COVID-19 vaccines - what to expect
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| COVID-19 vaccines - what to expect : COVID-19 vaccines are used to prepare the body's immune system to protect against COVID-19. Adults and children ages 6 months and older should get the COVID-19 vaccination. Learn what to expect before and after you are vaccinated for COVID-19. BEFORE YOU GET THE VACCINE There are several ways to sign up for a vaccine: - Ask your health care provider if they offer COVID-19 vaccines. - Check your local pharmacy's website or call the pharmacy to see if vaccination appointments are available. - Contact your - state or local health department - to find additional vaccination locations in the area. - Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website - Vaccines.gov - to find out where to get a vaccine in your area. If you take any medicines, you should keep taking them as you usually do. If you take medicines that affect the immune system, talk with your provider to find out if getting the COVID-19 vaccine will work or cause any problems for you. You should not take over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen to help prevent side effects before you get the vaccine. It is not known if these medicines will affect how well the vaccine works. However, if you take these medicines regularly for other reasons, you can take them as you always do. You should also not take antihistamines to help prevent an allergic reaction before you get the vaccine. If you have any questions about your medicines, ask your provider or the vaccine provider. DURING YOUR VACCINE APPOINTMENT At your appointment, the vaccine provider will tell you if you need to stay at the site afterwards for any needed monitoring. You should receive a vaccination card (or access to a vaccine record website) that tells you what vaccine you received and the date and location you received it. Be sure to keep this information in case it’s needed for future use. VACCINE SIDE EFFECTS While COVID-19 vaccines will not make you sick with COVID-19, they may cause certain side effects and flu-like symptoms. This is normal. These symptoms are a sign that your body is making antibodies against the virus. Common side effects include: - Pain, redness, and swelling on the arm where you got the shot - Tiredness - Headache - Muscle pain - Chills - Fever - Nausea - Swollen lymph nodes Some people get a red, itchy, swollen, painful rash in the arm where they got the shot. This is known as COVID arm. This can occur days after getting the first shot. You should still get your second shot if you got a 2-dose vaccine. You can ask to have it in the other arm. To help relieve side effects, you should: - Move the arm where you got the shot often during the day - Apply a clean, cool washcloth to ease swelling and discomfort - Drink plenty of fluids - Dress lightly if you have a fever Note that the side effects from the second dose may be more intense than those from the first shot. Symptoms from the shot may make you feel bad enough that you need to take time off from work or daily activities, but they should go away within a few days. Even if you do have side effects, it is still important to get the second shot. The risks of any side effects from the vaccine are far less dangerous than the potential for serious illness or death from COVID-19. You may be instructed by the vaccine provider that you can take an antihistamine or acetaminophen or another OTC medicine such as ibuprofen or aspirin to help relieve any vaccine side effects. Or, talk with your provider about taking OTC medicine if you are not sure. If symptoms do not go away in a few days, or if you have any concerns, you should contact your provider. | |
| Review Date: 01/01/2025 | Updated By: Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor Emeritus, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. |