COVID-19 vaccination is necessary to be received by every citizen to overcome COVID pandemic. However, many are having concerns about the possible side effects after immunization and may try some measures trying to reduce or avoid these adverse effects. One of the common measures is taking paracetamol or panadol before receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Is it really safe or effective to do so? Does paracetamol really help in reducing or avoiding the side effects?
Is It Safe ToTake Paracetamol Before Receiving COVID-19 Vaccines?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) reports, there is no scientific evidence showing that taking paracetamol before COVID-19 vaccination is harmful. Although using paracetamol or other pain relievers before a COVID-19 vaccination is unlikely to cause damage, it is unnecessary, and some medical practitioners believe that there is a risk that the immunological response of the vaccine may be reduced. Nevertheless, there is no exact data showing that taking paracetamol or any other pain relievers before receiving a COVID-19 vaccination would impair your body’s capacity to develop immunity and produce antibodies against the coronavirus. The advice not to take painkillers such as paracetamol before receiving the COVID-19 vaccines is mainly prophylactic, to avoid the unknown effect of painkillers on COVID-19 vaccines.
Can I Take Paracetamol After COVID-19 Vaccination?
After vaccination, some individuals may experience mild symptoms due to immune responses. However, these immune responses are not necessarily signs of your immune system working, the vaccines you receive will be effective despite you having side effects or not. The common possible side effects are: local pain, redness and swelling over injection site, fever, chills, headache, tiredness, joint or muscle pain, nausea and vomiting. The majority of the adverse effects after vaccination are usually minor and will not last more than a week.
If these symptoms are unbearable, you may take paracetamol or panadol or other pain relievers to ease the symptoms of fever, pain, headache and muscle ache. You may also consult a doctor before taking any medications, including pain relievers such as paracetamol, because you should not depend on paracetamol for a long period of time. Paracetamol should be taken temporarily only, as paracetamol itself also has some degree of adverse effects.
Paracetamol is only limited to these common side effects, other uncommon or more severe forms of side effects may be helpful. If you ever develop the more severe form of side effects such as allergic reactions, giving of symptoms like shortness of breath, facial puffiness, chest pain, severe itchiness and/or dizziness, please consult a doctor immediately. Although allergic reactions after COVID-19 vaccination is uncommon, but it is a medical emergency, awareness should not be reduced.
Is Vaccination Important?
COVID-19 Vaccination is definitely recommended for all. The mild adverse reactions should not be a reason to avoid vaccination, as the COVID-19 vaccines have been scientifically proven able to provide promising protection against COVID-19 and its complications. Some medical conditions developed after vaccination may not necessarily be related to COVID-19 vaccines, it may be some underlying illness that pre-existed before vaccination. Unfortunately, this implied fears in our community, and COVID-19 vaccines were blamed without evidence. Nevertheless, COVID-19 vaccination remains the gold standard to protect us and to counter the COVID-19 pandemic, our responsibility is to receive the vaccination.