Here Are the Side Effects to Expect From the COVID Vaccine (and How to Deal With Them)
You’ve probably heard about the side effects of COVID vaccines and now you are well aware that there is no “standard” response to vaccines – everyone treats them differently. However, it is best to go to the appointment armed with as much knowledge as possible, especially if it means preventing or reducing unpleasant side effects. Here’s what you need to know about how to deal with the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine both before and after vaccination.
How Common Are Side Effects of COVID-19 Vaccine?
Before we go any further, we must point out that side effects are not specific to the COVID vaccine: they canoccur after a flu shot or other vaccination and are a sign that your body is responding to the vaccine. In particular, in the case of the COVID vaccine, that “your immune system instructs your body to respond in a certain way: it increases blood flow so more immune cells can circulate, and it raises your body temperature to kill the virus,” the World Health Organization (WHO) explains.
So, when someone experiences mild to moderate side effects after being vaccinated with COVID, it is not uncommon for their doctors or family members to convince them that this is not only normal, but also good . This does not mean that the vaccine is dangerous – it means that it is doing its job .
But does that mean that people without side effects should be concerned that their vaccine didn’t work? Oh no. “The absence of side effects does not mean that the vaccine is ineffective,” explains WHO . “That means everyone reacts differently.” It also means that no matter how good it is to prevent or control the side effects of our COVID vaccine, our body will do its part.
However, there are ways to reduce the discomfort from side effects (which we’ll talk about in a minute), but Dr. Joel Kammeyer , an infectious disease specialist and assistant professor at the University of Toledo’s College of Medicine and Life Sciences, wants us to put things in perspective when we think about our chances of experiencing any post-vaccination pain or discomfort.
“We have to admit that over 80% of study participants experienced side effects in vaccine trials, most of which were fatigue and injection site reactions,” he tells Lifehacker. “Side effects are the norm, not the exception.”
What are the possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?
The most common side effects of COVID-19 vaccines resolve after a few days, according to the CDC and include:
- Swelling, redness, and pain at the injection site
- Heat
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Muscle pain
- Chills
- Nausea
While this is extremely rare, some people do have a severe allergic reaction, also known as anaphylaxis, to the COVID vaccine. If so, call 911 and seek immediate medical attention.
Vaccine preparation
The only way vaccinated people have more fun than talking about their vaccination experience – including any side effects – is giving advice to unvaccinated people on how to prevent or manage side effects. But with so many floating pointers, how do you know what to listen and what to ignore?
Yes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does have some guidance on this, some of which are the keyword, leaving unresolved questions about what we can truly control in terms of the side effects of the COVID vaccine. Here’s what we know so far, courtesy of the CDC and two infectious disease specialists.
Can pain relievers be taken before taking?
The CDC clearly states that before getting vaccinated, we should avoid over-the -counter medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin, acetaminophen, and antihistamines to prevent vaccine side effects, including allergic reactions. The reason is that at this point we are still not sure how these drugs might affect the effectiveness of the vaccine. Check with your doctor if you are taking any of these medications as part of your regimen.
Does superhydration prevent side effects?
As humans, we can feel helpless quite easily, especially in health situations. Therefore, when in doubt, we start giving advice to ourselves or to others, which usually includes advice to avoid dehydration. Our search for ways to prevent the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine is no different.
In fact, the ER doctor who gave me the second dose of the vaccine advised me to drink as much water as possible “without discomfort” in order to reduce the severity of any side effects. While it makes sense to become dehydrated when there are side effects that can make a person feel worse, would pumping ourselves with water before and after vaccinations provide us with some type of protection from fluids? Kammeyer is not convinced.
“Overall, a well-hydrated body is a good idea, but it is unlikely to prevent side effects,” he says. “Maintaining hydration certainly doesn’t hurt anything, but I wouldn’t expect the side effects to be prevented or limited by staying hydrated.”
The CDC mentions drinking or snacking can help prevent fainting after vaccinations, but again we’re talking about normal hydration levels (so don’t overdo it).
Is there an ideal time to make an appointment?
In most of the country, there is still no place where we can schedule COVID vaccinations like any other medical visit, choosing the time and day that works best for us. Anyone who has ever gone through the online booking process knows how quickly these appointments go and how little choice you usually have in their timing.
But let’s say that you are an opportunity. Are there certain times of day when people experience fewer side effects from the vaccine? Dr. Keith Armitage is an Infectious Disease Specialist at University Hospitals Cleveland where he is also Medical Director of the Center for Tourism Medicine and Global Health. Rowe Green says he “doesn’t know what time of day would be beneficial.” “
Likewise, Kammeyer says “it won’t work” if you schedule the vaccine at specific times of the day to prepare for or reduce side effects. “We know from initial clinical trials of vaccines that many side effects occur within 24 hours, while others may not appear longer than a week,” he explains.
That being said, if you’re worried about feeling tired after taking a dose, you can always schedule your shot at the end of the day so you don’t have to worry about having to go back to work. By the way, what about …
Should you take sick leave the day after your appointment?
Recognizing that not everyone has the opportunity to take paid sick leave to deal with the potential side effects of the vaccine (or ever), is it worth it for those who do?
A significant number of people are reluctant to work after the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, Armitage said. In fact, he says healthcare providers usually schedule vaccinations before the weekend. “About a third of people have fever, and maybe half of them don’t want to work, so it’s wise to plan [take sick leave],” explains Armitage.
How to deal with side effects after vaccination
Here’s what we can (and cannot) do to prevent the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. But how about you treat 80% of people who experience some type of pain or discomfort? Here’s how to deal with the most frequent messages.
Arm pain and soreness
As one of the most common side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine, you may be wondering what you can do to reduce pain or soreness in your arm that was vaccinated. The CDC recommends two things:
- Apply a clean, cool, damp cloth to the affected area.
- Using or training the arm
How about a hand massage at the injection site? This has been suggested as a way to deal with pain from other types of vaccines , but can it help with this one? Here’s an example from Kammeyer:
There is no official recommendation for massage the injection site to reduce arm pain. This has not been studied in vaccine trials, but it is highly unlikely that injection site massage will affect the effectiveness of the vaccine. Frequent arm movement after injection may be more beneficial than massage, but massage is unlikely to be harmful. If that helps, I wouldn’t mind.
Heat
If you develop a fever after being vaccinated against COVID, the CDC recommends drinking plenty of fluids and “dressing lightly.” Does this mean that you need to be extremely hydrated before your vaccine can prevent this side effect?
Armitage disagrees, noting that it is simply the standard in treating fever. “Whenever you have any kind of fever, it’s best to stay hydrated because fever can increase fluid loss,” he explains. “I can’t think of any other reason why fluids might help [as a way to prevent the side effects of the vaccine].”
Fatigue
There’s a lot going on in your body after a vaccination, so it’s no surprise that fatigue is another common side effect. But which is better – listen to your body and sleep when you want, or spend the rest of the day and stick to your usual sleep schedule? You decide.
“Fatigue will always come and go,” explains Kammeyer. “The correct recommendation here will depend on the person. Sleep is certainly great, and staying long and maintaining a normal sleep pattern is good too — anything that works for a person. In a few days, the fatigue will go away, no matter what you do. “
But what about the popular belief that rest when we are not feeling well is necessary in order to give your body a chance to heal? Does this mean that if someone feels tired after being vaccinated and does not rest when they get tired, this could make the vaccine less effective?
Nope. Continuing your day without sleep will not reduce sensitivity to the vaccine or pose a threat to your overall health, Armitage said. “There is nothing wrong with pushing if people want to,” he explains. “There is no downside in the long term, although people may feel more tired in the short term.”
Lumps
While we’re on the subject of side effects, it looks like now is the time to mention that if you develop a new lump or soreness in the armpit, armpit, or neck after receiving COVID vaccinations, there is no need to panic. This is likely a swollen lymph node and another way for our body to tell us that it is preparing to fight what it perceives to be SARS-CoV-2.
The CDC reports that 11.6% of vaccine recipients have swollen lymph nodes after their first dose of COVID vaccine, and 16% after their second, noting that in most cases, the swelling appeared two to four days after vaccination. Doctors have noticed that the bumps form on the same side of the body where the injection was given.
“It’s normal for your body to develop an immune response to fight the virus,” explains Dr. Holly Marshall, head of the Breast Imaging Unit at University Hospital Cleveland Medical Center. “Swelling could be a sign that the body is producing antibodies in response to the vaccine, as expected.”
Is it safe to take pain relievers, and if so, which ones?
Yes, pain relievers can be taken for hand pain, fever, muscle aches and other side effects, but there is a caveat. According to the CDC, you can take over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin, or antihistamines to help manage side effects, provided “you have no other medical reason that prevents you from taking these medications as usual.” This same paragraph also includes the usual “talk to your doctor” phrase about taking any OTC drugs for the side effects of the vaccine, which is a good idea if you have any questions.
While the CDC gives the green light to take ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol), or aspirin (such as Bayer) for vaccine side effects, many people have received instructions from their doctors or the person administering the vaccine. stick to Tylenol.
You may have also seen headlines over the past few months that suggested that taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) after vaccination can weaken a person’s immune response. (Both ibuprofen and aspirin are NSAIDs.) Does this mean that Advil is not allowed?
Most of this news reported on a recent study published in the Journal of Virology, which showed that using NSAIDs to treat COVID-19 can attenuate the inflammatory response and production of protective antibodies in mice. While the authors note that more research is needed to determine if the same reaction can occur in humans, their results “increase the likelihood that NSAIDs could alter the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.” But then again: this is an early study done in mice.
People who experience side effects after a second dose of one of the mRNA vaccines (such as Pfizer or Moderna) can safely take NSAIDs or paracetamol, Armitage said.