he sat up in the chair for two nights. He could not lay down.; a fluke because of caller's existing hiatal hernia; Noticed a progression; Started off as a gnawing like he ate wrong food.; excruciating pain in sternum area right where hiatal hernia attacks him.; This is a spontaneous report received from contactable reporter(s) (Consumer or other non HCP). The reporter is the patient.  A 77 year-old male patient received bnt162b2 (BNT162B2), intramuscular, administered in arm left, administration date 10Feb2021 14:00 (Batch/Lot number: unknown) at the age of 77 years as dose 1, single for covid-19 immunisation. Relevant medical history included: "Cardiac operation" (unspecified if ongoing), notes: Verbatim: Open heart surgery; "Diabetes mellitus" (unspecified if ongoing), notes: Verbatim: Diabetic; "Hiatus hernia" (unspecified if ongoing), notes: Verbatim: Hiatal hernia; "Knee arthroplasty" (unspecified if ongoing), notes: Verbatim: Knee replacement; "Triple bypass" (unspecified if ongoing), notes: Verbatim: Triple bypass; "covid-19", start date: Dec2020 (not ongoing), notes: Diagnosed with COVID-19 Virus either 19Dec2020 or 20Dec2020. Eight days later he was negative.; "COVID-19 Virus knocked him down. He was 186lbs and is now 174lbs" (unspecified if ongoing). Concomitant medication(s) included: NITROGLYCERIN taken for hiatus hernia. Vaccination history included: Flu shot (Forty years ago mandated by city to take a Flu shot for a certain strain. Stated he got deathly ill and was put down for five days. Confirmed he has no NDC/Lot/Exp.), for FLU prevention, reaction(s): "deathly ill". The following information was reported: PAIN (non-serious) with onset 11Feb2021, outcome "unknown", described as "excruciating pain in sternum area right where hiatal hernia attacks him."; LOSS OF PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE IN DAILY ACTIVITIES (non-serious), outcome "unknown", described as "he sat up in the chair for two nights. He could not lay down."; HIATUS HERNIA (non-serious), outcome "unknown", described as "a fluke because of caller's existing hiatal hernia"; CONDITION AGGRAVATED (non-serious), outcome "unknown", described as "Noticed a progression"; FEELING ABNORMAL (non-serious), outcome "unknown", described as "Started off as a gnawing like he ate wrong food.". Relevant laboratory tests and procedures are available in the appropriate section.  Additional information: Reportedly, next day after the first COVID-19 vaccine had excruciating pain in sternum area right where hiatal hernia attacks him. It was bad to the point where he sat up in the chair for two nights. He could not lay down. Assumed it was a coincidence. Just happened to get the COVID-19 vaccine and then the attack. The attack was stronger than his hiatal hernia attacks. It was unknown if there were any reports on this or if someone calls it as a side effect already experienced. Patient received first COVID-19 Vaccine on 10Feb2021. Did not get pain attack until next day, at noon time on 11Feb2021. Noticed a progression. Started off as a gnawing like he ate wrong food. It progressively got worse. By night-time he had to sleep sitting up. Patient received second COVID-19 Vaccine on 03Mar2021. Same progression started. It was the same thing and after the second night he could go to bed with much more relief. Was strong at first, but not as strong as after the first COVID-19 Vaccine. It rescinded as it went along. Patient took quite a few supplements for his diet every day for the last ten to twelve years, patient did not provide product names. He was prescribed Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets to relax his hiatal hernia where it attacks his esophagus. After first COVID-19 Vaccine, experienced excruciating pain on sternum area where hiatal hernia attacks him. Buzzed through a few Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets. It took two days for the Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets to receive. Patient stated the bottle was given him an eye test. Had to get magnifying glass to read bottle because it was super small. Product strength and count size dispensed was reported as 0.6mg.  No follow-up attempts are possible; information about lot/batch number cannot be obtained. No further information is expected.