How to manage it, what to avoid

Our immune systems are unique, which is why humans respond differently to coronavirus vaccinations.

The side effects you may experience after getting a chance may depend on broad categories such as age and gender, as well as more individual characteristics such as genes or the history of exposure to infections.

Generally, according to medical experts, it is normal to feel uncomfortable up to 48 hours after your shot. This is usually a sign that the vaccine is doing its job.

Common side effects include injection site pain, fatigue and headache. For those who receive the photos from Pfizer or Moderna, people tend to feel more decayed after their second dose.

“That feeling of yuckiness, fatigue and fever is that your body has an excellent immune response,” said Dr. Sharon Nachman, head of infectious diseases in children at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, told Insider.

But there are ways to reduce discomfort, experts said. Here are some tips to help you manage your vaccine side effects.

Try to avoid painkillers, if possible

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend taking painkillers before your vaccination. This is because medicines like Tylenol, Advil or Aleve lower your immune response when you tap on your body to do the opposite.

If you have to take a painkiller after your shot, Nachman said Tylenol has the least chance of interfering with your immune response.

“Immediately after the vaccination, I would prefer that you do not take anything,” she said. “But the next day, if you feel you need to take something, I’d rather you take Tylenol.”

Experts have generally recommended trying some natural methods of pain relief first.

Remedies for sore arms: ice and movement

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Once a vaccine enters your arm, blood flow increases and immune cells rush to the scene. This can lead to injection site pain – the most common side effect of all three US-authorized coronavirus vaccines.

The CDC recommends that you apply a clean, cool washcloth over the area where you have the chance to reduce pain. An ice park also works, Dr. Lipi Roy, a physician for internal medicine in New York, posted on Twitter.

Experts have also recommended that you move your vaccinated arm to stimulate blood flow.

“By moving the arm, it helps to spread the local inflammatory area faster,” said Dr. Daniel Summers, a pediatrician in Maine, recently told Insider.

But do not massage the vaccine with your hand, he said – it can aggravate inflammation and pain.

Hot showers can help with muscle aches

Muscle pain is one of the most common side effects with vaccines. About 60% of Moderna’s clinical trial participants, 38% of Pfizer participants, and a third of Johnson & Johnson participants reported the symptom.

Some doctors recommend Epsom salt baths to relieve muscle or body pain, but there is an even simpler solution for Nachman.

“I’m actually just telling people to take a nice hot shower,” she said. “It’s accessible to everyone and relatively inexpensive, and most people feel better about it.”

Look at your tongue for signs of dehydration

Experts have suggested that you drink plenty of fluids before and after taking the plunge. Side effects such as fever and nausea can make you dehydrated. Or, if you are already dehydrated, it can also aggravate your side effects.

Nachman said there is an easy trick to see if you need to drink more water.

“If you stick your tongue out in the mirror and your tongue is white, you will not be hydrated,” she said.

Keep exercise light

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Exercising after your lap is not necessarily a bad idea – if you feel up to it.

Nevertheless, experts have suggested that you should not limit yourself beyond your normal activity level. Even if you are used to a lot of exercise, Nachman said, it is important to listen to your body.

“If you’re used to doing a 40-mile bike ride, this may not be the day to do it,” she said. “If your body says ‘I can not roll out of bed’, do not push yourself to climb the treadmill and run or ride the bike. Take it easy for that day.”

Plan to take your work off after your second dose

A recent CDC report examined side effects among more than 1.9 million Americans who received both doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Across the board, the side effects were more and more severe after the second dose of one of the vaccines.

The only exception is if you have had COVID-19 before: A small study from the Icahn School of Medicine on Mount Sinai found that side effects from vaccines, headaches and colds after the first dose were more common among people who were already existed. immunity against the coronavirus than among people who have never been infected.

In any case, medical experts said, you plan to take time off if you feel dilapidated.

“Take the sick day because you will be less effective at the work you do,” Nachman said.

Call a doctor if the side effects persist after a few days

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The CDC recommends that you call a physician if redness or tenderness at the injection site worsens after 24 hours.

Nachman said she has also seen some patients develop rashes that take a week or so to resolve. The reaction is more after Moderna’s vaccination than that of Pfizer, she said. (Nachman said she has not yet seen enough patients who received J & J’s vaccine to know if rash occurs after the shot.)

Usually a rash is not a cause for concern, she added, unless you also get a fever.

“We see local redness. We certainly see local tenderness. We also see a rash. But a combination of those with fever? It would be a trigger to make someone else look,” Nachman said.

The CDC also recommends that you call a doctor if your side effects do not go away after a few days. In most cases, however, side effects are a welcome response.

“Remember, it’s your immune system that is recovering,” Nachman said. “You did an excellent job immunologically. We’re happy.”

Julia Naftulin reported.