Whether it’s preparing for the COVID-19 vaccine or lasting side effects, officials provided advice on taking a variety of over-the-counter medications.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people talk to their doctors about taking over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin, or antihistamines for post-vaccination pain and discomfort.
However, the CDC does not recommend people take such over-the-counter medications or antihistamines to avoid side effects before getting the coronavirus vaccine.
“You can use these drugs to relieve post-vaccination side effects if you have no other medical reasons that prevent you from taking these drugs normally,” the CDC said. “It is not recommended to take these drugs before vaccination to avoid side effects.”
Health officials noted that it is not known how those drugs might affect the vaccine’s effectiveness. For people taking medications for underlying medical conditions, the CDC recommends that you continue taking.
The CDC recommends that you seek medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- If the redness or tenderness where you received the injection gets worse after 24 hours
- If your side effects are worrying or don’t seem to go away after a few days
- If you are receiving a COVID-19 vaccine and you think you are having a severe allergic reaction after leaving the vaccination site, seek immediate medical attention by calling 911.
According to Pfizer, about 3.8% of the participants in the clinical trial experienced fatigue as a side effect and 2% experienced headaches. Moderna says 9.7% of their participants felt fatigued and 4.5% developed headaches.
The CDC reports common side effects on the arm where the shot was administered include:
Common side effects in the body are:
- Fatigue
- Headache
- muscle strain
- Chills
- Fever
- Nausea
“The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine both require 2 injections to get the most protection,” the CDC said. “You should get the second injection, even if you have side effects after the first injection, unless a vaccination provider or your doctor tells you not to get it.”
To reduce pain at the injection site, the CDC recommends applying a clean, cool, and wet washcloth over the surface. Health officials also recommend using or exercising the injected arm.