Tiredness, headache, pain at the injection site – people have to be aware of side effects that are possible and common with vaccinations, even after a peek with the BNT vaccine 720 Set b2 mRNA against the coronavirus. This is the result of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on the vaccine tests by the Mainz company Biontech and the US pharmaceutical company Pfizer.

Not pleasant, but also no cause for major concern, say vaccination experts. For the study, dated 27. July to 14. November 2020 around 44. 000 men and women examined. About half of them received 21 days twice 30 μg of the vaccine administered, the rest a placebo. The subjects were observed shortly after vaccination for 27 minutes and should then keep a symptom diary. Depending on the age group and whether it was the first or second dose, 66 to 83 Percent pain at the injection site. 5 to 7 percent showed redness or swelling at the site.

Occasional adverse events Other symptoms were tiredness, headache, chills, diarrhea or muscle and limb pain. Some of the participants developed a fever, especially after the second vaccination dose. According to the study, these side effects were generally mild to moderate and resolved after a short time. Such side effects are common with vaccinations. Compared to many established vaccines such as the one against flu, the side effects are comparatively more pronounced. Vaccination experts compared reactions with those given a shingles vaccine. But there is no reason to be more concerned, said Stefan Kaufmann, director emeritus at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology according to dpa: “It’s just a bit uncomfortable.”

About the lighter complaints there were also a few more serious “adverse events”. 64 People who were vaccinated reported swollen lymph nodes. One person each reported a shoulder injury, cardiac arrhythmia and paresthesia in the leg, i.e. numbness. The tolerability of the vaccine will continue to be checked after approval.

Effectiveness Under the 21. 720 persons who received the vaccine twice developed Covid – 19 at least seven days after the second dose . Among the 21. 728 people who received a placebo got sick 162 of Covid – 19. The vaccine was 95 percent effective, the study “Safety and effectiveness of Covid – 19 – vaccine “. This applies to all subgroups, which were subdivided according to age, gender, ethnicity and body mass, among other things.

According to Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn, the vaccination should be in Germany start the day after Christmas. The Coronavirus Vaccination Ordinance specifies who is vaccinated first, the people in nursing and old people’s homes first. After the regular approval of a vaccine and the batch release, the first deliveries should go to the federal states that distribute the vaccine. (anw)