Common adverse events following immunisation

Some side effects after getting a vaccine are common. These are expected and are mild and short-lived. They usually happen in the first few days after vaccination and get better without treatment. 

Common side effects following vaccination include: 

• pain, redness, swelling and itchiness at injection site
• a lump at injection site
• fever
• headache
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
• tiredness or drowsiness
• muscle aches
• (in children) irritability, crying, drowsiness, tiredness or general restlessness.  

For more information on common side effects and how to manage them, visit: 

• Following vaccination – what to expect and what to do – Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
• Common AEFIs and how to manage them – Australian Immunisation Handbook
• Common AEFIs for vaccines used in the National Immunisation Program – Australian Immunisation Handbook
   

Serious adverse events following immunisation

On rare occasions, a serious AEFI can occur. An AEFI is defined as serious if it: 

• results in death
• is life-threatening
• requires in-patient hospitalisation or prolongs existing hospitalisation
• results in persistent or significant disability or incapacity, or in a congenital anomaly/birth defect. 

Some examples of serious AEFIs include: 

• anaphylaxis
• febrile seizures following MMR vaccine
• intussusception following rotavirus vaccine
• myocarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccine
• thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) following viral vectored COVID-19 vaccine.