Covid Vaccines and Bad Reactions - The Record So Far

Given the speed with which the three Covid vaccines available in the US were developed and approved it is not at all unreasonable to have concerns about their safety. But what do the actual numbers tell us so far? What are the odds that a vaccination could cause a serious adverse reaction like anaphylaxis?

After 9.9 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, 7.6 million doses of the Moderna vaccine and 7 million of the Johnson and Johnson variety, the CDC reports 66 cases of anaphylaxis (Pfizer and Moderna) and 6 reports of serious blood clotting (Johnson and Johnson). There has been one death (Johnson and Johnson). Most people reacting to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines had a history of allergic reactions to drugs, foods, etc. As of now, the FDA has recommended pausing the use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine while they evaluate the situation.

This makes your odds of having a serious adverse reaction to the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines about 1/8th the chance of dying in an auto accident. For the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, your odds of experiencing a blood clotting issue are roughly the same as the odds of being struck by lightning.

Of course, no one but you can evaluate the risk/reward calculation of your being vaccinated. But the riskiest part my be the drive to the clinic.