Health authorities like the RIVM recommend that everyone receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine remain at the vaccination site for 15 minutes after the injection. But what's the reason behind this protocol?
A very rare risk exists of an allergic reaction to these mRNA vaccines. Trained medical staff are always present at vaccination sites to respond immediately. You'll often notice organized waiting areas where people observe this short period before heading home.
Thankfully, severe allergic reactions are extremely uncommon. Given these were new vaccines at rollout, no chances were taken—EpiPens and emergency protocols were standard at sites. This 15-minute wait is a simple, effective safety precaution.
The Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb rigorously tracks vaccination side effects. By late May 2021, after administering 8.5 million doses, they recorded 60,301 reports. The most frequent included headache, fatigue, muscle pain, and soreness at the injection site.
Lareb documented 132 cases consistent with severe allergic reactions: 74 linked to Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty), 43 to AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), 14 to Moderna, and 1 to Janssen. Anaphylaxis was confirmed in 37 instances. Other reports described symptoms like extensive rashes or swelling around the eyes or throat. Initial symptoms typically appeared within 15-30 minutes post-vaccination, though some peaked after a few hours. All patients received prompt treatment and recovered fully.
Overall, Lareb received 338,418 suspected adverse reaction reports by late May 2021. The top reported side effects were:
So far, Lareb has received 351 reports of deaths following COVID-19 vaccination: 242 in people aged 80+, 81 aged 65-79, and 26 under 65. Most involved Pfizer/BioNTech, the primary vaccine used in older populations. Importantly, reports of death after vaccination do not confirm causation by the vaccine.
Source: Lareb.nl
