As more people get vaccinated, the vaccine’s short-term and long-term side effects are made available for further studies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most common side effects include arm pain, minor swelling or redness near the injection site, low-grade fever, muscle pain, headache, chills, and nausea. However, these usually disappear a day or two after receiving your shot. Extreme cases of allergic reactions include full-body rash, difficulty inbreathing, dizziness, palpitations or swollen face. That is why it is very important to declare your medical history and allergies to food and drugs, if any, before getting your jab.
Surely, you’ve heard of stories from people or even those you personally know who have experienced being the under the weather fora couple of days after receiving their COVID-19 vaccine. Nevertheless, this shouldn’t be a reason to be scared and delay your vaccination. Instead, it’s better to be prepared and protected. After all, there are ways to relieve you of the unpleasant side effects, you just have to be ready.
- Get your Ice Pack Ready
Use an ice pack to help reduce redness, heaviness, and swelling at the place where the shot was given.
- A Cool Bath Can Also Be Soothing
Nothing is more relaxing than a cool bath after you get your jab to condition your body in case you run down with fever.
- Drink More Water After Getting The Vaccine
Make sure you stay hydrated after you get your vaccine. Good hydration will boost your immune system and will lessen any possible side effects; but make sure to drink only pure, healthy, and safe filtered water. Regular tap water may still contain contaminants that can harm your body. If you still don’t have a water filtration system at home, it’s about time you get one. Check SJ Wave Water Faucet Filter and drink your way to health.
- Have A Pain Reliever At Hand
If ever you come down to a fever after getting your jab, it could be sign that your immune system is responding to the vaccine. However, if you find it difficult to manage certain side effects like fever or headache, you may take an over-the-counter pain reliever, unless you have any specific contraindication.
- Avoid Alcohol
Though alcohol won’t decrease your immune response to the vaccine, it may lead to symptoms similar to those associated with the vaccine. So to avoid confusion and unnecessary worries, it’s better to avoid alcohol after your jab.
- Avoid Strenuous Activities
If only for a day, it’s best that you avoid doing hard exercises or heavy chores that would add pressure to your otherwise sored arm. Overdoing it can weaken your immune system just when you need to keep it high.
Since many are already aware of the possible of the side effects from getting vaccinated, some people are actually preparing ahead of their vaccine schedules. Much like how to deal with the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine, avoiding alcohol, getting enough sleep, and eating immunity boosting foods are among the basics.
If you are among those who experienced symptoms after your first dose, don’t let this discourage you from getting your second dose. Receiving your second dose is the only way the you can be ensured of the vaccines full efficacy and maximize your immunity to COVID-19. So unless your healthcare provider recommends otherwise, make sure you get your second dose of vaccine on schedule. And don’t forget to have your booster shot on schedule as well.
Keep in mind that vaccines are here to protect you, if not 100%, at least they provide you with a certain level of immunity against the COVID-19 virus. However, we cannot rely solely on the efficacy of the vaccines. Even if you are fully-vaccinated, utmost care must still be practiced as you may still get infected. Keeping your immediate surroundings clean, and frequent disinfection will reduce the chance of you getting infected. If COVID-19 is here to stay for a while, then we must not let our guards down. Stay protected…get vaccinated!