The Strange New COVID Vaccine Side Effect That’s Confusing Even Doctors

John A. Sellick Jr., DO, professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, is quoted in articles on reports that people are experiencing an intense metallic taste in their mouth as a rare side effect of COVID-19 vaccines. “I suspect its part of a ‘vagal’ response—the same one that gives you sweats, flushing, and lightheadedness in anticipation of an injection [or] procedure,” said Sellick, also noting that if a person experiences this symptom a few days after their COVID-19 vaccine, it may be due to a COVID infection as opposed to a side effect. “If it happens days later, especially if in combination with loss of smell, it’s a fairly solid sign of SARS-CoV-2 infection,” he said.