“he felt worse (after the first vaccine shot) than when he had the actual batflu.”
Generally, the second challenge seems to evoke the most symptoms (in those who did not have serious illness), among those who do experience symptoms.
So the first vaccine shot in those who previously had mild or asymptomatic COVID, or the second vaccine shot in those never infected.
That is believed to be because the immune system responds much faster the second time, and seems to further learn to gauge not to over-react after that.
Many people don’t really experience symptoms from the vaccines, but a significant number do. I always recommend planning a light schedule or day off after the second shot (first shot, if you know you’ve had the ‘Rona).
One Freeper recommended tylenol for the vaccine reaction symptoms.
bttt
I’m early fifties, healthy and active. Had moderate Covid in early December and got our first Pfizer shots Wednesday. Felt very tired and headaches on Thursday into Friday. Probably about 20% of what I had experienced in December. My wife had mild Covid (lost taste and tired) and other than a sore arm experienced nothing from the shot. Both my teen children had Covid somewhere between our symptoms and just got their shots so have been monitoring them but so far so good. I’m not excited for my second shot. We’d debated not getting them but will be traveling internationally and expect them to be required.