74-year-old patient sees skin 'peeling off' after being vaccinated

This 74-year-old American named Richard Terrell was vaccinated against COVID-19 last March. He unfortunately developed rare side effects.

74-year-old patient sees skin 'peeling off' after being vaccinated
© BBC
74-year-old patient sees skin 'peeling off' after being vaccinated


Since the launch of vaccination campaigns around the world, several patients have developed side effects of varying severity.

In England, to date, three vaccines are available on the market: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, newly dubbed 'Vaxzevria.'

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Alarming side effects


In the United States, Richard Terrell was vaccinated with the American Johnson & Johnson vaccine on 6 March, 2021. While at the time, everything went well, four days later, the patient began to notice alarming side effects, as reported by the American television channel ABC.

At first, the man first noticed a rash on most of his body. Then Richard Terrell felt an itchy rash in his armpit that spread all over his body.


His skin then turned bright red and some of his limbs began to swell.

Finally, the American saw that the skin on his back was starting to peel off.

The septuagenarian therefore went to find some doctors who confirmed that these were indeed side effects due to the vaccination, but that this type of side effect is very rare.

It all happened so fast. My skin came off. [...] Every time I bent my arms or my legs, it was very painful.

On 19 March, Richard Terrell was sent to the emergency room. The man had to stay a total of five days in the hospital before he could return home.

This reaction is known and treatable


This one case is extremely rare, and Richard Terrell's story should not discourage people from getting vaccinated. Moreover, he himself said he was grateful to have been able to be vaccinated, despite these side effects.

As an American doctor insisted on saying 'This reaction is known and treatable.' However, of course, if this happens, one should immediately consult a doctor, because as he reminds:

The skin is the largest organ in the body, and when it is sensitive like his, one can lose a lot of fluids and electrolytes.

To find out how an mRNA vaccine works, see the video above.

This 90-year-old walked kilometres in the cold to get vaccinated This 90-year-old walked kilometres in the cold to get vaccinated