The following side effects are normal and should go away in a few days. Some have reported experiencing more severe symptoms after their required second dose:
On the arm where you got the shot:
Throughout the rest of your body:
Side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine such as pain, discomfort, fever, or itchiness are normal. Your Rite Aid pharmacist can help answer any questions about your COVID-19 vaccination or products that can relieve symptoms.
Call your doctor if redness or tenderness in the injection area worsens after 24 hours, or if side effects last more than a few days. If you think you might be having a severe allergic reaction, seek immediate medical care by calling 911. Here’s more information from the CDC about what to do if you have an allergic reaction.
If you are receiving a two-dose vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna), it’s critical that you stay healthy and don’t miss your Dose 2 appointment. Remember, your vaccine is only fully effective after both doses! Your second dose appointment has been scheduled for you based on the recommended time frame for the type of vaccine you received. We will remind you of your appointment date and time through email or text.
The Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines were all approved to be administered under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). EUA allows the FDA to approve the use of medical countermeasures (MCMs), including vaccines, during public health emergencies.
To understand all the facts about the vaccine you’re about to receive, including the benefits and risks, download and review EUA document for your vaccine. Depending on vaccine availability and if this is your first or second dose, you will receive one of the following vaccines:
Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Download (English) | Descargar (Español)
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Download (English) | Descargar (Español)
Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Download (English) | Descargar (Español)
As of 4/13/21, the administration of Johnson & Johnson/Janssen’s COVID-19 vaccine has been paused. Learn more.
Post-Vaccination FAQs
If you receive a two-dose vaccine, (either Pfizer or Moderna vaccines), you are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your second dose.
If you receive a single-dose vaccine, (Johnson & Johnson / Janssen vaccine), you are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your single dose.
As of 4/13/21, the administration of Johnson & Johnson/Janssen’s COVID-19 vaccine has been paused. Learn more.
Yes. Experts need to understand more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide in real-world conditions before determining when people can safely stop wearing masks and following other protective measures.
While FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines have proven to prevent vaccinated individuals from experiencing COVID-19, experts are also still determining whether vaccines will prevent the ability to spread the virus.
Herd immunity means that enough people in a community are protected from getting a disease because they’ve already had the disease or they’ve been vaccinated. Experts do not yet know what percentage of people would need to get vaccinated to achieve herd immunity to COVID-19; however, the CDC and other experts are actively studying this and will provide more information as it is available.
For a full list of questions and answers about the vaccination process and what to expect during your appointment, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.