COVID-19 Vaccinations in the United States (28 Mar, as of 06:00 AM ET)

Every booster shot improves immunity to some degree. That would be good to have, if you get exposed overseas, where health care is logistically difficult, and you might be more likely to encounter more challenging variants (like Brazil or South Africa).

You are likely to have less symptoms from the second shot, than from the first, because of your prior infection. For previously uninfected people, the second shot is more likely to produce worse symptoms.

Reportedly, tylenol is helpful with mild vaccine symptoms.

Also, if you skip your second shot, scheduling might be more difficult for a while (but in June we should be swimming in vaccine - enough for everyone).

The side effects seem to be all over from basically nothing to wiped out for -2+ days.

Some have problems with the first shot and some with the second.

Sleeping during the day after a shot seems to be a major side effect for the women in our family. It lasts for one day, and then they are over it.

Most of my family got Moderna, no reaction, I didnt want Moderna so am still waiting..I prefer Phiser..everyone is different..my brother and his wife got pfiser, no side effects from 1st dose, in two weeks they get their 2nd so will see what happens..my Mom, zero side effects other than arm pain but for my sister, she is better the fever dropped to 99.5, she never took anything for it the highest was 100.3 which was not an issue for her she just felt achy all over, still does maybe a little less

What’s the consensus on typical timing and duration of Moderna 2nd shot reactions that would, in particular, be a bad idea to have if one must drive? It is going to be very difficult for me to not have to drive 2-3 hours sometime in the 100 hours or so following my scheduled 2nd shot, and I pretty much HAVE to make a solo 2 hour drive in the 12 hours after my 2nd shot — but I am less worried about that trip, as if need be I can make it starting a couple hours after the shot.

My understanding is that most reactions hit pretty quickly: Within an hour or less of getting the jab, OR, especially those that would make one too tired or sick to drive, they hit 12 hours or more later, and last 1-3 days. Also, I believe most of the immediate reactions are injection site location rashes that would not greatly impair driving. All correct? If it matters, I am in my mid-60’s, SFAIK have not had COVID-19, and my reaction to my 1st Moderna shot was minimal — a bit of upper arm / shoulder soreness, but less than my last flu shot.

“What’s the consensus on typical timing and duration of Moderna 2nd shot reactions?”

Clearly, reactions vary between individuals, but I think the norm for those who do have the flu-like reaction, is that it usually takes a few hours before it comes on. 4-8 hours after is what I hear the most, for onset, from those I have chatted with online.

The in person reports from people I know, have covered the field. One friend (male 69 years old) reported feeling quite woozy driving home from the VA, about an hour after his second Moderna. That is the earliest onset that I have heard of. He drove home without incident, but it was a local commute (DC rush hour) Another, (male age 60), said that he felt lousy starting about four hours after his second Moderna, and lasting strongly for four hours, then tapering off over the next four hours. Another friend (Female, 60’s) did not experience side effects until the next day, after her second Moderna (which had her lay around napping that day, feeling weak and bad). Several others (60s and 70s) reported no significant symptoms, beyond the injection site soreness.

One Freeper strongly recommended taking tylenol with the shot, to reduce symptoms. He said it really worked for him, but that is one case, and reactions vary between shots, in the same individual.

I have not yet experienced the shots first hand, but I would take it on like any other risk that might impair my driving - weather, lack of sleep, drinking - and plan in some slack time to go slow, and to pull over for a while if needed.

Except for the rare anaphylactic reactions (that come on within minutes), I have not heard of people being so impaired by their reaction, that they were unable to walk or drive.

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