Those who survived the outbreak are nearly twice as likely to have side effects from the Pfizer vaccine compared to those who never caught the virus, data suggest.
Figures from an app that monitors for symptoms show that 33 per cent of people who have been struck down by the virus already suffer from at least one moderate side effect – such as fatigue or headache in the week after receiving the injection.
For comparison, the rate was just 19 percent among non-Covid victims.
The ZOE Covid-19 Symptom Study app revealed that obesity is the most common side effect, with nine percent. It was followed by headache (eight percent) and chills (four percent).
At the same time, the data also showed most of the side effects – known as systemic because it affects the whole body – within 48 hours of receiving the vaccine.
Only three percent had problems that lasted longer than three days.
The Covid-19 Symptom Study ZOE app showed that 33 percent of those who had previously contracted the virus experienced one or more side effects after seven days compared to 19 percent of non-sufferers Covid

Those who survived the attack are nearly twice as likely to have side effects from the Pfizer vaccine as those who have never contracted the virus, data show
Professor Tim Spector, an epidemiologist at King’s College London who runs the ZOE Symptom app which also assesses diseases across the country, said the data show that the first dose for those who Covid previously found it acting as an elevated injection.
The study analyzed data from people of all ages with 40,000 doses between them.
He found that 37 percent had pain or swelling near the injection site after the first dose, which increased to 45 percent after the second dose.
Data also showed that 14 percent of participants reported at least one side effect within seven days after the first dose, compared to 22 percent after the second injection – the dose is increased additionally causes a stronger immune response.
The figures showed that 13 per cent of men had recorded at least one side effect within seven days, compared to 19 per cent of women who received the vaccine.
Children under 55 were more likely to have other side effects, with 21 percent reporting at least one symptom compared to 14 percent of people over 55.
Commenting on the effects after the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, he said: ‘It is definitely recommended that if you had Covid before your first vaccine it behaves like the second one – as a boost.
He described how the higher level of side effects seen in people with Covid ‘s previous suggests:’ People already had a protective response and are getting an even bigger boost so that their immunity to become stronger. ‘
Dr Spector said: ‘I think once we analyze and get a little more of the data we’re going to show that the organization has even greater protection. this which Covid had before, perhaps six months earlier, even more than the 53 percent after that same dose.


To date the UK has placed orders for 367million doses of the seven most promising Covid vaccines – manufactured by AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, Valneva, Janssen, GlaxoSmithKline and Novavax – at a cost of £ 2.9billion

Pfizer / BioNTech’s breakthrough was the first in the world to be proven to block a hard-core Covid-19 last year and was approved in the UK on 2 December
‘I think it invites the question of whether we can say with a little more data that these people don’t need a second upgrade and in fact their first one is already the Covid and the second is the first vaccine.
That could save around 10 million vaccines or at least a further several months could be delayed. ‘
The fracture injection was the first in the world to be proven to block a hard Covid-19 last year and was approved in the UK on 2 December.
It uses state-of-the-art technology and is called messenger RNA vaccine (mRNA). Routine vaccines are made using weak forms of the virus, but mRNAs use only the genetic code of the virus.
The mRNA vaccine is injected into the body where it enters cells and prompts them to form antigens. These antigens are recognized by the immune system and prepare it to fight coronavirus.
Studies have shown that the two-dose vaccine can prevent serious illness in 95 per cent of people who have had the injection.
The Government has ordered 40 million doses, enough to vaccinate 20 million Brits, but only a few million Brits have received the injection so far.
Prescribed vaccines are not the same as being ready to leave. Manufacturers are still trying to ramp up production to deliver the agreed supplies worldwide.
The UK had some difficult problems trying to get the vaccine out last year which stopped it as soon as it could be introduced.
The downside to mRNA vaccines is that they must be stored at extremely cold temperatures and not easily transported.