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The minor side effects that some people experience after receiving a COVID vaccine are not to be feared, experts say. They are in fact a sign that the shot is working as it should.
“The vaccine, because you give it in the arm, gives a systemic reaction. You know this because sometimes after the second dose you feel a little sore, a little cold, which means that the immune system is really kicking in, “said Dr Anthony Fauci, the lead specialist. of infectious diseases and Chief Medical Advisor to President Biden. , in an interview with MSNBC.
Vaccines work by teaching the immune system to recognize and produce antibodies against the COVID-19 spike protein, which attaches to cells in the body. The deactivated protein prevents the virus from replicating exponentially and causing disease.
It is this process that can trigger side effects in some people. According to the CDC, the most commonly reported side effects of the COVID vaccine include pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site; tired; headache; muscle pain; fever; chills; and nausea. (On the other hand, not having side effects doesn’t mean the vaccine isn’t working.)
Fauci said he experienced fatigue and body aches and minor chills after his second dose of the Moderna vaccine, but they were gone in just over a day. Some people experience stronger side effects after the second injection of a two-dose regimen, as the immune system recognizes the invader it was presented with on the first shot and mobilizes to fight it, raising the body temperature and causing fever, or triggering inflammation which may manifest as body aches or fatigue.
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It means “a very robust immune response”
An interesting side effect is the “COVID arm,” which has been reported in several people who have received the Moderna vaccine and a handful of people who have received the Pfizer vaccine. It usually takes the form of a red rash that appears a week (or more) after the vaccine is given.
There is nothing to worry about, experts say; in fact, it is a sign that the vaccine is working optimally. “The COVID arm, basically it’s not an unusual reaction to the vaccine,” Charles Webb, MD, an allergist-immunologist in Boise, Idaho, told 6 News. “It just reflects that we have a very robust immune response, which means your immune system recognizes what we have injected into you.”
If you have side effects like fever or fatigue, the CDC recommends drinking plenty of fluids and getting plenty of rest. The agency advises remedying a sore arm with a cool, wet compress and using it or exercising. Webb said that a rash can be treated with an antihistamine like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and pain with acetaminophen (Tylenol).
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How to survive this pandemic
As for you, do whatever you can to avoid catching and spreading COVID-19 in the first place: Wear a face mask, get tested if you think you have coronavirus, avoid crowds (and bars, and house parties), practice social distancing, only do essential groceries, wash your hands regularly, sanitize surfaces frequently affected and get through this pandemic to the best of your health, don’t miss them 35 places where you’re most likely to catch COVID.
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