This article will discuss Pfizer Vaccine Arm Pain. Some people may experience soreness and discomfort after Pfizer vaccination. This is called a ‘delayed response’ and can be caused by natural bodily reactions from the immune system or an allergic reaction to the vaccine.
In addition, some individuals may experience pain in their arm, shoulder, neck, head or chest. This may be due to reactions to medication used during the vaccination which can cause muscle pain in some people.
Vaccines are not the only source of soreness and discomfort. Some people experience pain after their vaccination because of the needle or the injection process.
There are many other things that can cause a sore arm after your vaccine:
– a cold, flu or fever
– too much activity
– dehydration
– not drinking enough fluids
Vaccines are generally safe and side effects are uncommon but this article will cover some of the factors that can lead to a delayed response and how to deal with them if they manifest.
Vaccines and how they work
A vaccine mimics an infection without inflicting an infection itself. By learning how to fight bacteria and viruses (such as viruses), the immune system becomes more effective the next time around. Immunizations stimulate the immune system by exposing it to non-virulent versions or fragments of the infections, thus letting your body build this protective memory without getting the actual infection.
You can experience symptoms associated with being sick when you are dosed with vaccines. Fever, chills, fatigue, soreness, and so forth are usually symptoms associated with the vaccination process. Vaccine side effects are often thought of as symptoms of your immune system working, which is good.
Reactions to vaccines of different types
The immune system can bring on local and systemic side effects of vaccines.
Systemic: A shot that affects the whole body, or not just the area where it was administered. Headaches, fevers, chills, aches and pains are some of the symptoms.
Local: A reaction to the vaccine where it was administered (for instance, on the arm). These symptoms include inflamed lymph nodes in the arm where the shot was administered, as well as arm soreness, redness, and swelling in the arm where the shot was administered.
You are experiencing a local reaction in your arm. An arm irritation is also caused by the injected liquid of the vaccine reacting with the muscle.
Patients who receive the COVID-19 vaccine typically experience redness, swelling, and pain in their arm. It is also common for the second shot to produce more side effects.
Arm soreness: the truth about Pfizer Vaccine Arm Pain
Soreness from vaccines shouldn’t be a concern. All of the other systemic and local side effects of the vaccine, including this uncomfortable feeling in your arm, are indicators that your immune system is defending you against the virus that was just injected into you. It usually takes a few days for these side effects to subside. In spite of the possibility of more serious vaccine side effects, they are very rare.
Relief from pain
You can try the following to relieve injection site pain:
- Throughout the day, use your arm and keep it moving
- Over the area, hold a wet, clean washcloth
- As for pain-relieving medications (you only need to consider them after you’ve received the vaccine, not before): Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin are excellent choices.
Consult a doctor if you experience…
If a patient experiences any of the following symptoms, they should seek medical attention immediately.
- During the first 24 hours after getting the vaccine, if the arm pain or tenderness gets significantly worse
- If symptoms persist or if a spreading rash develops down the arm, the patient should consult a physician
What is the purpose of soreness you feel after your vaccine?
Vaccines are often given to children in order to provide protection against diseases. The soreness and swelling that is felt after the vaccine is a normal immune response.
Immunization involves introducing an antigen (a microorganism or other foreign substance) into the body, so that the immune system can develop an appropriate defense against it.
The injection will often make your skin sore and swollen for a few days, which may gradually disappear, but this is just a normal immune response.
How to Treat Arm Pain After Pfizer Vaccine
A vaccine is a medical procedure that provides protection against a particular disease. A vaccine contains either part of the microbe or its toxins to stimulate the immune system. The goal is for the body to produce antibodies and protect itself from future infection with that disease.
This section will cover some treatments that can be done to help alleviate pain after a vaccination.
First, try icing the arm where you received your injection for 20 minutes three times per day. Second, take over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen when needed. Lastly, if you are still experiencing severe pain, go to your physician and ask about prescription medication options.
It is not a pleasant or fun experience to have your arm or hand sore for a day or two after receiving a vaccine. But, it is a sign that the vaccine is doing what it was intended to do – protect you and those around you.
Keep in mind
- A few days after starting treatment, you should no longer experience side effects.
- Both Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine require two shots to provide maximum protection. [1]
- Although you might have side effects from the first shot, you should get a second one regardless, unless a vaccination provider or your doctor instructs you not to.
- Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine (J&J/Janssen) needs one shot.
- After any vaccination, your body needs time to build protection. It takes roughly two weeks for people to be fully vaccinated after their second dose of DNP-19, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, or two weeks after their single-dose of J&J/Janssen. As you are getting vaccinated, keep using all the tools at your disposal to keep yourself and others safe.
- COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to millions of people, with no long-term side effects reported.
- Safety of COVID-19 vaccines continues to be closely monitored by the CDC. FDA and manufacturers of vaccines will work together to address any safety concern (such as a problem with a specific lot, a manufacturing issue, or an issue with the vaccine itself) if there is a link between a vaccine and a safety issue.