Many people, in anticipation of a potentially uncomfortable medical event, can take something for the pain in advance. But some doctors warn against doing so before the COVID-19 vaccine.
There is simply not enough known about pain medications like Tylenol or Advil, and how they can interact with the COVID-19 vaccines.
The vaccine activates the immune system to build a response to COVID-19. And because some painkillers are anti-inflammatory, this can prevent the immune system from responding as it normally would.
The theory is that this could reduce the vaccine’s effectiveness.
“Another reason it is helpful not to pre-medicate is that you can really pay attention to your symptoms and not mask them,” said Dr. Jewel Mullen, dean of the Health Equity Association at Dell Medical School.
Mullen also advocates not using premedication. She says that after the injection, if you feel pain or fever, it’s another story.
Mullen received his first dose of the vaccine and continued to move his arm the next day to cure the pain.
“The more we favor something that is not totally damaged, it also reinforces psychologically for us that there is something wrong with us or there is something wrong with it. And this is a short-term side effect, there is no reason to stop moving things in a general way that makes them feel better, ”said Mullen.
If you take pain medications or anti-inflammatories regularly for other problems, it is best to talk to your doctor about using them with the COVID-19 vaccines.
Mullen is more concerned about people receiving inaccurate information about vaccines.
“I am grateful for all the success of medical research and science that brought this vaccine to us in a safe. Science-based way for us to feel confident that we are doing something to protect people along the way, ”said Mullen.