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Side Effects of the Covid Vaccine in Spanish

By Doc Molly Leave a Comment

This is the third of a series of discussions in Spanish about the new COVID-19 vaccines.  The primary purpose of these lessons is to practice useful Spanish vocabulary and phrases when discussing vaccination against Covid-19. Much of the discussion refers to the mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna and the information regarding all the Covid-19 vaccines may change as we learn more. Therefore, when speaking with patients, you should always use information provided by current trusted medical sources. 

In this lesson, Elizabeth Cortéz, my Spanish teacher at the San Pedro Spanish School in Guatemala, discusses common side effects of the messenger RNA Covid vaccines.

In upcoming lessons, we will discuss contraindications to the mRNA vaccines, how the vaccine will not alter your DNA, protection against new strains, administration and more. I know that it is important that we are able to communicate clearly with the Spanish-speaking population as we roll out these vaccines. Therefore, I will try to publish these as quickly as possible. If there is something specific about the vaccines that you want us to cover in Spanish, leave a comment at the bottom of this post. 

More Lessons on Spanish for COVID-19

LEVEL - UPPER INTERMEDIATE

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Tasa de reacciones alérgicas severas
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios?
Suelen durar de 1 a 2 días
Una señal de que su sistema está activado 
Se puede aliviar estos síntomas
Aparecen muy pronto después de vacunarse 
References
Related Lessons
Quiz

Tasa de reacciones alérgicas severas

2:04

We are seeing a higher rate of allergic reactions to the new messenger RNA vaccines.
Estamos viendo una tasa más alta de reacciones alérgicas severas a las nuevas vacunas de ARN mensajero.

The rate of severe allergic reactions to the Pfizer mRNA vaccine currently reported by the CDC is 11.1 cases in one million doses.

11 cases in a million doses
once casos en un millón de dosis

¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios?

3:34

Los efectos secundarios comunes son: hinchazón leve y molestia en el sitio de la inyección, dolores musculares, dolor leve de cabeza, cansancio y fiebre leve.

(los) efectos secundarios
common side effects

Los efectos secundarios comunes son:
Common side effects are:

(la) hinchazón leve
mild swelling

(la) molestia
discomfort

(el) sitio de la inyección
injection site

hinchazón leve y molestia en el sitio de la inyección
mild swelling and discomfort at the injection site

(el) dolor
pain

dolores musculares
muscle aches

(el) dolor leve de cabeza
(el) dolor de cabeza leve
mild headache

(el) cansancio
fatigue

(la) fiebre
fever

cansancio y fiebre leve
fatigue and mild fever

Los efectos secundarios comunes son: hinchazón leve y molestia en el sitio de la inyección, dolores musculares, dolor leve de cabeza, cansancio y fiebre leve.
Common side effects are: mild swelling and discomfort at the injection site, muscle aches, mild headache, fatigue and mild fever.

(los) escalofríos
chills

(el) enrojecimiento
redness

Suelen durar de 1 a 2 días

7:06

Estos síntomas suelen durar de uno a dos días después de recibir la vacuna.

estos síntomas
these symptoms

they usually last
suelen durar

  • We use SOLER + INFINITIVO to express habitual actions.

Suelo hacer ejercicio por la mañana.
I usually exercise in the morning.

Estos síntomas suelen durar de uno a dos días después de recibir la vacuna
These symptoms usually last one to two days after receiving the vaccine

Una señal de que su sistema está activado 

8:18

Y son una señal de que su sistema inmunológico ha sido activado para empezar a crear una defensa contra el virus.

una señal
a sign / signal

(el) sistema inmunológico
immune system

activar
activate

(la) defensa
defense

Y son una señal de que su sistema inmunológico ha sido activado para empezar a crear una defensa contra el virus.
And they are a sign that your immune system has been activated to begin creating a defense against the virus.

Se puede aliviar estos síntomas

10:05

Se puede aliviar estos síntomas usando paracetamol y analgésicos comunes, como por ejemplo, ibuprofeno.

aliviar
to relieve, alleviate

(el) paracetamol
acetaminophen

(el) analgésico
painkiller

(el) ibuprofeno
ibuprofen

Se puede aliviar estos síntomas usando paracetamol y analgésicos comunes, como por ejemplo, ibuprofeno.
You can relieve these symptoms by using acetaminophen and common painkillers such as ibuprofen.

  • We use the IMPERSONAL SE, which is always in the third person singular, to say “one… “ or “you…..”
  • We do not use the preposition POR to say, “by using acetaminophen,” we simply use the gerund “usando paracetamol.” 

Aparecen muy pronto después de vacunarse 

12:09

Y quiero hacer hincapié en que la gran mayoría de los efectos secundarios por una vacuna aparecen muy pronto después de vacunarse.

hacer hincapié
to emphasize

la gran mayoría
the grand majority

aparecer
to appear

pronto
soon

vacunarse
to get vaccinated

Y quiero hacer hincapié en que la gran mayoría de los efectos secundarios por una vacuna aparecen muy pronto después de vacunarse.
And I want to emphasize that the vast majority of side effects from a vaccine appear very soon after getting vaccinated.

  • Note the use of POR to say, “the side effects FROM a vaccine” = “los efectos secundarios POR una vacuna”

Tiempo más que suficiente 

14:08

Por lo tanto, hemos tenido tiempo más que suficiente para notarlos en los ensayos clínicos y en los que ya han recibido la vacuna.

por lo tanto
therefore

more than enough
más que suficiente

notar
to notice

(los) ensayos clínicos
clinical trials

Por lo tanto, hemos tenido tiempo más que suficiente para notarlos en los ensayos clínicos y en los que ya han recibido la vacuna.
Therefore, we have had more than enough time to notice them in the clinical trials and in those that have already received the vaccine.

References

  • CDC: Vacunas contra el Covid-19
  • Allergic Reactions Including Anaphylaxis After Receipt of the First Dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
  • Salud Lupa: Cinco respuestas a algunos temores sobre las nuevas vacunas
  • Instagram: 8 Frequently asked questions about vaccines: Answered

The following is a great series of YouTube videos by drvellermd.com explaining the pathophysiology and trial results of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.  They have videos covering a lot more on Covid, including the other vaccines.

  • VACUNA MODERNA COVID19 (ARNm) 
  • COVID-19 | VACUNA PFIZER RESULTADOS, SEGURIDAD Y RESUMEN 
  • COVID-19 | VACUNA Pfizer COMPUESTOS y EFECTOS ADVERSOS 
  • COVID 19 | VACUNA MODERNA FASE 3 | EFECTOS ADVERSOS 
  • COVID 19 VACUNAS ARN | EFECTOS ADVERSOS | REACCIONES ALERGICAS

Related Lessons

  • FL04 Flu Q and A – Flu Vaccine – Who, Why, and When
  • FL05 Flu Q and A – Flu Vaccine – How It Works and Side Effects
  • Spanish for COVID-19

Special thanks to Elizabeth Cortéz, my Spanish teacher at the San Pedro Spanish School in Guatemala who provided most of the Spanish for this lesson.

The lessons offered at docmolly.com are a fun way to practice medical Spanish. They are not intended to teach medicine or provide medical advice. These lessons are intended to improve communication with Spanish-speaking patients, but they are not intended to substitute for a qualified medical interpreter.

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All information contained in the Medical Spanish Podcast and on this website is intended to provide a fun and interactive Spanish learning experience. It is not intended to teach medicine or provide medical advice. This website is not a substitute for a qualified medical Spanish interpreter or a medical professional with respect to a medical condition.