Is the COVID-19 vaccine effective if you do not have a reaction after receiving it?
The two coronavirus vaccines had emergency approval in the USA – 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 pain head, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Since the start of vaccination initiatives, many patients have reported experiencing the so-called “COVID arm” after receiving the vaccine, while others, hoping to avoid any unpleasant side effects, have been advised not to take over-the-counter painkillers in advance, as experts are concerned that doing so could impact vaccine effectiveness.
Even the country’s leading infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said he was “unconscious” for about a day after receiving the second dose of the Modern vaccine.
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But what if you have no reaction after receiving the jab – was it still effective?
Yes, say several experts who spoke to Fox News.
“The COVID vaccine is ‘reactogenic’, which means that it creates an immune response that usually causes side effects. The second dose usually results in more intense side effects because it is a booster. You have already prepared your immune system, so in the second dose , you must develop a more robust immune response. This is not uncommon – several vaccines are reactogenic – including herpes, “explained Dr. John Whyte, medical director of the health website WebMD.
But don’t be alarmed if you feel good after receiving the jab, even after the second dose, he said.
“If you don’t have any side effects or just some very mild ones, don’t be alarmed. This does not mean that your immune system is not working. Each person’s immune response is slightly different and less than half of the people in the studies had any side effects. ”
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“When it comes to vaccines (COVID-19 and others), the phrase ‘No pain, no gain’ does not apply. Studies do not support the idea that if you have a mild reaction or no reaction at all, you are less protected. The immune system is incredibly complex and everyone will react differently and for different reasons, “Dr. Shira Doron, an infectious doctor and epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center, told Fox News.
“In general, young people tend to react more vigorously, women have more local reactions (but not more general reactions) and reactions after the second dose are more prominent than after the first,” she added. “But,” she noted, “your experience can be quite different.”
Dr. Richard Ellison, meanwhile, said that those who have no reaction after vaccination can only be “luckier”.
“Having symptoms means that your body is reacting to the vaccine, but people can also have a very good antibody response without symptoms. They are luckier, ”said Ellison, an epidemiologist at the UMass Memorial Medical Center. “It is also more common to have a reaction after the second dose, which is very common after two-dose vaccines.”
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For those who experience side effects from the vaccine, the CDC recommends placing a clean, fresh, moist towel over the injection site if you feel pain, while recommending “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.