(Photo: Macau Photo Agency/Unsplash)
As more people in the country continue to get a coronavirus vaccine, here’s general advice from medical experts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on how to make your vaccine experience the best possible.
The CDC said people shouldn’t take over-the-counter (OTC) medicines such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen and aspirin before vaccination for the purpose of trying to prevent side effects. This is because OTC medications like ibuprofen are anti-inflammatories that may blunt your body’s response to the vaccine.
“You don’t really want to take one before you have your vaccine because that could interfere with the ability of that vaccine to give you the most robust response,” said Deborah Fuller, a microbiologist at the University of Washington School of Medicine, according to Yahoo News.
It’s also recommended to wear clothes that make it easier to access the upper arm, and take a backup photo of your vaccine card. But don’t share the card on social media, for identity theft purposes.
After one completes their cycle of shots, they can get their vaccine card laminated for free at Staples, Office Depot or OfficeMax. The Office Depot and OfficeMax offers are available through July 25, and the Staples offer ends May 1.
Medical experts also advise people to not book a tattoo or piercing appointment two weeks before or after their vaccination because body modification can stimulate an immune response. Those who have been newly vaccinated also shouldn’t book other vaccines around the same time, such as a flu shot.
“Given the lack of data on the safety and efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines administered simultaneously with other vaccines, the vaccine series should be administered alone with a minimum interval of 14 days before or after administration with any other vaccines,” the CDC website states.
After getting the vaccine, people shouldn’t forget to hydrate, especially if they have flu-like symptoms.
“Hydration is important for your immune system’s functions, so that will help your body develop a better response to the vaccine,” Fuller said, according to Yahoo News.