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.
Soreness of ancillary lymph nodes on same side as injection site
Swollen and tender lymph node in right axilla on same side as injection site
Tenderness in axillary lymph nodes on same side as injection site
Pain in right Axillary lymph nodes on same side as injection site
Sore throat
Swollen lymph node in right axilla on same side as injection site
Swollen lymph node in right groin area, same side as injection site
Increased blood pressure
Blood pressure is still higher, especially at night, most of times over 145, starts the day after vacillating, my blood pressure used to between 115-130 after I took the medicine. I believe it have conflict with my BP pills.
Blood pressure still high, 145/89 early morning
Blood pressure is still high, but reduced a little than yesterday.
Blood pressure is still higher
blood pressure get even higher, especially at night. It seems the blood pressure pills don't work well since I get the first dose of vaccine. Now it's over 6 weeks, but the effect on blood pressure is still exist.
The blood pressure is still high, my doctor have to increase the dose to control it.
Oxygen level is low based on sleeping test. Blood pressure is back to normal after 6 months. In that case, I have to reduced BP pills dosage to maintain normal Blood pressure.
Soon as I received the shot it had a taste in my mouth and my head felt like my brain was swelling. Then about an hour after the vaccine I felt like I was 18 again and was very energetic.
It feels like you have swelling in your brain , I had double vision, ringing in my left ear that I usually cant hear out of , I was very energetic the day before and early morning today and around 11:20 am is when I had double vision and blurred vision, pressure in my head and then around 5 pm I got very depressed and feeling like gloom and doom and then I got very aggressive and snappy and thats not my normal behavior being snappy and very short with others . Then I ran a very of 103 I felt like my head was going to explode and this went on for hours and then my husband opened the window up and turned on a fan and I was still sweating and I kept drinking fluids and took aspirin and I finally got clammy and then cold now I only have ringing in my left ear and pressure in my head like my brain is still swelling.
My lymph nodes are swollen on the left side of my neck and in my right side by my private . I still have buzzing in my left ear . Sore throat . Im extremely depressed
Rash is on my neck
My head hurts really bad
Pressure in my head
I feel like Im dying and very fatigued and extremely exhausted and my body aches all over . Im extremely very tired . Im usually very energetic this is totally the opposite of my normal. My head hurts constantly and my eyes . Severe joint pa
Severe headaches and fatigue, extreme tiredness, joint pain and severe pressure in my head and it comes and goes . Like today it came on quickly at 9:45am lasted until 8:44 pm .
Severe indigestion and bloating and severe fatigue and severe joint pain and nausea
I get severe headache and severe fatigue and severe joint pain and nausea. Indigestion constantly.
I got covid and covid pneumonia in August.
Joint pain , lump in breast , fatigue and severe joint pain.
Tingling in the face and neck area
Sinus congestion
Sinus congestions
Joint pain, not sure if its except use related
Muscle twitching/spasm in the arm at injection site
Still muscle spasms in arm at injection site, and pain in neck muscles. Congestion
Muscle spasm/ twitching in upper arm at the injection site.
The pain and swelling is in the left armpit of the left arm (injected arm). Possible swollen lymph node there but it is painful and causing discomfort. Will contact drs office for concern.
The swelling in the underarm has moved and is a little harder than yesterday. If it continues, will go see dr. A little back pain in the left area as well.
Still pain and swelling in the armpit of the arm that was injected.
Arm gets a little numb feeling at night, muscle twitches.
Random muscle spasms/tingling in arm of injection site. Throbbing in armpit of injection armafter booster, same underarm swelled up.
Change in taste/smell. This came came up the day after my vaccine, but I did not realize it because I didnt have an appetite that day. It is only certain foods that used to taste good and now they taste very bad.
Some foods still have a bad taste, almost like chemicals. I had COVID in November and completely lost my taste and smell, and this is completely different.
Still having bad tastes and smells for stuff that normally are good.
My taste/smell is still bad, and I havent been able to eat much of anything because it is so pungent.
Everything still tastes bad after the first shot.
Exhaustion
Sleep was elusive last night
I am a post menopausal woman taking hormones and have not had a period in 14 years. I started to spot yesterday and it is ongoing. Just little drips and dribbles, but disconcerting and worrisome. Wondering if it is because of the vaccine. Email conversations with doctor that will lead to a follow up appointment and maybe an untrasound
Break through bleeding. I have been in menopause for 14 years and I have had 2 bouts of break through bleeding since my second shot. I had to increase my progesterone dosage.
Loose stool
Ever since I received my booster 2 weeks ago, I have had fatigue every afternoon.
The symptoms of pain in my arm happened the day of an 3 days after the injection
Today I am in bed with a headache.
Since the vaccination I have had a feeling of slight disorientation/a little off balance and just not myself. I would say that I am feeling better some 23 hours after the shot. Minimal discomfort at injection sight, was able to sleep on it no problem. I am highly sensitive to many prescription and over the counter drugs over my lifetime.
Last night I woke up around 11:30am because of swelling in my cheeks, tongue. It was severe enough that I considered calling a hospital to try and get into emergency. I took a Zyrtec tab and for the next couple hours tried to calm myself enough to try or go back to sleep. Eventually did much later. I did go to urgency care about mid morning for an answer. Doc felt the problem was either a bite or sting or a reaction to my second coved vaccine I received 5 days ago.
On 4/16/21, so the first day after receiving the shot I had minor arm pain in left arm(the injection arm.) Then at 9:30 pm I had a shifting of audio frequency that I noticed. This morning when I woke there was diminished hearing in my right ear. Later in the day I also had some tinnitus, but at the moment both have been resolved.
The muscle ache was the afternoon of 4/17. Left pectoral muscle attachments at the sternum. Fluctuated between a muscle discomfort and a feeling of indigestion that would be a stabbing pain. It has resolved.
Still have mild issues with digestive tract including gas and constipation. This all started with first shot. Not enough to go to the doctor.
Some pain in my leg where I had a blood clot 5 years ago occurs after working on my feet.
Contracted COVID on August 4, 2021. As a result I have little taste and smell. And I still get very tired at the end of the day.
For the last 6 months since contracting COVID I n August 2021 I have had issues with my digestive track: gas, nausea, and intestinal pain.
Jaw tightness and could taste the shot.
Still tasted vaccine off and on this morning. My jaw was a little stiff and I reacted more to the cold. No chills. Just felt a little cooler than usual. Shot site some sore if I pushed on it. Otherwise, it didnt hurt at all. Oh, the area around my mouth had a noticeable itch for about three minutes. Then it disappeared as quickly as it came. I had not eaten breakfast and since I dont normally have itches , I assume it was related to the shot.
Felt okay until I tried to ride stationary bicycle. Extremely difficult to finish. Was tired for 30 or so minutes after exercising. Then rest of the day was fine.
Ended up with a really weird stomach bug this past Saturday and Sunday. Had severe stomach pains and cramps and diarrhea but absolutely no nausea. Think it was made worse by UTI meds I was taking and dont think it had any relation to COVID shot.
Faint taste of medicine compared to strong taste last time. When shot was administered flat like I was about to get dizzy and light headed. However, it passed within 15 seconds. The funny feeling continued for five or six mi utes but no definite symptoms. Fine since.
Never did tell you I could taste the vaccine this time, too. It wasnt as strong a taste as the first time but it stayed with me until noontime the next day.
Yesterday, I misunderstood the question about having fever. I had no fever related to any of my COVID shots. The fever I referred to was when I was ill in June.
Shortness of breath and right leg keeps swelling
Teeth hurt, lymph node pain underarm in same arm where shot was given, pins and needle feelings in legs and hands
Stiff neck and stiffness in lower back, jaw and teeth pain, burning sensation in fingers and toes
I have UCTD and I believe this first vaccine has triggered a flare up of my autoimmune disease.
UCTD
UCTD- has flared up since receiving the Pfizer vaccine. Systemic joint and muscle pain, jaw and tooth pain, headache, spinal and lower back pain, burning sensation in fingers and toes. Loss of equilibrium, extreme fatigue.
UCTD - been in a flare up since the first shot.
Received the 2nd vaccine yesterday and the symptoms of my autoimmune disease have exacerbated with severe loins, muscle , nerve and lymph node pain. I have UCTD.
I forgot to add the first night I had a partial loss of vision in my one eye for a couple minutes.
2/14 I had a fever, fatigue, didnt feel well, headache and my left eye got super red and painful and my sinus on that side felt kind of raw inside. Improved the following day. Resolved 2/16
Today severe vomiting diarrhea headache. Some sort of bug.
Quick sharp pain in the side of head same side as shot off and on for a few minutes
Symptoms moderate overnight, improving throughout the day
Arm pain only when its rubbed or bumped.
Lower back pain
Constipation and abdominal cramps Started last evening (11th), has progressively gotten worse
Started getting sharp, short headaches about two days after second shot, come and go about 5-6 times a week.
Legion getting worse on left arm and lost feeling in left index finger
Strange boil formed on left arm shots given in. Index finger went numb on left hand, eye infection in left eye, fingers pealing on left hand
Vomiting
Thyroid nodules Biopsy
Nodules on thyroid. The biopsies results were non-cancerous. Echo and needle biopsy
Cold virus: cough, runny nose, sneezing, fatigue started 12/19 and continues though symptoms are improving. COVID test was negative. Also, bumps inside lower eyelids treated with antibiotic and warm compress since 12/19. Not fully resolved.
Positive for COVID: sore throat, cough, fatigue Test to Treat for COVID
Cant stop crying
Bad headaches
Ever since the 2nd vaccine I have been getting really bad migraines every day. Ive never had them before.
On-going problem with migraines. Ive never had them before until I got the vaccine- Dont get me wrong- Id rather have headaches than Covid.. But this is really starting to become bothersome. Im having to take Tylenol twice every day.
The migraines continue Again its better than having Covid... A million times better. But its really bothering me.
Still getting daily headaches. Ive never had this before I got this vaccine - I am so thankful to not have COVID. But maybe tell people about the continual daily headaches. Not sure how long this will last but hopefully they will stop soon.
Chest tightness, tingling cheeks
Stomach virus
Sinus infection/cold symptoms
COVID mid Jan. Gastroenteritis twice since then
Sinus issues plus a cough. Not severe tested negative feels like a cold
I've had a recurring cough since I had Covid in January 2022 and it is becoming an issue again the last week however it doesn't seem to be related to any type of infection. No other symptoms I communicate with my doctor for small issues via email through my mercy.net
Vertigo, dizziness, lightheadedness
Two spells with the room spinning. Each dizzy spell lasted about 1 minute. Had a little nausea. (Note: These recent dizzy spells were shorter in duration and less severe than the ones I had after my second Pfizer shot.)
Mild headache in one spot lasting 15 minutes. Also, bumps or hives on the arms and legs lasting 5 days.
I tested positive for covid. I had a low grade fever for 18 hours. I had low energy for 7 days.
The vomiting was the 1st night. The nausea/stomach pains and fatigue were for 2 days.
Water from tap, filtered fridge, and bottled tasted very sweet, like someone put a teaspoon of sugar in it. This lasted for 2 hours.
Mild cough
At the injection site, it is red, itchy theres a small raised bump and its a little bit tender when touched.
I've had a cough ever since I've had Covid. It's minor but I didn't have it before.
Just tired. I was up much at of the night.
Have had Sjogren's 38 years now and am in a flare up past month or so; back of left neck has become very painful over past 3 months~'clicks' very painful when I move it
My autoimmune disease is still flaring. Today I had a lot of brain fog and have had a creepy feeling in my chest. Covid booster shot of Moderna vaccine the end of October.
The left side of my head keeps hurting along with my neck. Still in the midst of an immune disease flare-up.
Thicker, discolored nasal discharge when I blow my nose. But NOT every time time. This is consistent with what happens every Fall between my allergies and the heat going on again (dry nose). I have Sjogren's.
I broke 2 ribs on Thanksgiving, which became 3 broken ribs and 2 breaks on 2 of the ribs. I hade surgery4 days ago to have plates put in to stabilize my ribs. My chest tube came out 2 days ago and I was transferred to rehab yesterday afternoon.
Increased fatigue, episodes of shortness of breath, lightheadedness and funny feelings in upper left chest area. I was due for cardiology check up with my cardiologist.
My arthritis is acting up a lot in my neck, arms and lower back. Also, have developed intermittent abdominal swelling and pain on left side of abdomen. Will be seeing GI doctor to find out what is causing this. Need to see orthopedist, too.
Running nose; dry itchy eyes- think it is my fall allergies
Very tired. Not feeling like self. Started 4 days ago. Then, feeling hot a lot but no temp. Unable to concentrate. Having bladder frequency. Think bladder infection but took COVID test Friday to be safe. Was NEG. Drinking lots. A little better.
Very tired. Sleeping a LOT the past 3 days. My 'brain fog' from my autoimmune diseases is much worse. Not very productive. Feel 'hot' off and on, too. Had to push myself though to get a few things down me that needed doing.
Dry, sore throat and very tired.
Irritability
Cold symptoms- congestion, cough
Cold symptoms, feeling fatigued, low fever and chills, mildly stuffy nose, sore throat
Pregnancy induced rhinitis
Gave birth (b)(6) to healthy, full-term baby (39 weeks). Had hemorrhage, and needed Pitocin. Had normal post-partum recovery. Breastfeeding. Had 3 colds- sinus congestion, fatigue. Took COVID tests- all negative. Had COVID- Omicron booster vaccine. Hospital stay 1 night for natural delivery
Nausea this afternoon. Nothing til this episode
Ten hours after the shot I had severe chills and shakes. About 23 hours after the shot I experienced partial loss of speech function and memory impairment. Was taken to the ER. While waiting six hours for a room symptoms dissipated. Was kept in hospital through the 12th of February. EEG, EKG and MRI revealed no causes, and no link or disassociation with the vaccine.
Have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and told to use a c pap. All this still related to the ministroke I suffered the day after vaccine number two in feb 2021
Inpatient care same day as if 10pm my time (b)(6) my headaches is gone
Had to have an emergency hysterectomy
I needed a hysterectomy and got diagnosed with anxiety and depression And eczema
I needed to emergency hysterectomy as well as lidocaine and Novacaine shots into my muscles on my left side down to my left foot and I keep getting hot flashes that turn into red marks on my face left side
Had a hysterectomy was diagnosed with PTSD anxiety and depression
Over a week layer it got red,hot and sore over outside of injection arm
Redness and swelling on upper arm and itching all of which comes and goes. Pain and heaviness and jt pain
Sore throat
Cough, ^T, ^HR, dyspnea, apneic episodes, O2sat 90-95%, bilateral periorbital swelling, HA , nausea, wbc>12, High platelets, borderline low Na+, possible retrocardiac density on the left by chest X-ray unexplored by her medical team, 1/18-to present
Upper respiratory, n&v
I'm feeling abdominal pain but I also just started taking an SNRI antidepressant. I don't know if this has been cause by the vaccine or the antidepressant.
I've experiencing upset stomach everyday. I don't know if it's from a prescription I started taking (Venlafaxine ER) the same day I got the vaccine.
The same as yesterday! Upset stomach only
The day after I had the second vaccine I experienced body aches, chills & fatigue. I had these symptoms just for one day. Also I had pain, redness & swelling on my arm where I had the injection.
Swollen glands/lymph nodes
Stomach bugvomiting, diarrhea, body aches, chill
I have not menstruated in nearly 70 days
I previously reported that I had not menstruated in nearly 70 days, but my menses started on day 72 so that is no longer an issue.
I had onset of flu symptoms 5 days ago. Tested negative for COVID-19 on 6/9/21
I had a significant lingering cold (sore throat, cough, congestion, sneezing, body aches, headache) from 7/6/21 through 8/3/21. Tested negative for covid-19 on 7/14/21 with an OTC test.
Sore throat upon waking (yesterday, too)
Congestion, sore throat, cough, fatigue, body aches, headache
Had a terrible cold (cough, sore throat, severe congestion, sneezing, body aches) for over 2 weeks; had hysteroscopy and polypectomy for abnormal bleeding on 12/7/22
Slightly more irritability than usual; feeling a bit unmotivated
I seem to be needing a little more sleep than usual, but I don't feel particularly fatigued during the day.
The day after my first dose, I didn't have much in the way of physical symptoms, but my mood was lowered. With this 2nd shot, I have a lot more body aches, but my mood is fine.
My intellect seems about as usual, but my body is _slow_, like I'd suddenly aged 5 or 10 years
Before and unrelated to vaccine I regularly experience Chills Headache Joint pains Muscle or body aches Fatigue or tiredness Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Abdominal pain (milkfat intolerant irital bowl syndrome). Also before vaccine I regularly get dissy hypoglycemic light headed and have panicke attacks. Also unrelated to vaccine i live in a homeless shelter and am constantly exposed to strong second hand smoke From unfiltered roll your one cigarettes and other drugs causing soar throat something and runny nose. The survey has an * but no corresponding note. There should be an option to disclose that symptoms are regular chronic symptoms probably unrelated to vaccine. Also there should be an option to compare symptoms to other past vaccines like the flue shot. Anyway possibly related to the vaccine my left top leg opposite the right injection arm is mildly sore like that mild muscle pain I feel in my arms when trying to thread a needle I've felt similarly mild soar last time I had flue shot. There should be a descriptive guide on how to consistently answer these questions and what to do about symptoms one regularly has regardless of vaccine. How am I feeling today. Well I'm happy I got a vaccine. Dissy because I don't have arbitrary access to food and didn't want eat drink at vaccination site. Panic attack because that's just me and yah my leg is a little soar but that's not too unusual for me,. I'll see how it feels tomorrow. Thanks for the vaccine, allot of people/whole dorm rooms in my shelter are catching covid and word spreads only after they return from isolation and the shelter ist telling us anything not telling us how many if any had it in the last week and month. Also I went off-shelter for vaccine and I don't think anybody else in my shelter can travel to the place I got the vaccine. Have a good day.
About 7 hours after vaccine for about a week I've had a constant weeklong headache different from any I've experienced before. It got worse the day after and day after that and started to get better yesterday and today. I didn't have it today for the whole day. For the whole week the headache didn't go away nor get better when I ate drank sugar and water. Before the vaccine I would sometimes have headaches that are a bit worse but they go away when I have sugar and water and sleep so I can manage them when I need to(my normal headaches). I listed the vax headache s as mild because I have had worse headaches but this one weeklong covidvax headache wouldn't go away with food and drink and I couldn't get rid of the headache when I needed to do I did avoid and cancel meeting so It had impacted my activities. I expected the headaches for a day or two on the second dose not expecting a week long headache on the first. I would recommend the standard not driving nor operating heavy machinery for the week long headache and avoiding things you need to think clearly for for the week. It's a bit conserning that the Vaccine can have worse longer side effects than a mild case of covid(thought better antibodies), though I'm living in a homeless shelter with communal living so I don't want to spread it anybody. I also becose of the pandemic haven't been able to meet with the people I need to help me and none of the opwdd facility would take new people so I've been trapped in the shelter for a whole year. But yeah the vax headache this last week have impacted my ability to do daily activities thought not particularly today.
Headache starts about 3 hours after 2nd dose shot starting to get worse as I write this (last time 1st dose headache started about 7 hours after and lasted a week, milder in 2nd week and mostly gone unnoticed 3rd week. First weeklong headache was bad enough I did avoid activities and cancel meetings. Webapp doesn't let us change prior responses but first dose first week headache was worse than reported and did impact my activitys). 3 hours later right arm hand has usual after Vax weird fealing ache. other flue shots have the weird fealing imideatly after shot. this mRNA Vax took several hours before usual after Vax fealing. I didn't feel anything the first 3 Hours today. (Unrelated to Vax but 2nd week Shelter 2nd hand unfiltered cigarettes and other drugs smoke caused runny nose sneezing and throat burning from 2nd hand drugs unrelated to vaccine. 3rd week smoke sneezing subsided)(Injection clinic EMR had first name misspelled with 2 (b)(6) instead of one, told them to correct)(Vaccination card has correct spelling penned in but doesn't have patient/medical/IIS number is blank)
today sensitive skin (felt this last time I had flu). Headache not as bad today as expected.
Fealing alot better today. Verry minimal headache so I'm not reporting that today. I did have a headache yesterday and other symptoms Yesterday. I got some good sleep and found a more reliable sugar source. I was expecting bad headache for 2nd Shot but instead had moderate headaches for the first shot for the first week and verry mild headache today. Anyway the shelter I'm staying at last Friday finally started to proactively sign people up for a vaccine supposedly J&J&J today but moved to tomorrow Monday. Anyway I was talking to someone on supervised release who caught covid in January 2021 and wants the Vax (His entire room caught covid and assuming the entire room are sex offenders under supervision) (b)(6) supervisor told them NOT to sign up for vaccine until 90+30 days after they got covid (90 days after recovery). Anyway I'm concerned that Law enforcement are telling/Threatening/Stopping people in congragated living NOT to get the 2P Prefusion stablelized Vaccine. My understanding was Due to vaccine shortage Low priority people who don't live in congragated living and already had covid could *voluntarily* defer their shot for 90 days after recovering from covid so other higher priority can get it first but they are still *eligible* 14 days after recovery. Their are allot of vaccine sceptic in the shelter and 2P stablelized Shelter Localized Heard Imunity benefits everyone. Especially people who want the shot and had covid in congragated settings should get one JJJ shot as their is no current procedure for only one modRNA Shot. Defering vax is Voluntarily and Law enforcement shouldn't be interfering in congragated living vaccine Deployment for high exposure homeless people. If Medical Professionals or Health Department choose to Prioritize/deprioritze eligible people on standby for more flexible deployment that is who should decide not LEOs.
Didn't have as much easy access to sugar and got verry Mild headache back. I think the vaccine rased matabolism and sugar needs. becose I'm homeless I don't control what, how much, nor when I eat so vaccine rasing matabolism a small amount of sugar didn't fix headache. Also health department gave the JJJ one shot to the other homeless residents today who signed up. I'm concerned becose their is no regulations yet to give a 2nd dose of any of the vaccines to people people in congragated living who got the JJJ. And 2nd dose is important for local heard Imunity especially with lots of people refusing the vaccine. (I got pzizer bc I asked about Vax before JJJ was approved and got the Vax outside the shelter)
Headache mostly goes away as long as I am constantly preemptively sipping a little sugar and at first sign of headache. Was not this sensitive before Vaccine nor 3rd week after first dose. Normally before Vax I could have a small drink after I got a headache and it would soon clear up. After Vax small drink after headache not enough nor larger less frequent sugar doesn't last nor fix.
Lymph node swelling, armpit, same side as injection
Lymph node swelling, soreness, left armpit, same side as injection
Slight warming and numbing sensation in same arm as vaccine, but not awful
Swelling of the axillary lymph node, same side as the injection, mild pain
Minor axillary lymph node swelling
Drastic weather change caused migraine at 11am in addition to preexisting headache that started at 4am
Dizziness
Swollen lymph node in left armpit and soreness
Random menstrual bleeding while not on period
Ankle swelling from a previous injury that swelled after the my 2nd dose. Saw my physician and he said that it could be a symptom of having the vaccine.
Had very mild covid symptoms for 5 days- fatigue, diarrhea, chills, achy, headache. I tested negative each time I was tested- PCR and Rapid. My spouse had a positive covid case during that time.
Metallic taste that started 1 hour after receiving shot
Rash at injection site and traveling down arm (still above elbow) Spoke with pharmacist who recommended to continue tracking rash, Benadryl, and icing
Welt on arm 2 in diameter at injection site that started on day 8. Itchy. On day 9, decreased in redness but grew in size with 7 pink rash spots radiating distally from bicep to middle delt, stopping 2 above elbow. Day 10 light pink circle. In person visit to CVS pharmacist on day 9. Phone call to pharmacist received vaccination from on day 10.
