This simple mistake could weaken your COVID-19 vaccination

It is a known fact that the COVID-19 vaccine can cause some people to have flu-like symptoms, arm pain, or other side effects. To avoid such discomfort, you might be tempted to take a pain reliever before getting the vaccine.

However, experts say this is a mistake.

Dr Gregory Poland, an infectious disease expert and director of the vaccine research group at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, told AARP that taking an over-the-counter drug like ibuprofen or acetaminophen may reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Poland is not alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also warns against taking such drugs before vaccination.

Why this concern? Poland claims that some studies indicate a link between taking these drugs before vaccination and a decrease in the immune system response. This could mean that your body will have a harder time recognizing and fighting COVID-19 infection in the future if it occurs.

For its part, the CDC simply warns that “routine prophylactic administration of these drugs for the purpose of preventing post-vaccination symptoms is currently not recommended” because it is currently unclear how the practice affects antibody responses induced by the drug. vaccine.

However, Poland and the CDC claim that it is acceptable to take such drugs after receiving the vaccine if it helps to avoid side effects such as fever or pain at the injection site.

In addition, the evidence linking the use of drugs before vaccination to a weakened immune response is inconclusive. So, if you’re taking a pain reliever to fight severe arthritis pain, talk to your doctor before you get the vaccine, Poland says. In this case, it may be wise to take the medicine.

Currently, many pharmacies are stepping up efforts to provide COVID-19 vaccines to people across the United States. For more information, see “21 Pharmacy Chains Ready to Administer COVID-19 Vaccines.”

To learn more about COVID-19, read “The next 5 groups who will get the COVID-19 vaccine”.

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