If you’ve got a couple of COVID booster vaccines on your schedule this cold and flu season, you might be wondering why your arm feels sore for a day or two after each shot.
Well, you’re not alone! It turns out that pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site are common side effects for the flu shot, the latest COVID booster, and the RSV vaccine for older folks, as recommended by health experts.
So, what’s causing that discomfort? The pain stems from how the vaccine enters your body. When it’s injected into your arm, it stretches the muscle fibers and sets off an immune response. This response leads to temporary inflammation, the pain you feel, and sometimes even a bit of bruising.
You might have seen videos on TikTok and social media where people swing their arms around after a COVID vaccine. However, according to Beate Kampmann, the director of the Vaccine Centre at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, that won’t actually help. But here’s the good news: moving your arm gently can promote blood flow, which, according to Harvard Health, can alleviate the discomfort. Just remember to avoid strenuous activities for a day or two after the shot.
If your arm is really bothering you, you can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever and use a cool compress or ice pack to reduce swelling.
But what about those folks who feel worse after vaccines? There isn’t a scientific explanation for why some people experience side effects while others don’t. According to Dr. Rachel Scheraga, a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Cleveland Clinic, it’s likely the immune response triggered by the vaccine that’s responsible for these symptoms.
These symptoms might include things like headache, fever, nausea, muscle aches, fatigue, and even fainting after getting the flu shot. If you’re getting a COVID booster, you might experience tiredness, headache, muscle and joint pains, chills, fever, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, irritability, swollen lymph nodes, and a general feeling of being unwell. If you felt unwell after a previous COVID shot, expect a similar experience this time.
Usually, these symptoms should only last for a few hours to a few days. However, if you develop a fever, persistent headache, or respiratory symptoms that last longer, it’s a good idea to seek medical attention since you may have a genuine infection.