The New England Journal of Medicine has published numerous photos of what some of those so-called “COVID arm” rashes look like. Still, doctors say fear of a rash isn’t a reason to skip your chance of getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
Certified dermatologist Dr. Shirley Chi has seen the results in some of her patients.
“All responses were to the Moderna vaccine and experts are unsure why the Moderna vaccine appears to be slightly more allergenic in this way,” Chi said.
“So the bottom line is that this is a normal response that we are seeing. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get your COVID vaccine,” she added. “You have to get it as soon as possible, and if you get a reaction like that, talk to your doctor about it and we can treat it.”
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Millions of people have already received injections of the Pfizer, Moderna and the newly available Johnson & Johnson vaccines, and many reactions have been reported, including injection site pain, general fatigue, and sometimes fever.
Those reactions usually occur within a day or two after the injection, but some people who receive the Moderna vaccine develop that mysterious rash – sometimes as long as eight to 10 days after the injection.
“I’ve had several patients who have had this type of delayed response. One patient in particular came within 10 days of getting her first COVID vaccine, and she had lumps on her arm where she got her vaccine,” said Chi . . It stretched down to her wrist and basically her torso. We treated her with over-the-counter antihistamines and she started to get better. ‘
Chi says it is important to publicize the results of the “COVID arm”. She says the redness is usually treatable with antihistamines, but sometimes a steroidal anti-inflammatory medication must be prescribed to completely resolve the problem.
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