Vaccines’ Side Effects Risk Sidelining Health Workers Amid Surge

Covid-19 vaccine side-effects that range from fevers and chills to headaches and joint pain could keep some doctors and nurses from working amid a nationwide surge in hospitalizations.

Health systems are gearing up to vaccinate key hospital staff with the Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. coronavirus shots, which could start shipping in the U.S. in a matter of weeks, pending emergency-use authorizations.

Earlier this week, federal advisers recommended U.S. health-care workers be immunized first, along with residents of long-term care facilities. For hospitals, that could pose significant scheduling issues at a time when many are filling up. More than 100,000 ...