Most common side effects:

• pain, redness or swelling where the needle was given
• headache
• nausea and vomiting
• muscle pain, stiffness
• fever, chills
• joint pain
• tiredness

Rare adverse events - Anyone experiencing the symptoms below should seek medical attention:

• chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular or fast/pounding heartbeat.
• hives; swelling of face, tongue, or throat; difficulty breathing.
• weakness or paralysis on one side of the face.
   

This is a protein-based vaccine. It contains the spike protein that is on the surface of the COVID-19 coronavirus,and an adjuvant which helps create a strong immune response. The body recognizes the spike protein as a threat and produces antibodies, which help prevent becoming
seriously ill if exposed to the COVID-19 virus.

Vaccination should be postponed if you have an acute severe illness with a fever. If you have a minor illness with no fever, vaccination can proceed.

If you have a bleeding disorder in which intramuscular injections are not recommended, you should not receive this vaccine.

Although this vaccine is safe for most people:

• If you have cancer, consult with your cancer care team before receiving vaccinations
• if you have a condition or are on a medication that weakens your immune system, consult your healthcare providers before getting vaccinated.

Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding: It is highly recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding individuals receive COVID-19 vaccination. HOWEVER,  mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Spikevax™ or Comirnaty^®) are preferred because they have more safety data.