Covid vaccines have some side effects, which is a sign that your immune system is starting to work and increasing protection against the virus. The common side effects of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccines include things like pain and swelling in the arm at the injection site and flu-like symptoms, including fatigue, headache, fever and chills.
As you prepare for the long-awaited vaccine appointment (to check the vaccine’s eligibility status, you can use the NBC News plan for your vaccine tool), you may be wondering if there is anything you can do to mitigate these normal but uncomfortable side effects. Here’s what you should know.
Can you take Tylenol or ibuprofen after receiving the vaccine?
The Centers for Disease Control say you can take over-the-counter pain relievers, like ibuprofen (like Advil), aspirin, antihistamines or paracetamol (like Tylenol), if you experience side effects after being vaccinated for Covid. As with any medication, the CDC recommends talking to your doctor first.
Should you take OTC medications before receiving the vaccine?
Taking OTC painkillers before the injection to try to reduce symptoms is not recommended by the CDC, because it is not clear how this can affect the vaccine’s effectiveness.
The concern is that pretreatment with pain relievers that reduce fever and inflammation (like acetaminophen and ibuprofen) may reduce 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, an associate professor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, told USA Today in January.
Covid messenger RNA vaccines work by providing cells with genetic material that tells them how to make a non-infectious part of the virus. The immune system then creates antibodies against it – which is controlled inflammation – and can remember how to trigger an immune response if it is exposed to the virus in the future.
But OTC painkillers “reduce the production of inflammatory mediators,” said Kelley. That is why it is important to wait until after receiving the vaccine (and start creating an inflammatory response now) before taking a pain reliever.
Research in children has shown that those who take paracetamol before receiving vaccines have a lower immune response than those who do not. And a recent study by Yale found that giving rats nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (also known as “NSAIDs”) before being exposed to SARS-CoV-2 led to less protective antibodies to the virus.
The exception is for people who normally take these types of OTC pain relievers as part of their routine to manage another medical condition. These individuals should continue as normal, but check with your doctor for additional guidance before receiving the vaccine, as there may be ramifications for skipping medication.
Tips for treating vaccine side effects
In addition to taking medications, there are some home remedies that can help you deal with side effects. Applying a damp, cold cloth to the area of the arm where the injection was given may help to relieve the pain somewhat, according to the CDC. Drinking plenty of fluids is recommended if you have a fever, and wearing light clothing can also keep you comfortable.
After the vaccine, you should wait 15 minutes before leaving the place where you were vaccinated (or 30 minutes if you have a history of anaphylaxis) to be observed for reactions or serious side effects.
According to the CDC, the side effects of the Covid vaccine are expected to disappear in a few days. That said, in some cases, side effects can interfere with your ability to carry out your daily life, so you may want to plan accordingly.
It is also good to know: more people experience side effects with the second of the two doses. This is because the first dose triggers an immune response, and the second dose “increases” it.
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