# Why do people seem to feel worse after the second vaccine than the first?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-seem-to-feel-worse-after-the-second-vaccine-than-the-first/940482>\
**Category:** The Quarantine Zone\
**Tags:** covid-quarantine\
**Created:** [April 21, 2021, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-seem-to-feel-worse-after-the-second-vaccine-than-the-first/940482 "2021-04-21T22:12:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2021, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-seem-to-feel-worse-after-the-second-vaccine-than-the-first/940482/21 "2021-04-26T13:53:46Z")

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> [@Gyrate](#):
>
> The spouse had the first Pfizer shot with no notable reaction. I had the first AZ shot which knocked me on my ass for a day.
> 
> Friends who have had their second shots have said that the second Pfizer hit them harder than the first, but the second AZ one was quite mild compared to the first. So perhaps it depends on which vaccine you get.
> 
> All of the above is entirely anecdotal.

I’ve also heard that the AX vaccine is more “top heavy”. It certainly made me unwell and feverish for a day. If the thread is still alive next month, I will come back and report but I’ve heard from friends that the second one isn’t as bad as the first with AZ.

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**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2021, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-seem-to-feel-worse-after-the-second-vaccine-than-the-first/940482/22 "2021-04-27T13:25:00Z")

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I had Pfizer. First shot was sore arm and neck and felt kind of crappy for two days. Second shot was sore arm and felt kind of crappy for one day.

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**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2021, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-seem-to-feel-worse-after-the-second-vaccine-than-the-first/940482/23 "2021-04-27T13:33:18Z")

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I’ve been lead to understand that the RNA-based vaccines cause you to feel worse after the second dose, whereas the traditional style vaccines such as AZ pack their punch after the first. But of course every individual is different so it won’t be consistent.

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2021, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-seem-to-feel-worse-after-the-second-vaccine-than-the-first/940482/24 "2021-04-27T14:10:13Z")

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Just like homeopathic vaccines do.

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