For anyone who’s shying away from getting a COVID shot because they’re afraid of the side effects, The New York Times has words of comfort: Feeling awful could just mean you’re having a “vigorous immune response.”

A higher heart rate and temperature are also indicative of a stronger antibody response, the Times says. On the other hand, if you’re not having unpleasant side effects, it doesn’t mean the shot’s not working.

To come to their conclusions, researchers worked with 363 vaccinated participants and tracked their antibody production for six days after their shots.

“Those who had seven distinct side effects — including chills, tiredness, feeling unwell and headache — produced nearly double the levels of antibodies as those who reported no symptoms,” the Times said. “And a change in skin temperature of just 1-degree Celsius predicted antibody levels three times higher six months after the second dose.”

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The New York Times October 7, 2023