Getting the COVID-19 vaccine? Avoid taking ibuprofen or paracetamol beforehand, say experts who have expressed concern that these over-the-counter pain relievers may decrease the vaccine’s effectiveness.
The two coronavirus vaccines that received emergency approval in the United States – one developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and the other by Moderna – can cause side effects after administration, such as pain and swelling at the injection site and / or fever, chills and headache, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In an attempt to prevent some of these unwanted reactions, some who receive the vaccine may choose to take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen).
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine? Avoid taking ibuprofen or paracetamol beforehand, say experts who have expressed concern that these over-the-counter pain relievers may decrease the vaccine’s effectiveness.
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But doing so can affect the effectiveness of vaccines, experts warn.
“I don’t recommend people taking anything before the vaccine to prevent any side effects. We are still learning about the potential impact of ibuprofen or paracetamol – we need more data,” Dr. John Whyte, medical director for the health WebMD website, said Fox News in an email.
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“There is no real value in taking these drugs before vaccination; these drugs are for when you have symptoms, and do not prevent them ”, he added.
Having uncomfortable symptoms after a vaccine, such as fever or pain, are signs that a person’s immune system is working to build immunity against a virus or COVID-19 in this case.
But taking painkillers before receiving the injection may impair the body’s ability to create antibodies against the virus, as these over-the-counter medications can slow the immune response, experts theorized, largely pointing to a Duke University study it found children who took painkillers before receiving childhood vaccines had lower antibody levels afterwards, compared to those who did not.
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“Our recommendations say that you shouldn’t take a painkiller before vaccination to protect yourself from the pain you can expect. But I’ll just remind people – first, when you feel that pain, it means the vaccine is working, so it may be a good sign for some people, “said Dr. John Brooks, epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and medical director of the agency’s COVID-19 response, during a recent briefing for the media with The Infectious Diseases Society of America.
“There are some theoretical reasons why in a small number of people who [pain] can be cause for concern, [which is why] we just recommend that you do a [pain killer] after vaccination if necessary, “he added.” You should not take medication, in general, unless there is an indication [that it’s needed] – I would limit what I expose myself [unless] I really need this. ”
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On its website, the CDC recommends placing a clean, fresh, damp towel over the injection site if you feel pain, and also recommends “using or exercising your arm” to reduce any discomfort.
The federal agency also advises “drinking plenty of fluids” and “dressing in light clothes” in case of fever.
Those who experience an increase in redness or tenderness at the injection site 24 hours after receiving the vaccine or have any “worrying” side effects that do not go away after a few days, should speak to their doctor, says the CDC.