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Avoid taking pain relievers before you get the COVID-19 vaccine

Editor’s note: This article was published on February 19, 2021. COVID-19 information and recommendations are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website or view our most recent COVID-19 blog posts.

Oftentimes to avoid pain with vaccinations, you might have taken over-the-counter pain relievers before you get the shot. However, is the COVID-19 vaccine different? Should you just withstand the pain to make sure the vaccine is effective?

Common side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine include pain and swelling where you received the shot in your arm. You also may experience fever, chills, tiredness or a headache, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

man holding shoulder after a COVID-19 vaccine
If you have a sore arm after your vaccine, our experts recommend ice, heat and movement to help with the pain.

Dr. Jennifer Strong, Marshfield Clinic Health System family medicine provider, said taking acetaminophen or anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen before the vaccination may decrease the immune response. Therefore, she stresses that patients should not take any pain medication before the COVID-19 vaccine.

In management of post-vaccination symptoms, CDC does not recommend taking pain relievers to prevent symptoms of the COVID-19 vaccine because information on how those impact the antibody responses is not available at this time.

Although more research needs to be done, Strong said you can take pain relief medication after getting vaccinated, but recommends to avoid it if possible.

“If treatment is needed after the shot I would encourage non-pharmaceutical methods like heat, ice and rest,” she said. “If a medication is needed, it certainly can be used but it may have an effect on the effectiveness of the vaccine. I chose to take acetaminophen a day after my second shot for some mild symptoms.”

Talk to your provider if you have additional questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. You also can visit marshfieldclinic.org/covidvaccine to find out if you are eligible to sign up for the vaccine.

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6 responses to “Avoid taking pain relievers before you get the COVID-19 vaccine”

  1. Victoria Palen

    This is the first I have heard about not taking anti-inflammatories before the Covid vaccine. I take oxaprozin every day for arthritis. I just got the first vaccine shot this week. Do I need to stop taking the oxaprozin before the second shot?? If so, how long before?

    Reply
    1. Jacob Zipperer

      Hello Victoria,

      Thank you for reaching out. We recommend discussing this directly with your primary care provider. Due to their detailed knowledge of your medical history and past conditions, they can best advise you.

      Thanks,
      Jake

      Reply
  2. Joseph

    I received the first covid vaccine at Marshfield clinic on Wednesday feb. 24. I asked the nurse if it was OK to use pain relievers, specifically aspirin. She said avoid aspirin and ibuprofen but Tylenol is OK. Now the article above says to avoid all pain relievers. How long should I avoid aspirin. I normally take one every day for blood thinning since I have a heart condition.

    Reply
    1. Jacob Zipperer

      Hello Joseph,

      We reached out to one of our medical experts to get their thoughts and they are below:
      Medicating before vaccination with pain relievers or fever reducers is usually not needed for any vaccine. With the COVID vaccine there have been some reports that taking NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin before vaccination will interfere with immune response. This has not been confirmed with studies. However, because of the lack of studies, the recommendation at this time is avoid NSAIDS (such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin) before COVID vaccination unless instructed otherwise by your provider. You may take medications such as acetaminophen or NSAIDs after your vaccination for symptom relief, however it is recommended to wait at least 2 hours after vaccination to take a NSAID.

      Thank you and I hope that helps,
      Jake

      Reply
  3. Margaret

    So many people have stated they've received the vaccine. My friends and I are all 65+ and still no call to schedule. What's up?

    Reply
    1. Jacob Zipperer

      Hello Margaret,

      We understand that this must be frustrating and appreciate your patience. If you have signed up for our COVID-19 waitlist at https://marshfieldclinic.org/CovidVaccine, then you should be on our waitlist. We open appointments each week based on the amount of vaccine we receive from the Wisconsin Department of Health and Services, and that number fluctuates. Based on the amount of vaccine the state is receiving each week, it may take weeks to months to vaccinate all those currently eligible. For the latest information about our COVID-19 vaccination efforts, please go to marshfieldclinic.org/CovidVaccineAppointment.

      Again, we apologize for the wait and any frustration this may be causing.
      Jake

      Reply

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