Chief Medical Resident Seema Kumar, MD, displays her COVID Vaccine sticker. 

Concern: I'm worried about possible side effects. 
Response: Seema Kumar, MD  

Tell us how you felt after your vaccine. 

I received my first dose while on service at the VA. In the 24 hours afterward, I noticed pretty significant fatigue. I was also a little nauseated and achy. But I took some Tylenol, and was able to come in and work a full shift. I was back to normal within 48 hours. A few of my fellow residents felt a little worse than I did. They had similar fatigue and myalgias (muscle pain), but more intense, and they ran a fever. They missed a day or two from work, but they’re doing just fine now.

Some people say it’s worse after the second dose. Was that true for you?

That’s exactly what the clinical trials showed us—that reactions are more likely after the second shot. But that wasn’t true for me. I got my second dose last Wednesday, and have felt fine ever since. Everybody reacts a little bit differently, though, so some people might be fine after the first shot, and feel bad after the second dose.

Why did you choose to get vaccinated, knowing that you might not feel well afterward?

I felt grateful to be able to get the vaccine and do my part to help keep my patients, colleagues, friends, and community safe and healthy. I was not concerned at all about the potential mild side effects of the vaccine when I thought about the many lives that have been lost because of this virus. The vaccine represented a ray of light and hope for a brighter path ahead, and it was an easy decision for me to get vaccinated.

For additional information about COVID-19 vaccine side effects, there is easy to understand information available at the CDC Website.

As always, stay tuned to #UABUnited and UAB Medicine for official updates on COVID safety and vaccination progress

Note: This series is intended for those in our community who have reservations about getting “the shot.” These five articles from UAB Department of Medicine highlight a member of our DOM family, and how they have answered these commone concerns about COVID-19 vaccine for themselves and for their patients.