This page contains information about the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines . More information (in Dutch) about side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines can be found in the CBG-MEB Medicines Information Bank, and on the website of the Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb.
You can report side-effects of the COVID-19 vaccine (in Dutch) to the Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb.
If you experience serious symptoms after vaccination, contact your GP or treating physician.
Most common side-effects of the COVID-19 vaccines
After COVID-19 vaccination, you may experience side effects, which will generally be mild. The injection site may be sore and/or red, and you may have a headache and feel tired. Muscle pain, joint pain, chills and fever may also occur after COVID-19 vaccination. Side effects happen because a COVID-19 vaccination kickstarts your body’s immune system. They usually go away by themselves within 3 days, but they can be unpleasant.
For a complete overview of the possible side effects, see the vaccine package leaflets.
Medications for side effects
You can take paracetamol to relieve the symptoms. Check the package leaflet for paracetamol to see how many you are allowed to take per day. If you are concerned about the side effects, please contact your GP or treating physician.
Myocarditis and pericarditis
In very rare cases, inflammatory diseases of the heart may occur following COVID-19 vaccination with an mRNA vaccine or protein-based vaccine: myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) or pericarditis (inflammation of the outer lining of the heart).
This rare side effect is seen most often in boys and younger men between 12 and 40 years old.
Myocarditis and pericarditis mostly start in the first 7 days after vaccination.
Symptoms include:
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- a forceful heartbeat that may sometimes be irregular.
The symptoms can vary significantly in severity and usually improve on their own or can be treated effectively with medication. If you have these symptoms after vaccination, contact a doctor.
Allergies and vaccination
Are you allergic to one or more of the ingredients in the vaccine? Or did you have a severe allergic reaction after the first vaccination which was probably caused by the vaccine? Then the doctor at the vaccination centre may send you to your GP. If necessary, the GP can refer you to an allergist for assessment. The allergist will advise whether it is safe for the vaccination to be administered by the Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs).
A severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock) is very rare after COVID-19 vaccination. If it does occur, it usually happens within 15 to 30 minutes after vaccination. For that reason, it is still advised to wait for 15 minutes after vaccination before going home. That means that you can receive assistance quickly if you have an allergic reaction.