – Swelling of feet lower legs- heart skipping a few beats
4.24.2022 – I just wanted to let you know that after all four shots, within a couple of days I experienced a complete lack of joint pain! This has been great! At first I thought it was a coincidence but it's happened each time!
7.16.2022 – Shingles
12.30.2020 – A tiny bit of chest pain that lasted about a minute
1.4.2021 – Anxiety 1st day. Tired 2 day. Fine today
1.13.2021 – Heart is flip flopping today's
1.20.2021 – Heart palpatation
2.11.2021 – Upper jaw pain. Painful to open mouth and chew and R arm joint pain on Thu. Fri pain shifted to left arm joint pain and severe stomach pain. Sat on and off stomach pain. Mon Remicade treatment Nausia severe shoulder chest lower back& groin spasm. Contact w/Gastro Dr at Infusion & wound on Mon. Urgent care on Thurs
7.24.2021 – Anemia leg swelling and stomach pain
1.26.2022 – Crohn's worsened. Fistula with abscess and blockage.
3.1.2021 – Had insomnia first night after vaccine
3.2.2021 – Bumps that are very itchy look like small bug bites first appeared Sunday
3.12.2021 – Left armpit hurts
4.14.2021 – Facial swelling allergic reaction not sure why seeing allergist next week
6.16.2021 – Severe allergic reaction required ER visit. Allergist said could have been from vaccine putting immune system in over drive and something triggered that reaction. I have no known allergies and tested negative on skin and blood test for allergies.
1.31.2021 – Achy shoulder, but I have tendonitis that occasionally bothers me.
2.1.2021 – Are Areas where I previously suffered injuries (broken ribs on my left side and tendonitis in my left shoulder) are still a little achy, but not as much as yesterday.
2.19.2021 – My left shoulder joint is sore, similar to what I experienced after the first vaccine dose.
5.18.2022 – I experienced muscle aches with all four of COVID vaccine shots, but the most aches after the fourth shot.
2.6.2021 – No
2.7.2021 – Stomach discomfort. I feel like I am going to have diarrhea but, so far, not yet.
10.8.2021 – I realized two days ago that I suddenly felt like my old self and that I had been tired and sluggish for days. Don't know if that is the booster shot or effects of our flu shots received 10 days earlier.
7.22.2022 – Arthritis, which we have no family history with. But, a factor may be a hard fall onto rocks on my knees in shallow water?.
3.10.2021 – I had one hive that was very itchy on my left leg about three hours after I got the injection. I put an anti-itch gel on it to alleviate the discomfort and it was gone by the morning. I also had a very red condition on my face almost like a sunburn, only it wasnt hot to the touch but red and and my facial skin was tight.
3.11.2021 – My face is still red and my facial skin feels tight like a sunburn. My blood pressure is higher than normal.
4.6.2021 – My facial skin felt tight like s sunburn, but not hot.
4.16.2021 – Numb pain in left leg overnight
5.8.2021 – Numbness in my cheeks, tongue, and jaw
5.20.2021 – My period is 3 weeks late, and Im sure Im not pregnant.
5.27.2021 – I still havent had my period, which I expected 3-4 weeks ago. I know Im not pregnant and usually am usually on schedule.
6.3.2021 – I still dont have my period. I expected it in early May and am not pregnant.
8.5.2021 – I had a cold in June, for which I was not tested, but my husband had it first and tested negative. I have a cold now and tested negative.
11.4.2021 – Irregularly spaced periods A few colds
12.10.2021 – Feeling faint
12.23.2021 – Sinus congestion
1.7.2022 – Severe headache. Nausea.
1.20.2022 – Extremely sore nipples for over a week. This happened after one of my other doses. My last menstration was very light and short. I'm not pregnant.
6.9.2022 – Non-COVID cold
9.26.2022 – Sore and swollen armpit gland since Sept. 24
9.27.2022 – Sore and swollen armpit gland on injection side
2.4.2021 – Anxiety shakey
2.7.2021 – Just feel a little odd but OK
10.30.2021 – I really didn't have any new symptoms I just wanted to tell you that after I got the booster I was sick for two full days maybe even 2 1/2
1.13.2022 – Tired achy But that may be due to age. I did have a bad cold for two weeks that started out with a sore throat but I had the first test and the long test and they were both negative. No energy Dr office visit
4.16.2022 – Allergies that I never had
1.30.2021 – Mixed connective tissue disease
2.2.2021 – I couldnt sleep last night for joint pain. I dont know if it is related. I have other diagnoses that could explain.
2.4.2021 – I have medical conditions that cause fatigue Andy joint pain
2.8.2021 – I have other health issues that cause these same symptoms.
2.27.2021 – Last night and today sucked! I was hurting and couldnt sleep!
3.13.2021 – Im experiencing what the doctors call a flare up. Also my labs came back with really high absolute monocytes at 1334 and absolute esinophils at 601.
3.19.2021 – Increased pain in joints and tendons.
4.10.2021 – Joint pain, headaches
8.27.2021 – Booster shot serious adverse reactions, fever 105 to 95 almost went into adrenal crisis. Headache level 8, joint pain on fire!
2.18.2022 – Joint, tendon and muscle pain increase Have diagnosis of MCTD Things have gotten bad
1.5.2021 – Temp of 99.4 to 99.7F yesterday afternoon/evening. No elevated temp today
1.12.2021 – Overnight from 1/10 to 1/11, I had a four hour period of intense chest pain that radiates to my back in between my shoulder blades. Pain rated 7-8 outlet of 10. Seemed very similar to an episode of pericarditis I had about 20 years ago (pain worse when laying down, improved somewhat when sitting up, worse with swallowing). Had I not had the previous experience, the pain was bad enough I would have gone to the emergency room. Except for some dull pain that persisted through the day on 1/11, this has not recurred since my Called primary care doctor on 1/11 to see if I should have any follow up regarding the chest pain, and she said not unless it got worse/recurred
1.23.2021 – Severe vomiting and diarrhea on 19 and 20 Jan
11.12.2021 – Nasal congestion and drainage, sneezing (likely a head cold I caught from my husband)
1.3.2022 – Headache, temps in upper 99s, chest tightness, mild sore throat and cough starting yesterday. tested negative for COVID via PCR test yesterday evening (two people in my department that I worked with tested positive for covid in the past five days.
4.1.2022 – Intermittent abdominal pain and loose stools/diarrhea for about 5 months or so
9.21.2022 – For the first 3 hours I was awake today (approx 15-18 hours after getting vaccine) I was unable to stand up for more than a few minutes without becoming so lightheaded I would have passed out if I hadn't sat or lain down
10.4.2022 – Fever, headache, dizziness, sore throat starting 10/3. Home covid antigen test negative 10/3, PCR covid test negative 10/4
10.11.2022 – continued fever / cough / nasal congestion. Fever lasted through 10/6 and cough and nasal congestion are still an issue. Still no positive COVID test though
1.29.2021 – Stuffy right nostril
1.30.2021 – Earlier this morning around 3:00 a.m. I woke up and myself and the bedsheets were wet from night sweats.
2.2.2021 – Runny/Stuffy nose. It might be sinuses.
2.3.2021 – Runny nose
5.1.2022 – The booster shot was in my left deltoid. The lymph glands in my left armpit are swollen.
5.2.2022 – I still have the swelling in my armpit from having the booster shot administered to my left deltoid.
5.3.2022 – My left armpit lymph node is still swollen but it has gone down a lot.
5.4.2022 – My left armpit lymph node swelling is still going down.
5.5.2022 – The lymph node in my left armpit (I received a booster shot in my left deltoid) the swelling is still going down.
5.6.2022 – My booster shot was administered to my left deltoid. The lymph node in my armpit is still swollen but it is going down.
4.24.2021 – A cough, using Mucinex, showing some improvement.
5.10.2021 – I tested positive for Covid on Monday 5-3-2021 I was released from hospital on Sunday 5-9-2021
6.12.2021 – A difficult, semi,productive cough
7.31.2021 – After getting up and walking about 15 feet, a pain starts in my right temple area and shoots up into my brain, a fog rises over my eyes, my brain is swirling and i fall down. I was in (b)(6) Hospital for 5 days and released with no diagnosis
2.27.2021 – Mild stomach discomfort but may have eaten one thing bad
3.5.2021 – Felt like a golf ball developed in the lymph nodes in/ under armpit in the side I got vaccinated. Pain and discomfort under arm for a few days starting a week after vaccination
3.25.2021 – Heart palpitations, dehydration IV fluids
3.27.2021 – Extremely sensitive gums (dental symptom) to brushing teeth. This is highly abnormal for me
3.28.2021 – Extreme gum sensitivity when brushing teeth. My gums have been healthy/ no prior issues until post vaccine.
3.30.2021 – Gum nerve sensitivity when brushing teeth- I have healthy guns, never a past issue
6.23.2021 – Possible arthritis in hands, which I forgot to register as a symptom that started a few months ago. Have a dr appt in a month to evaluate its not verified by a Dr. yet Will be an in person specialist visit
9.22.2021 – Chronic Hand and wrist pain, mostly right sided
1.22.2022 – Pounding heart and elevated bpm (normal resting heart rate of 59 bpm is up to 107 bpm)
1.24.2022 – Last night tightness in chest- difficult to take deep breath; heart palpitations
1.25.2022 – Glands under arm where vaccine injected are highly swollen
2.4.2022 – Worsening wrist and thumb pain during computer work Occupational therapy
2.18.2022 – Muscle and joint pain wrist and arms
1.11.2021 – I was fatigued and exhausted on 1/10/2021. I did not receive a health check in yesterday. I am no longer feeling any fatigue today, 1/11/2021
10.2.2021 – Armpit pain/mild swelling on the same side of the injection
10.3.2021 – Pain/tenderness/mild swelling left armpit (side of injection) remains
10.4.2021 – Minimal armpit pain; improved from yesterday
10.5.2021 – Armpit swelling and pain improving every day though not fully gone
10.6.2021 – Swelling under left armpit remains; tenderness improved
10.7.2021 – Minimal swelling in armpit area
3.1.2021 – I had arm pain the night of 2/28 but nothing since.
3.21.2021 – Muscle of injection arm is sore.
3.22.2021 – Injection site pain is very mild. No other symptoms.
9.29.2021 – On 9/25 I had the Booster shot. The next day I had arm soreness and entire body with headaches, and sore throat, off and on. I felt exhausted and like I was sick. The next morning I was fine.
4.15.2022 – These symptoms were felt the day after the shot
9.30.2022 – Directly after vaccination I had muscle soreness and my bones ached for 2 days.
