Pre-empting Pain Relief and Covid Vaccination
As many healthcare workers receive their first round of vaccinations, they are wondering if taking an anti-inflammatory or pain relief medication to preempt the pain is okay. First of all, we want to clear that everyone’s experience with the vaccine is different. My Mom is a healthcare worker and received her first dose free from pain. She did hear from her colleagues that the second one hurt a bit more, similar to a flu shot. So, some are recommending that taking an IBUProfen or Acetaminophen before the shot will help get ahead of the ache.
We did some digging and wanted to provide feedback if this is a good idea. Generally speaking, the feedback is that it’s best to avoid taking them unless you take them as part of your medication routine. Evidence is limited, but “some painkillers might interfere with the very thing the vaccine is trying to do: generate a strong immune system response.” (Marchione, AP, 2021)
The vaccine is “tricking” your body into thinking it has the virus so that your body’s immune system elicits a response. Typically, like that of the flu shot, the Covid-19 vaccination causes arm soreness, fever, headache, muscle aches, and other common vaccination symptoms. (Marchione, AP, 2021)
In a recent interview with Dr. Walensky, Director of the CDC, he states: “These symptoms mean your immune system is revving up and the vaccine is working.” (Marchione, AP, 2021) A recent study on mice concluded that there are significant signs taking an anti inflammatory could reduce your body’s production of antibodies, the exact cells that we need to reproduce for the vaccination to work. If you’re going to take something, acetaminophen or Tylenol is a bit safer because it doesn’t alter the immune response. (Dr. Walensky, 2021)
If you are worried or are already taking these medications routinely, speak with your doctor before the vaccination. The CDC offers other suggestions such as drinking fluids, taking some time off to rest, holding a cool washcloth over the vaccination site and stretching your sore arm.