What care is needed after administering the Moderna (mRNA-1273) COVID-19 vaccine?

Post-Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Care

After receiving the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the individual should be monitored for common side effects and observed for at least 15 minutes to ensure no immediate adverse reactions occur. 1

Expected Side Effects

• Most common side effects include injection site pain (91.6%), fatigue (68.5%), headache (63.0%), muscle pain (59.6%), joint pain (44.8%), and chills (43.4%) 1
• Systemic symptoms typically begin 6-12 hours after vaccination and persist for 1-2 days 2
• Respiratory symptoms including mild cough may occur but are generally self-limiting 2
• Side effects are typically more pronounced after the second dose compared to the first dose 1
• Severe adverse reactions are rare, occurring in 0.2% to 9.7% of participants, and are generally less frequent in older adults 1

Monitoring and Management

• The individual should be observed for at least 15 minutes after vaccination to monitor for immediate adverse reactions 1
• For mild post-vaccination symptoms, supportive care is generally sufficient 2
• Most post-vaccination side effects resolve within 2-3 days without specific treatment 2
• Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or NSAIDs may be used for symptom relief if needed 1

When to Seek Medical Attention

• Seek immediate medical care if experiencing severe headache, shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, or persistent abdominal pain, as these could indicate more serious complications 2
• While rare, myocarditis and pericarditis have been reported after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, primarily in adolescent and young adult males 1
• If symptoms persist beyond a few days or worsen, medical attention should be sought to rule out actual infection or other causes 2

Follow-up Vaccination Requirements

• If this was the individual's first COVID-19 vaccine dose, they will need to complete the primary series:

  • For adults: A second dose of Moderna should be administered 28 days after the first dose 1
  • For children 6-11 years: A second 50-μg dose should be administered 28 days after the first dose 3

• If the individual has already completed their primary series, they should follow current booster recommendations:

  • According to the most recent ACIP guidelines, individuals should receive the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine at least 8 weeks after their last dose 1
  • For immunocompromised individuals, additional doses may be recommended 1

Reporting Adverse Events

• Any adverse events occurring after vaccination should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) 1
• Healthcare providers are required to report serious adverse events, cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome, myocarditis, pericarditis, and COVID-19 cases resulting in hospitalization or death 1

Vaccine Efficacy

• The Moderna vaccine has demonstrated high effectiveness against COVID-19, with 94.1% efficacy in preventing symptomatic disease in clinical trials 4
• Effectiveness against severe disease is even higher, with 95.7% effectiveness against severe, critical, or fatal COVID-19 after the second dose 5
• Completing the full vaccination series is essential to achieve optimal protection 5