Vaccine side effects possible but worth it, expert says Moderna vaccine (Source: WIS) By ABC7 Staff | April 7, 2021 at 6:19 PM EDT - Updated April 7 at 6:19 PM SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - If you feel achy or sore after getting a COVID-19 vaccination, it’s normal and symptoms shouldn’t last, said Dr. Lisa Merritt, who talked exclusively with ABC7 Wednesday about the side effects people can expect when getting the COVID-19 vaccine. “Please get this thing as quickly as possible,” said Merritt, of the Multicultural Health Institute in Sarasota. She talked about how we are starting to see more variants entering Florida and reiterated that Florida is in the top five states for escalating cases of the virus.