CDC: Don’t Take Painkillers Before COVID-19 Vaccine
Amy Barczy
| 2 min read
Amy Barczy is a former brand journalist who authored...
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are advising people to not take over the counter painkillers like Tylenol or Advil BEFORE getting a COVID-19 vaccine. The two COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use are associated with some possible side effects, including pain and swelling at the injection site, fever, chills, tiredness and headache. Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine in an attempt to avoid any side effects is not recommended by the CDC at this time. That’s due to the new nature of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, which use mRNA to trigger an immune response in the body. The use of mRNA vaccines is new and while deemed safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there is no information currently available on how the body’s response to the vaccine would be affected by such medications. However, the CDC advises drugs like Tylenol or Advil can be taken AFTER receiving the vaccine to cope with any side effects that may occur. Individuals planning to get the COVID-19 vaccine and who are already taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug as a part of their treatment plan shouldn’t make changes to their medication regimen without first talking to their primary care provider. This content has been reviewed and approved by Dr. S. George Kipa, deputy chief medical officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. More from MIBluesPerspectives:
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Photo credit: bluecinema
