If you’ve already had COVID-19, you may experience these minor side effects after the first shot because your immune system is already familiar with the virus (Mount Sinai, University of Maryland).
Outside of a sore arm, you may experience a flu-like response that could include: fatigue, headache, sore muscles and aches, chills, or a low-grade fever. You should rest, drink fluids, and take over-the-counter anti-inflammatories. These side effects should go away in 24-36 hours. If they stick around longer than that, reach out to a doctor. Based on all the doses given, the CDC has reported that only 0.0011% of individuals who received the vaccine have had a severe allergic reaction.
Hopefully, your doctor has already talked to you about one side effect that can be particularly upsetting for women with breast cancer. When your immune system goes into high gear after the second shot, it can cause inflammation in nearby lymph nodes (especially those in your armpit and neck on the side of vaccination). Enlarged, swollen lymph nodes can be mistaken for cancer, which can be scary. It’s important to let the immune response pass and the inflammation go away before jumping to conclusions. For this reason, the Society of Breast Imaging has recommended that women who get vaccinated wait 4-6 weeks for their mammograms and breast screenings.
Make a Vaccine Safety Plan
With these side effects in mind, it’s best to be prepared. As you plan ahead, think about what worked best for you in your chemo recovery routine. Here are some things to consider when making your vaccine safety plan:
- Make sure that you feel as good as you can before you go. In the days leading up to the shot, boost your immune system with Vitamin C and D3 (follow the appropriate dose instructions on the label). Get plenty of sleep the night before, don’t forget to eat breakfast, and hydrate throughout the day. (A reminder that you shouldn’t get the vaccine if you’re feeling sick beforehand!)
- Gather the things that make you feel better when you aren’t feeling well: washcloths, your favorite pillow, a cozy warm blanket, a heating pad or a fan, lots of fluids like Gatorade or juice, a big pot of soup, or a gallon of ice cream, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, a tv show you love to binge…
- Bring someone with you who knows your health history. If you can’t take anyone along, let someone know that you’re getting the shot so that they can check in on you.
- Stay for the after-injection monitoring (about 15 minutes) and don’t leave until you feel comfortable. If that means you want to sit there for 45 minutes just to be safe, do it.
- Rest and recuperate!
What happens once you’ve gotten the vaccine?
The vaccines are 72%-95% effective in the United States, which means that although they greatly reduce your risk, there’s still a slim chance you could catch COVID-19 (FDA). That being said, the vaccines are also 85%-100% effective in preventing serious illness. So even if you do get sick, it’s unlikely that you’ll be hospitalized.
If you receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, you will reach 95% immunity about a week after the second dose (4 to 5 weeks after your first shot). The Johnson & Johnson vaccine works a bit faster—you should reach 72% immunity just 28 days after the shot. Likely, the J&J vaccine won’t be readily available until April.
While there’s no way for the vaccine to give you COVID-19, you could still get infected after the shot and not show any symptoms. As an asymptomatic carrier, there is the possibility that you could spread COVID-19 to someone else without knowing it. So while we wait for more data, continue to be safe. Wash your hands frequently, wear a mask, socially distance, and avoid large gatherings. You should feel safer once you’ve gotten the vaccine, but let’s make sure we keep everyone else safe too.
If you’re feeling scared or nervous about the vaccine, you’re not alone. If you have questions, reach out to us at [email protected] or 443-758-1924. We are always here for you.
For more information, watch our episode on The Doctor Is In here: https://www.facebook.com/87057506193/videos/2444433455686586