PETALING JAYA: If you had suffered side effects from your previous Covid-19 vaccination shots, tell the doctor before getting your booster shot, says an epidemiologist.

       Universiti Putra Malaysia medical epidemiologist Assoc Prof Dr Malina Osman said the side effects of booster shots are generally the same as those of primary shots.

       But she said if an individual had experienced certain side effects from their previous jabs, it was advisable to inform the doctors prior to getting the booster vaccination.“For Covid-19 vaccines, the common side effects include pain and swelling at the site of injection. You may also get fever, headache, muscle pain, lethargy, chills or nausea.

       “Severe side effects like a rapid heart rate, swelling in throat and allergy have also been documented but are very rare,” she added.

       She said those who had received their booster jab should avoid strenuous activities for the next 14 days.

       Commenting on the mixture of vaccine types, Dr Malina said studies had shown that the practice was safe and provided better protection against Covid-19 by increasing antibody levels.