Covid vaccines have some side effects, which is a sign that your immune system is working and building up protection against the virus. The common side effects of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccines are things like pain and swelling on your arm where you get the injection, and flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, headache, fever, and chills.
As you prepare for your highly anticipated vaccination appointment (to check if your vaccine is eligible, use NBC News’ plan your vaccination tool), you may be wondering if there is anything you can do to keep this normal , but reduce uncomfortable side effects. . Here’s What You Should Know.
Can you use Tylenol or ibuprofen after getting the vaccine?
The Centers for Disease Control say you can take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (such as Advil), aspirin, antihistamines, or acetaminophen (such as Tylenol), if you have side effects after being vaccinated against Covid. As with any drug, the CDC recommends talking with your doctor first.
Should You Take OTC Medications Before Getting the Vaccine?
Taking over-the-counter pain relievers before your admission to try to reduce symptoms is not recommended by the CDC, as it is not clear how it could affect the effectiveness of the vaccine.
The concern is that pretreatment with pain relievers that reduce fever and inflammation (such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen) can dampen your immune system’s response to the vaccine.
That’s because your immune system responds to vaccines through a process called “controlled inflammation,” Dr. Colleen Kelley, associate professor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, told USA Today in January.
Covid messenger RNA vaccines work by giving cells genetic material that tells them how to make a non-infectious piece of the virus. The immune system then makes antibodies against it – which is controlled inflammation – and can remember how it can trigger an immune response if exposed to the virus in the future.
But OTC pain-relieving drugs “reduce the production of inflammatory mediators,” Kelley said. Therefore, it is important to wait until after you have received the vaccine (and have already started causing an inflammatory reaction for a day) to take painkillers.
Research in children has shown that those who take acetaminophen before receiving vaccines have a lower immune response than those who didn’t. And a recent study by Yale found that administering nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to mice (also known as “NSAIDs”) before they were exposed to SARS-CoV-2 resulted in less protective antibodies from the virus.
The exception is for people who normally use these types of OTC pain relievers as part of their routine to treat another medical condition. Those individuals should continue as usual, but consult their doctor for additional guidance before receiving the vaccine as there may be consequences for skipping medication.
Tips for managing vaccine side effects
In addition to taking medication, there are some home remedies that can help you deal with the side effects. Applying a cool, wet cloth to the area on your arm where the injection was given can help with some of the pain, according to the CDC. Drinking a lot is wise when you have a fever, and wearing lightweight clothing can also keep you comfortable.
After your vaccination, you must wait 15 minutes before leaving the place where you were vaccinated (or 30 minutes if you have a history of anaphylaxis) to be checked for reactions or serious side effects.
According to the CDC, side effects from the Covid vaccine should go away in a few days. That said, in some cases, the side effects can interfere with your ability to run your daily life, so you can plan accordingly.
Also good to know: more people experience side effects from the second of the two doses. This is because the first dose elicits an immune response, and the second dose “enhances” it.
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