The UVA Health doctor explains the side effects of the COVID booster shot

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia (WVIR): If it’s time to fire up your COVID booster, University of Virginia Health doctors say don’t worry, you’ve done it all before.

“You’ll probably get the same side effects as with the second dose,” said expert Bill Petri, an infectious disease expert at UVA Health. “Neither better nor worse. A lot of people have a little pain. One in six people actually has flu-like symptoms, even like a fever. So you might want to plan ahead, so when you are eligible, you may not be able to do so before you have a big day planned. “

If you’ve felt bad the last time, you’re likely to feel bad again. But if you feel good, you’ll probably feel good this time too.

“That’s exactly what you have for your second dose,” Petri said. “It’s exactly the same vaccine. Nothing has changed, it’s just an extra dose. And, it is very clear from the data from Israel, which are a little ahead of us in terms of reinforcing features, that they are working to provide better protection against the delta. “

Petri says the delta variant is right now 99% of the COVID in Charlottesville. Once everyone, not just immunocompromised patients, can get the third dose, we will all be better protected.

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