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The most common side effects to expect after your Pfizer booster: headache, fatigue, and pain at the injection site
After a third shot of Pfizer’s vaccine, injection-site pain is most common side effect, followed by fatigue and headache.
By Aria Bendix
A third dose of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine yields mild to moderate side effects, much like the second shot, according to data released this month by the Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA has authorized a third dose, or “booster,” for people 65 years and older and others at high risk of severe COVID-19. That includes people who are more likely to get sick because of their health status, as well those who are at high risk of exposure due to where they live and work — such as healthcare workers, teachers and daycare staff, grocery store workers, and residents of homeless shelters or prisons.
On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended a booster at least 6 months after the second dose for: People 65 years and older, nursing home residents, and people ages 50 to 64 with underlying medical conditions. The agency said others who might consider a booster include younger adults with underlying medical conditions or those at increased risk of COVID-19 exposure because of their job or living arrangement.

