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.
7.29.2021 – My memory is very poor. I feel confusion that I didn't feel before the COVID shot and am very concerned. I feel like I have dementia.
10.29.2021 – Jeff has developed a significant memory loss since his second shot. He is only 64 and we don't believe that it is just early Alzheimer's. He has recently had an MRI of his brain but we don't have the results yet. He is reluctant to get 3rd. MRI of brain, several appointments
2.18.2021 – Sneezing a lot Feb 17 day after shot
2.20.2021 – Stuffy sinuses, scratchy throat, itchy eyes, kind of thick headed - feels like my usual sinus allergies
2.21.2021 – Sinuses still ache a bit, but I took an antihistamine last night. Fexofenadine. It helped.
2.22.2021 – same old sinus issues. They might have been worse than usual right after vaccine, but now, after several days, they're pretty normal
2.23.2021 – slight sore throat
3.2.2021 – My hip joint is extremely painful and I don't think it has anything to do with the vaccine. Walking is painful and difficult. I don't think I have any vaccine issues at all, and except for the hip I feel fine.
3.10.2021 – By later yesterday evening I was retaining water, and coughing, tight chest. About 10:30 I suddenly had an asthma attack, probably because I was making too much mucus and coughing it up. I used albuterol, took an antihistamine, and it got better. It wasn't severe - but it was a surprise out of the blue. Today it's almost all better. Almost back to normal. It was weird.
3.23.2021 – ear ache, vertigo - probably not related to covid vac. Infection? Who knows? Will get checked. It's slowly been getting worse despite antihistamines. No fever. Not sick. Somewhere inside ear and right side of face, radiating out from ear. Ouch. saw my primary doctor and he's referring me to an ENT
3.30.2021 – Ear kept hurting. Went to ENT and found I have TMJ and BPPV. Doing exercises. Also some hearing loss. None of which is related to the vaccine. in person exam with ENT
6.8.2021 – tendons - joint pain - arthritis worse. Will start PT soon. Likely Not related to the vaccine. Doctor exams in person
10.4.2021 – A little sleepy
10.5.2021 – I have arthritis, and it's cold today - so joint and muscle stiffness might be that.
10.6.2021 – Site was angry red yesterday and medium pink today. Chills and exhaustion bad enough for a short time this morning - almost canceled appointments, but rested and got better
10.7.2021 – red swollen tender itchy area around the vac site is down to about 2" diameter, and a paler pink today. Still couldn't do all my exercises yet, and still tired.
10.8.2021 – Seems to be slowly getting better
10.11.2021 – I broke out in a herpes yesterday - something that happens when my immune system isn't quite right. Much better today.
4.4.2022 – I caught bronchitis-asthma cough - very sick. X-ray shows some thickening lung tissue - still there after bad illness in Jan. 2020, when my oxygen levels dropped, lost taste for 2 months, could hardly breathe. No covid tests then. Neg test this time. several doctor visits in person, 1 telemedicine
4.23.2022 – Really sleepy. 98 is slightly high for me. Not sick. Just can't do much.
4.26.2022 – light dry cough, shortness of breath - slight
5.27.2022 – Left leg and hip hurt. Not related. I had a Tdap and my left arm (same arm as all vacs - can't use right arm after breast cancer) has a red blotch on it for ~ 5 days. No other symptoms. Wonder if all vacs in the same arm develop sensitivities.
9.16.2022 – Very mild pain at injection site if I rub it. Hardly any.
8.12.2021 – Vision affected, like usual whenever Im sick
8.13.2021 – Vision affected; no appetite at all
8.14.2021 – Vision/eyes fuzzy
8.15.2021 – Dizziness
9.15.2021 – Seem to have more headaches than usual
9.22.2021 – Swelling on inside of my lips
9.29.2021 – Swollen lips, swelling inside front of mouth, tightening throat. ER visit today with diagnosis of angioedema caused by allergic reaction to lisinopril (following years of being on that medication)
12.2.2021 – Additional items related to anosmia/parosmia since Covid19 in November 2020. Activated allergies to some items; new to me. Angioedema and allergy to ACE inhibitors after 20+ years medicated. Ongoing medical care to resolve issues
9.1.2022 – Edema, fatigue, decrease in mobility, IgE allergy to dairy and eggs Chiropractic
12.11.2022 – Posterior vitreous tear; breast abnormalities in mammogram Emergency ophthalmologist appointment for eye. Breast biopsy for breast.
3.8.2021 – Runny nose all day. Phlegm, not discolored.
3.10.2021 – Diarrhea was in the a.m. perhaps from antibiotic prescribed for a pending dental procedure. Not sure.
4.19.2021 – Nexk pain. Slightly labored breathing upon exertion.
4.26.2021 – Pressure in my chest when breathing. Shortness of breath after walking. Could be seasonal pollen. Will check.
6.21.2021 – Shallow breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain when inhaling, rapidly accelerating BPM. Dx: Pneumonia and plueritis. I was hospitalized for two days May 14 & 15. Likely lupus related flare-up.
9.20.2021 – Chills and fever
3.22.2022 – Lupus flare up. Indicators were high but are trending downward.
5.1.2021 – I have been sleeping for 12-14 hrs in the past 2 days.
5.4.2021 – Upper extremities joints stiffness (mild pain) ; I have been sleeping 10-14 hrs. in the past 3 days but last night slept 9 hrs.(getting better & less fatigued).
5.25.2021 – Sleeping 10-14 hrs. @ night past 3 days & feeling tired during the day; feeling feverish but dont have fever.
5.26.2021 – Joint pain in both hands only
5.29.2021 – Mild joint pain in both hands only.
6.28.2021 – Fever,chills, bodyaches , lightheaded, fatigue, diarrhea. Had a negative COVID test result .
4.17.2021 – Sought out a warm area to sit; laid down to rest but never lost consciousness
4.20.2021 – Little depressed (probably not related), hopeless, anxious, irritable
5.11.2021 – dizziness
5.22.2021 – itchy rash on wrist; not diagnosed
5.31.2021 – injection site still has not healed; keep having to apply bandage because it reopens and bleeds
6.12.2021 – mild nausea and fever Friday
8.8.2021 – earache, headache including face area, jaw pain that manifested as an entire row of teeth hurting.
11.8.2021 – headaches frequent fatigue lethargic may be do to age, lack of sun, nutrition, or other.
5.9.2022 – rectal prolapse
2.16.2021 – Have a sinus issue but not related to covid
2.17.2021 – Just from shoveling snow- not cause of vaccine
2.18.2021 – From pushing snow
11.14.2021 – Think might be weather/sinus related
11.15.2021 – Arm pit, lymph node swelled on arm got injection
11.16.2021 – Still swelled dome in arm pitt but getting better.
11.17.2021 – Think all ok now after my booster- yea!
11.18.2021 – Doing pretty well now- thank you.
11.19.2021 – Doing well- thank u!!
12.30.2022 – Had hernia surgery December 20 so recovering from that- not covid related. Out patient surgery
4.9.2021 – This is the first check in I have received in time to respond. I am better now but had a 102 fever, terrible headache and debilitating chills and aches starting about 10 hours after my shot. The severe symptoms lasted about six hours and slowly got better although 24 hours later my temperature was still around 100 degrees Im much better now with just pain in my arm no big deal and I am thankful to be vaccinated. My 20 year old son who got the shot at the same place one hour after me experienced essentially the same symptoms (we were both up in the middle of the night very sick).
4.10.2021 – I just wrote a long explanation here about symptoms that I could not report because I did not receive the option to do so for the first few days. However, when I went back and checked "NONE" for today it caused evyerhting I wrote here to be erased. I don't have time to type it all out but suffice it to say 9 to 10 hours post shot I had a 102 fever, chills, severe body aches ... overall the symptoms slowly got better but I was sick for a good 36 hours. post shot. My son who got the same type of J&J shot at the same time experienced nearly exactly all the same symptoms. It's hard to type in this small space and go back to edit, so I want to add I also had a severe headache. I hope these can be recorded even though I didn't have the opportunity to document them on the days I was experiencing them. I'm still thrilled to be vaccinated!
4.12.2021 – PLEASE NOTE: I was not able to document the pretty severe, unexpected reaction I got 8 to 10 hours post shot and lasted about 36 to 48 hours, diminishing in severity as the hours passed. At its worse, I had a 102 fever, severe chills and body aches and a severe headache. 26 hours later, I stilll had a fever of 100 degrees and fatigued but continued to improve. My 20-year-old son who received the shot at the same place one hour later experienced basically the exact same reaction. I wish I could have noted it at the time, but my check-ins didn't start until two days post-injection and by then I was pretty much better except for soreness at the injection site. I am still glad to be vaccinated but if I'd had a choice, I would have preferred one of the other shots due to their higher efficacy percentage -- but wanted to get the first one available. And, of course, I'm glad its done now -- especially after that reaction! Thank you
4.3.2021 – Runny nose n cough n chills n weakness related to allergies Discussed via in person doctor appointment already scheduled
5.22.2021 – Dermatitis
8.21.2021 – Another melanoma Not related to Covid in any way
7.11.2022 – Pain and weakness in the arm from my 4th covid shot after nearly 3 months but I believe this is not due to the vaccine but to the administration of the vaccine as it was given while I was standing and I don't think it was injected correctly
10.10.2022 – Covid Flu Cold congestion and cough Brain fog Fatigue Body aches
2.28.2021 – Yes. About 12 hours after the 2nd Modena dose, I became incontinent for about 24 hours. That has never happened to me before. I asked my mother who had her second dose three weeks ago and she said the same thing happened to her. She did not report it, just thought she might be getting a UTI. Her senior living center checked on her in her apt and said it was not a UTI. Like mine, it was gone in 24 hours.
2.2.2021 – Rash is red blotches on face. Appeared about 30 minutes after injection and flushing.
2.3.2021 – Facial bright red rash areas have not gone away from 1st day of vaccine
2.4.2021 – Facial red blotches, have not gone away since day 1. Looks like a lupus flare and/ or allergic reaction I have had in past to a drug.
2.5.2021 – Big Facial red blotches and rash from day one have not gone away!
12.3.2021 – Joint and ligament pain
2.6.2022 – Breast cancer
4.14.2022 – Chronic pain in chest, Fluid buildup, aspiration left breast/chest CT scan
3.6.2021 – Sore when I press on site where I received shot
3.8.2021 – Arm is sore still but thats all. I was very dry moth when I got up for 1 day only. Today was normal.
3.9.2021 – My arm is still sore not really a pain at the site.
3.11.2021 – I had night sweats last night
3.12.2021 – Cant stay up as late this week but getting up earlier. My hair texture has changed and seems oilier.
3.13.2021 – More tired in evenings than usual. Sleeping a bit longer each day.
4.10.2021 – Fatigue is worse. Fall asleep sitting up around 11:00 pm and sleep until 9:00 am I am sleeping 1 or 2 hrs. a day more and take 20 mins to 2 hr. naps most days. This has been going on since 2nd shot.
9.5.2021 – Shaking when lifting heavy objects, nausea, more frequent ear aches.
2.28.2021 – I signed up 3 days late. Day of shot had nightmares. Didn't sleep well. 1st day ok but lower back pain.. Next day, extreme migraine in bed all day. Worst headache ever. Itching on my side, sharp pain in ear for short time. Runny nose and tearing eyes. Felt ok today but worn out from the pain.f
3.18.2021 – Mettalic medicine taste for a short time about an hour after shot.
3.25.2021 – A bit of brain fog from the bad headache yesterday.
3.18.2022 – Had COVID for a few days. Just affected sinuses, but had bad migraines for 2 months.
1.11.2021 – Numbness and tingling to lips and left side of my face and eye area
1.12.2021 – Numbness and tingling to left side of the face (cheek and jaw area). Much better today than after receiving the vaccine.
1.14.2021 – Numbness and tingling to the left side of face almost gone. Eye area and eyelid feel normal today with no tingling.
2.8.2021 – Palpitations. Numbness, tingling, warm feeling to left side of face, ear, neck and chest. Flushed feeling.
2.9.2021 – Redness, numbness and tingling to the left side of my face, ear and neck.
2.10.2021 – Numbness and tingling to the left side of face
4.17.2021 – I felt sluggish and brain fog today, havent had appetite for two days, but ate anyways.
4.10.2022 – Coughing, clearing throat constantly, sinus drainage (I've been on numerous medications for coughing), sleep loss (average 4-5 hours a night), increased migraines (added another medication to help with migraines), BP increased (now I'm on medication)
4.28.2022 – I've had a few migraines and I've been extremely tired lately
10.7.2022 – I have been diagnosed with multiple allergies and am now on allergy medication and carry an epipen with me at all times! I have had major sleep issues for over a year (which causes high anxiety)! I still have coughing problems since I had Covid
1.6.2022 – Sore throat
1.7.2022 – Sore throat. Sore throat started a few hours before booster and has gotten worse so I got a PCR test yesterday since I found out other family members I saw last week have since tested positive.
1.8.2022 – Sore throat, cough, congestion. Found out I was exposed to someone with Covid 3 days before my booster. Waiting for my results back.
1.9.2022 – Sore throat and cough. Exposed to Covid 3 days before getting booster. Waiting for test results
4.3.2021 – Teeth pain for several days but may have a sinus infection and also have a sever burn in my mouth. Slight Chest pain off and on for the last several days
4.4.2021 – Mild Chest pain
4.29.2021 – Heart racing
7.30.2021 – Just more inflammation in sinus area. Three sinus infections after Covid vaccination. Sinus drainage, head and teeth pain more severe than normal. I may have had them anyway but inflammation was intense.
10.26.2021 – UTI, turned into kidney infection, Kidneys feel bruised often, headaches, sinus issues and elevated blood sugars in am after fasting for 12 plus hours. I also saw my primary care doctor and will see a urologist I'm Nov
4.27.2022 – Nerve pain off and on in teeth after one of the shots and on going. Hard to know why. Also had Covid after the third shot or booster, with sinus, lungs compromised, fever, very sick. Also, have some elevated blood sugar levels. Working to improve. Phone visit, doctor visit and dentist
7.12.2021 – I had a cold.
10.31.2021 – The above were related to severe acid reflux (I have a diagnosed condition for this).
11.1.2021 – I want to state that the above are related to my GERD having a flare-up
11.2.2021 – The symptoms I am experiencing are due to an chronic GERD diagnosis, not my booster.
11.4.2021 – All of the above are due to GERD and other health conditions I have that are chronic, I have had a negative COVID test.
12.2.2021 – Have a cold, have been tested for COVID twice while exhibiting symptoms and tests were negative. I have been working from home.
10.29.2022 – Chronic fatigue diagnosis
3.22.2021 – Feeling awesome
4.17.2021 – My (typically very regular) menstrual cycle started nine days early. No excessive bleeding or anything, just early. (I should have reported this at last weeks check-in
11.2.2021 – Abd pain associated with menstrual cramping (period started early as it did previous Covid vaccine
11.28.2021 – Extra severe menstrual cramps, similar to those following the initial series of Covid vaccines.
1.30.2022 – I believe I did contract Covid-19 12/2021, but was unable to access a test at the time.
6.15.2022 – Early, heavier than usual menstruation (same as noted following previous Covid-19 vaccines)
3.8.2021 – The swelling and pain at injection site is way way less then yesterday
4.15.2021 – Threw up Sunday and Monday. Have been nauseated. Have had bouts of diarrhea off and on. Have just felt bad. No fever, no aches, no coughing or sneezing. My last labs indicated I am low in VIT D & B and my iron is also low.
7.1.2021 – Allergies and normal symptoms. Cough only with drainage, which is historical normal. No fever, no symptoms of covid or flu.
7.11.2021 – Vision issues, blurry and dots of moving light around the edge of vision, feeling dizzy
8.9.2021 – Sores in mouth
9.18.2021 – Rash across my body, headache, congestion, feel extreme fatigue and body aches
11.6.2021 – Cant seem to shake the sinus drainage, cough, and mucus. Headaches and sinus oressure every day for over a month.
2.5.2022 – Have had a persistent cough, rapid heart beat, and had a seizure
8.7.2022 – Tendonitis, severe muscle cramps in arms and legs, headaches, congestion, exhausted
4.2.2021 – Muscle aches
5.28.2021 – Muscle aches and joint stiffness. With PCP
8.27.2021 – I have contracted polymyalgia rheumatica (my mother had it. Also my 81 y/o brother has been dx'd wit it.) Am attempting to titrate off prednisone but seem stuck at 9-10mg. with returning symptoms. 3 visits with PCP
2.26.2022 – Diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica. Mother had it and brother now also dxed with it. Currently taking 12.5 mg. of prednisone/day. Symptoms of pain and stiffness primarily in hips and legs controlled currently.
3.27.2021 – Constipation Thursday and Friday following Wednesdays immunization
10.14.2022 – Receiving Chemo therapy for pancreas cancer recently discovered on my liver. I had previously undergone distal pancreas surgery in November 2020.
10.26.2022 – I had some trouble swallowing for a few days after my last chemo treatment. This may have been caused by the chemo.
12.14.2022 – Undergoing chemo for relapse of pancreatic cancer. November 2020 surgery cured the cancer, but pancreas cancer landed on my liver in summer of 2022. This led to chemo scheduled for September through February. Excellent prognosis for healthy future.
1.22.2021 – Teeth pain
1.25.2021 – Neck pain/muscle spasms
2.3.2021 – Loss of smell and very diminished taste
2.24.2021 – Headache and rash Family doctor
3.2.2021 – Sore throat and earache Primary care physician
3.4.2021 – Sore throat and earache
3.5.2021 – Sore throat and swollen lymph node in neck.
3.12.2021 – After 2nd vaccine I developed symptoms of strep. My symptoms continued to get worse and then I discovered I was having serious debilitating anxiety attacks. I have saw my primary care physician and he has adjusted my meds until I see a therapist Primary care physician
3.19.2021 – Worsening anxiety disorder Primary care physician
4.2.2021 – Anxiety disorder Primary care physician and therapist
4.9.2021 – Anxiety disorder and cervical radiculopathy Primary care physician and therapist
5.30.2021 – Hospitalized for a week with elevated liver enzymes
8.29.2021 – Still having stomach issues since the last check in with multiple ER visits for pain and nausea relief. I saw my primary care physician and GI doctor but still have no diagnosis! Family physician did mention antibody testing? Family physician visit in person
2.27.2022 – I'm still suffering from right sided pain. I have seen and been cleared by a urologist but am now awaiting an appointment with a neurosurgeon. I am also still suffering with anxiety issues that had gotten better but are now back. In person visit
3.11.2021 – Dizziness
3.12.2021 – Dizziness and severe pain from my head to my feet but only on the back side of my body. Loss of appetite. Feeling hot all over.
3.13.2021 – Metallic taste in mouth. Had to take Tynanol today for the pain in my back neck head & legs As became quite unbearable. The pain comes in troughs and waves starting mild and becoming too severe and caused me to cry. Feeling exhausted with this process now.
3.14.2021 – Feeling flushed mostly when experiencing pain severely. Today my arms and legs had weird sensations like nerve sensitivity as well as back, neck, shoulder pain.
3.15.2021 – Went to hospital emergency at 4am this morning as the pain was so bad that I was sobbing and the Tynanol was not helping. They did tests and sent me home to keep using Tynanol or Ibuprofen, which I used throughout the day. My husband started massaging my back pain and that was helpful in easing the pain. Still feeling poorly, dizzy, exhausted, headachy, back and ringed torso pain and nerve sensations down my arms and legs.
3.16.2021 – Slept for two hours, then woke up at midnight in pain all over and couldnt go back to sleep. Took Advil one at 3am and walked around the house to cope with the pain. Went back to sleep about 6am for a couple of hours. One more Advil at 9am and Mainly joint pain today. Massages helped back/spine pain. Had a respite for a couple of hours where the pain was dulled. Pain all over came back severely at 2.30 so had one more Advil. Stopped taking Tynanol as I broke out in hives on my face and chest. Not sure Ill take Moderna again!
3.30.2021 – I have been in severe muscle and joint pain for two weeks following my second Moderna shot. It has gradually eased to discomfort and aches in joints daily.
4.6.2021 – No not really it its weeks since my second jab and I still feel very tired.
4.20.2021 – Still very tired, and not 100%, but no worsening symptoms. I pressed yes, so I could record this. Needed the box option for no too. Will someone contact me because my reaction to the 2nd Moderna was extreme pain for 2 weeks. (b)(6)
9.9.2021 – Ive said yes so I could comment, but other than tiredness I have no new symptoms. However, I had two weeks of muscle, nerve, & joint pain following my second Moderna vaccine shot & no one has bothered to contact me to discuss this. Phone(b)(6)
12.11.2021 – Loss of appetite
12.13.2021 – Still a little tired but symptoms eased. After the second moderna I experienced such severe muscle, joint & nerve pain for two weeks, so I'm pleased this didn't happen for the booster!
12.14.2021 – Still More tired than usual. Exercising is not as easy as previously
5.20.2022 – Didn't sleep much last night
8.20.2022 – Runny nose, cough, dry throat but tested negative three times for covid
3.5.2021 – Metal taste in mouth
3.6.2021 – Coughing, chest tightness, sore throat, ringing in ears, dizziness, extreme weakness.
3.7.2021 – Dizziness, chest pain, coughing
3.8.2021 – Lots of coughing
3.9.2021 – Sore throat and ear pressure
3.10.2021 – Cough
3.11.2021 – Cough, ear pain, runny nose.
4.2.2021 – Metal taste in mouth, ringing in my ears, cramping in my right forearm and right calf. Have started coughing.
4.3.2021 – Ringing in ears, headache turned into a migraine, slurred speech, weakness on right side, metal taste in mouth, coughing, skin on fire.
4.4.2021 – Still have metal taste in mouth.
4.5.2021 – Sore throat, ear aches, metal taste in mouth, ringing in ears, dizziness
4.6.2021 – Metal taste in mouth, very weak
4.7.2021 – Metal taste, ringing in ears
4.8.2021 – Still metal taste in mouth
4.9.2021 – Metal taste
5.16.2021 – Just signed up today. Since Wednesday, I have had sharp headaches in a single point. They last for a few minutes up to a half hour or so. This occurred several times per day from Wed to Fri. Shot was on Monday. Acupuncture
6.14.2021 – Early menstrual cycle with far worse PMS symptoms than usual. More headaches.
12.13.2021 – Chest pain
6.3.2022 – Diagnosed with pericardiasis. Chest pain started approx 2 weeks after December booster vaccination.
5.16.2021 – Nope!
5.17.2021 – It just really hurts on my shoulder where I got the vaccine, its probably because I tightened my muscles before I got the shot.
6.7.2021 – My shoulder hurts like heck even though I didnt tighten up when I got the shot, and I have had a headache but it went away quickly when I took a painkiller, a part of my back hurt a lot when I woke up, Im not sure if that counts as muscle pains or if I just slept on it wrong.
5.4.2021 – Nauseated and headache
5.21.2021 – Sore throat, numbness in some of my fingers on my left hand (arm where vaccine was given) Emailed my PCP
5.22.2021 – Sore throat and numbness in some of the fingers of my left hand (vaccine was administered in left arm)
5.23.2021 – Migraine
8.17.2021 – Ongoing headaches/migraines, unsteady balance, a fall, skin broke out on neck and chest, and increased anxiety
11.16.2021 – Migraines, body aches, vision issues, skin issues and a couple of falls (no tripping involved)
1.11.2021 – Lymph node swelling in axilla
1.12.2021 – Axilla pain on side of injection extending up into my neck. Sore throat
1.13.2021 – Axilla pain, swelling, tenderness, breast swelling (all on injection side)
2.4.2021 – Severe lymphadenopathy on injection side
2.5.2021 – Severe lymphadenopathy with severe pain and swelling in left axilla
2.6.2021 – Severe lymphadenopathy in neck, chest, axilla, elbow, wrist on injection side. May need to seek medical care.
2.7.2021 – Severe lymphadenopathy and pain over spleen
2.8.2021 – Significant lymphadenopathy, left elbow and left wrist pain. Left neck pain, shoulder and back pain on injection site
2.9.2021 – Swelling and pain in lymph nodes in axilla, neck, chest and back on injection side
2.12.2021 – Lymphadenopathy injection arm
2.3.2022 – Left arm lymphedema. Axillary swelling. Severe reaction to booster.
