01/30/2021
💉❤️😃 Peggy Miles So you got an appointment and are about to get the shot! That’s great! Here’s what to expect, and how to manage it:
COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Many people have NO noticeable side effects and that’s OK, too. You are still protected.
❤️COMMON SIDE EFFECTS:
On the arm where you got the shot:
• Pain & Soreness
• Mild Swelling
Throughout the rest of your body:
• Fever
• Chills
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Muscle Aches
• Joint Pain
• Nausea
• Tingling Sensation
• Higher Than Usual Sensitivity
❤️HELPFUL TIPS:
⭐️DO NOT take any pain relievers or antihistamines that are not prescribed to you BEFORE your jab. Wait until AFTER any side effects begin to show themselves, and only take them if you really feel you need them. Using anti-inflammatory and fever reducing remedies beforehand may blunt the antibody building power of the vaccine, and antihistamines might hide serious side effects to your detriment. Avoid preventive pain relievers before getting a COVID vaccine: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/should-you-take-pain-relievers-after-covid-19-vaccine
Ibuprofen reduces antibody and cytokine production: https://jvi.asm.org/content/early/2021/01/14/JVI.00014-21
Fever reducing pain reliever acetaminophen (paracetamol) blunts immune response, hindering vaccine efficacy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5027726/
Antihistamine medications, unless advised by your doctor, are not likely to prevent a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine, but may blunt the allergic symptoms and make it harder to diagnose the allergic reaction - which could delay proper treatment. https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20210127/covid-19-vaccine-how-best-to-prepare
If you have pain or discomfort, talk to your doctor about taking an over-the-counter medicine. Wait at least six hours after receiving your dose of the vaccine, and only take them if you feel you really need to.
⭐️While experts recommend against taking over-the-counter pain relievers before getting the vaccine, they also say you should continue taking them if you are already doing so for another medical condition. Again, always consult with your physician before changing any medication schedule or engaging in medical treatments for any condition.
To reduce pain and discomfort where you got the shot:
• Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the area.
• Use or exercise your arm.
To reduce discomfort from fever:
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Dress lightly.
• Cool compresses may help.
DO get a good night’s sleep and if you feel tired after receiving your shot, take a nap or tuck in early. Sleep is a natural way to support your immune system and encourage your innate healing processes.
❤️WHEN TO CALL THE DOCTOR:
In most cases, discomfort from fever or pain is normal. Contact your doctor or healthcare provider:
• If the redness or tenderness where you got the shot increases after 24 hours.
• If your side effects are worrying you or do not seem to be going away after a few days.
❤️ALLERGIC REACTIONS: You will be asked to stay in a waiting area for 15-20 minutes following your dose. If you think you might be having a severe allergic reaction *after* leaving the vaccination site, seek immediate medical care by calling 911.
Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines and rare severe allergic reactions. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/allergic-reaction.html
V-safe is a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Through v-safe, you can quickly tell CDC if you have any side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Depending on your answers, someone from CDC may call to check on you and get more information. V-safe will also remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose if you need one. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/vsafe.html
❤️SCHEDULING YOUR SECOND DOSE:
Many sites will have you sign up for your second shot while you are waiting in the observation area after your first dose. If you need help scheduling your vaccine appointment for your second shot, contact the location that set up your appointment for assistance. For questions or if you are having trouble using vaccine management or scheduling systems, reach out to the organization that enrolled you in the system. This may be your state or local health department, employer, or vaccine provider.
❤️ABOUT YOUR SECOND SHOT:
Both COVID-19 mRNA vaccines will need 2 shots to get the most protection. The timing between your first and second shot depends on which vaccine you received. You should get your second shot:
• for the Pfizer-BioNTech 3 weeks (or 21 days) after your first shot, or
• for the Moderna 1 month (or 28 days) after your first shot.
You should get your second shot as close to the recommended 3-week or 1-month interval as possible. However, there is no maximum interval between the first and second doses for either vaccine. You should not get the second dose earlier than the recommended interval.
❤️WHAT IF I GET COVID-19 BETWEEN MY FIRST AND SECOND SHOTS?
It’s not common, but it is possible to contract COVID-19 between doses. Your first Pfizer shot confers 52% protection after your first dose, and Moderna offers 80-90% protection after your initial shot. Both only have data for 3-4 weeks after the initial dose, so we don’t know how long immunity lasts beyond that at this time. Future research will be able to answer that more fully. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210114-covid-19-how-effective-is-a-single-vaccine-dose
1. If you test positive for COVID-19, whether you have symptoms or not, follow recommended guidelines for self-isolation. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/duration-isolation.html
2. Once you’re no longer infectious, you can get the second shot. If you’re uncertain whether you’re well enough, you should consult a primary care physician. Reschedule your second dose for after your window of transmissiblity has passed, but as close to your originally scheduled time as possible.
2.A. If your illness becomes severe and you are hospitalized, or need to go to the ER or urgent care, they will counsel you there about what needs to happen next. But, the general guidance is to wait until you are no longer transmitting the virus. https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/01/25/what-if-i-get-covid-19-before-getting-the-1st-or-2nd-dose-of-the-vaccine/
2.B. Researchers have reported that people with mild to moderate COVID-19 remain infectious no longer than 10 days after their symptoms began, and those with more severe illness or those who are severely immunocompromised remain infectious no longer than 20 days after their symptoms began.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/disposition-in-home-patients.html
3. WHEN TO END ISOLATION:
People who had mild to moderate illness who are not severely immunocompromised may end isolation when:
• At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, AND
• At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications, AND
• Symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) have improved
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/return-to-work.html
4. Get your second shot! Hooray!
❤️ HOW SOON CAN I GET OR GIVE A MASSAGE/BODYWORK?
Assuming you are in an area where the Rt (current rate of transmission) is below 1% AND there are fewer than 3 new cases per 100,000 residents, you should be fine to receive or give a session after 48-72 hours have passed, or as soon as any bothersome side effects have resolved. Check your county or ZIP code’s infection rate here: www.covidactnow.org
If the infection numbers are higher than that, please refrain from all indoor sustained or sequential close contact activities.
❤️REMEMBER:
⭐️ Side effects may feel like flu and even affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.
With most COVID-19 vaccines, you will need 2 shots in order for them to work.
⭐️ Get the second shot even if you have side effects after the first shot, unless a vaccination provider or your doctor tells you not to get a second shot.
⭐️ It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines that require 2 shots may not protect you until a week or two after your second shot.
⭐️ It’s important for everyone to continue using all the tools you have available to help stop this pandemic as we learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work in real-world conditions. Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others, stay at least 6 feet away from others, avoid crowds, and wash your hands often.
⭐️With the new variants being more infectious and possibly more dangerous, doubling up your mask and physical distancing is a smart move, and protecting the ACE2 receptors in your eyes with goggles is something you should be doing, too.
⭐️We are empowered by knowledge and integrity! Thank you for being part of the change for the better.
Covid Act Now has real-time COVID data and risk level for your community. See how your community is doing at covidactnow.org.
