How Should I Get Ready For My Vaccination Appointment What Should I Expect
If you have a chance to fill out paperwork online before the visit, youll save time at your appointment. Plan for only light activity for a day or so after you receive your vaccine, in case you have any effects from the shot, like soreness or feeling a little ill.
Check with your doctor or vaccine provider about whether any medicines you are taking might be a problem. The CDC advises against taking antihistamines or over-the-counter painkillers such as acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen solely as a measure to prevent vaccine side effects.
Bring your photo ID and your insurance card . If this is not your first shot, bring the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card that you received at previous visits. Continue to practice social distancing while in line for your vaccination.
The actual shot, given in the upper arm muscle, will only take a few seconds. Afterward, you will be asked to wait 15 to 30 minutes to ensure that a risky but very rare and treatable allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis , does not occur. Health care workers onsite are ready to treat anyone who has this reaction.
Which Vaccines Are Being Used In The Us
For most of the pandemic three vaccines, commonly referred to by the names of the companies that make them, have been available in the United States:
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are preferred, while the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is recommended only in some cases.
A fourth vaccine, made by Novavax, received Food and Drug Administration authorization as a two-dose series in people ages 18 and older in the U.S. in July 2022. That vaccine has also received the support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is expected to be available soon.
What Does Fully Vaccinated Mean When Am I Up To Date
The CDC considers people fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the second dose in a two-dose primary series or the initial single dose of the Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine. Up to date means theyve received their primary vaccination series and all recommended boosters when they are eligible for them.
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Does High Blood Pressure Increase Your Risk Of Getting Covid
Yes, having high blood pressure, especially if untreated or not well controlled, is associated with increased risk of infection. Its not quite clear as to why or how, but chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and obesity, can weaken the immune system, making you more susceptible to infections.
If Youre Worried About The Safety Of Visiting Your Doctors Office At This Time What Should You Do
Try remote patient monitoring. Youll receive your own blood pressure monitor, and you can then check your blood pressure from home. Then, you either manually enter or automatically upload the results to a dashboard your provider can see.
Some patients have skipped their regular checkups for chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure, but that isnt healthy. If you havent had a checkup in the last 6- 12 months, it may be a good idea to follow up with your provider. You may be able to use telehealth and visit over your phone or computer.
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/6here’s What We Know So Far
From what has been seen so far, a small percentage of people from Switzerland, who received requisite doses of mRNA vaccines developed extreme hypertension minutes after vaccination. Amongst the reported cases, most patients were over the age of 70 and male. 8 out of 9 patients were previously diagnosed with hypertension.
In India, while there’s not much knowledge that lingers around the matter, several vaccination studies have come forward which mention people recording extremely high blood pressure levels after being inoculated with either Covishield or Covaxin, the two jabs which are available in India.
When Will I Experience Side Effects
More often than not, it’s likely that you’ll likely experience symptoms after the second dose, explains William Schaffner, M.D., the medical director for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. “The proportion of people who are afflicted with these things together is increased after the second dose⦠It can be up to 50% or more of people who, at the very least, experience a sore arm, for up to two days,” he says.
While it’s more likely you’ll experience any of the 7 symptoms after your second dose, Dr. Schaffner says that it’s not the case for everyone. You may experience noticeable symptoms after your first shot, and none after the second you might have no reactions to the vaccine at first, but a noticeable one to your booster shot or you may not experience any side effects at all. Some individuals may experience one, two, or more symptoms after their first shot and then entirely different symptoms for their second shot â it’s all dependent on the patient, despite any data-driven trend, Dr. Schaffner clarifies.
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Vaccine Lowers Blood Pressure
Nov. 6, 2007 — An experimental vaccine may someday free people with high blood pressure from having to swallow their medication every day.
In a new study, systolic blood pressure fell 6 points in volunteers injected with the vaccine. Diastolic blood pressure dropped 3 points.
The vaccine also unexpectedly blunted the surge in blood pressure that typically occurs between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m, says Juerg Nussberger, MD, a professor of medicine at University Hospital of the Canton of Vaud in Lausanne, Switzerland.
That’s important because most heart attacks and strokes occur in the morning, he tells WebMD.
The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association .
Fainting Can Be Common Among Adolescents After Vaccination
Reports from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System shows that fainting after vaccinations is common in adolescents. One study of VAERS reports found that 62% of syncope reports were among adolescents 11 to 18 years old. However, because syncope may not always be reported, VAERS data cannot be used to determine how often fainting happens after vaccination.
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What Are The Most Common Side Effects Of Vaccination
Many people have no side effects from COVID-19 vaccination. Many others experience minor effects for a few days, including:
- Pain, redness or swelling at the injection site
- Chills or fever
Side effects are more common after the second shot in a two-shot primary series. Call your health care team if these effects last more than a few days, are worrisome or if the redness and swelling in your arm worsens after 24 hours. For minor issues, check out this advice from the CDC.
You can report side effects directly to the CDC through a smartphone-based tool called v-safe. .
Measuring Of Blood Pressure
The pre-vaccination BP measurement was recorded by trained personnel for each patient in the sitting position after a 5-min rest using a digital BP measuring machine with appropriately sized cuffs. Post-vaccination BP measurement was recorded 15 minutes after compulsory resting and observation. Two measurements were taken for all vaccinees. In those who recorded a BP difference of more than 10mmHg for either systolic or diastolic BP, the third measurement would be repeated after a 5-min rest. The final recorded BP measurements were the mean of the second and third recorded measurements. Vaccinees with SBP 140mmHg had their heart rate assessed. If they were found to be tachycardic with a heart rate 100 beats/min, they were asked to rest for 5min, thereafter have their heart rate re-measured. Vaccinees were allowed to receive their injections if they are not tachycardic anymore after resting. Otherwise, their appointment would be rescheduled. For this group of vaccinees, the final recorded BP was the measurement taken after rest.
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Other Rare Side Effects
There have also been some extremely rare side effects reported. For example, three patients who received the Moderna vaccine and four who got the Pfizer experienced Bells Palsy, a sudden, and usually temporary, weakening or paralysis of the facial muscles, while a few patients with facial fillers experienced swelling. And, in the Pfizer trial, there were 47 cases of anaphylaxis.
Could Vaccination Cause Me To Test Positive For Covid
You won’t test positive on viral tests, which are used to see whether you are currently infected. A viral test is recommended if:
- you have COVID-19 symptoms
- you’ve had close contact with someone who has confirmed COVID-19
- you need a test for travel, work, school, or in advance of an event or social gathering
- you’ve been referred for testing by a health care or public health professional
You might test positive on some antibody tests, which look for signs of an immune system response to a previous infection.
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Surprising Side Effects Of The Covid Vaccine Say Doctors
The Centers for Disease Control and Preventionhas an entire page devoted to what you should expect after receiving your COVID-19 vaccine. They list some of the most common symptoms, including pain and swelling at the injection site and fever, chills, tiredness, and headaches. However, there are some other side effects being reported by people post vaccination. While they shouldnt stop you from getting the vaccine, its important to know about them so you can react appropriately. Read on to learn about some of the surprising side effects of the COVID vaccineand to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss theseSure Signs You’ve Already Had Coronavirus.
Moderna Covid Vaccine Is Under Investigation For This Reason
The California Department of Public Health has opened an investigation into one lot of a COVID vaccine from Moderna after it possibly caused several severe allergic reactions.
The lot, which contained about 300,000 doses of the drug, has been recommended by California State Epidemiologist Dr. Erica S. Pan to stop being administered while it is under investigation by the state, Moderna, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration.
The doses of the vaccine were distributed to 287 providers across California from Jan. 5 to 12.
At one community vaccine site in San Diego, several individuals had severe allergic reactions thought to be caused by the drug during the 24-hour observation period. The health department said that fewer than 10 of these people needed medical attention.
While the health department did not detail exactly what symptoms the individuals suffered during the allergic reaction, anaphylaxis can often include low blood pressure, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and fainting, CNN said.
The vaccine site that administered the inoculations closed for a few hours after the adverse reactions occurred and then switched to another vaccine lot to begin administering the Moderna COVID vaccine again, the health department said. No incidents of allergic reactions have been reported by other vaccination sites that administered the same lot of the drug.
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Should I Get Vaccinated If I’m Pregnant Or Planning To Be
Yes and get up to date on booster shots, too. Pregnant or recently pregnant women face an elevated risk of death or severe illness from COVID-19, including illness requiring hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator or other special equipment to breathe, according to the CDC. Also, risk of pregnancy complications with COVID-19 is higher.
Women who are breastfeeding or might become pregnant in the future also are urged to get vaccinated. There is no evidence that any vaccines, including those protecting against COVID-19, cause fertility problems for women or men, the CDC says.
What Are The Most Common Covid Vaccine Side Effects
In large clinical trials, most side effects have been minor. When side effects occur, they typically last just a few days. A side effect or reaction isnt necessarily all bad, by the way it may indicate that the body is building protection against the virus.
For the four vaccines listed above, common side effects include
- pain at the site of the injection
- painful, swollen lymph nodes in the arm where the vaccine was injected
- fever or chills.
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Does Covid Cause High Blood Pressure
At this time, we dont have enough information to say definitively that COVID-19 causes high blood pressure over the long term. A study published in the journal Circulation revealed that blood pressure levels increased in a group of men and women of diverse backgrounds. For 27% of them, the change in their numbers from before the pandemic was enough to put them in a higher blood pressure category.
These findings made headlines and led some to incorrectly believe that the study proves that COVID-19 causes high blood pressure. However, these individuals werent subjects of the study because they contracted COVID-19. They were participating in research related to ongoing blood pressure monitoring that began during the pandemic.
What the study truthfully suggests is that fear about the pandemic may have raised the blood pressure levels of study participants. Stress can contribute to high blood pressure, and during the pandemic, the entire world experienced stress. The World Health Organization reports that during the first year of the pandemic, the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25%.
Even as life returns to normal, stress and anxiety that emerged during the pandemic may continue for many people and continue to impact mental and physical health. So while we dont know for certain that COVID-19 causes hypertension, people may receive a diagnosis of hypertension for the first time, regardless of whether they actually contracted the virus.
Potential Side Effects Per Vaccine
Recently, there have been new concerns about serious side effects of COVID-19 vaccines. These effects may be coincidental, and there is currently not enough conclusive evidence to link these effects to specific vaccines. However, regulatory agencies are taking precautionary measures to investigate these safety concerns.
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How Long Will The Vaccine Protect Me
Scientists are studying this question, although research has indicated that the level of protection wanes over time leading public health authorities to recommend that everyone 18 and older who has been vaccinated get a booster shot. Second boosters are advised for all people 50 and older as well as adults and some children with weakened immune systems.
Should People With Underlying Health Conditions Get The Vaccine
If you have underlying health conditions, you can get the vaccine. In fact, this is particularly important because some health conditions can put you at a higher risk of serious COVID-19 complications.
Currently, the only exception to this is if youve had a serious or immediate allergic reaction to one or more ingredients in the vaccine. In this case, you should avoid getting the vaccine.
If you have an underlying health condition and have questions about receiving the vaccine, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider.
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Fainting Can Happen After Many Types Of Vaccinations
Fainting can be triggered by many types of medical procedures. In fact, CDC has received reports of people fainting after nearly all vaccines. Fainting after getting a vaccine is most commonly reported after three vaccines given to adolescents: HPV, MCV4, and Tdap. Because the ingredients of these three vaccines are different, yet fainting is seen with all of them, scientists think that fainting is due to the vaccination process and not to the vaccines themselves. However, there is not yet a definite answer about whether an ingredient of the vaccines is responsible for the fainting or if adolescents are simply more likely than children or adults to experience fainting.
About 3% of men and 3.5% of women report fainting at least once during their lifetimes, but it is not known just how often fainting happens after vaccination. Because fainting usually has no lasting effects, it is hard to study using medical records-based systems. However, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System , receives many reports of syncope each year, and many more are likely to go unreported.
What Are The Best Ways To Control Your Blood Pressure If You Get Covid
Monitor your blood pressure if you are at home, but make sure you are using a monitor thats validated. This just means the monitor has been verified to be clinically accurate. The website validatebp.org is a great resource, as well as your local pharmacist. Second, continue to take your blood pressure medications as prescribed unless your doctor says otherwise. Lastly, stay well hydrated and follow a heart-healthy diet.
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Whats Known About The Long
Because the COVID-19 vaccines have only been administered in the United States since December 2020, the long-term effects are unknown at this time.
Even though people have begun to receive these vaccines, studies will continue to evaluate their safety and effectiveness long into the future. These studies will also focus on how long the immunity lasts from the vaccines.
You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. Neither the Pfizer-BioNTech nor the Moderna vaccine contain the live virus. Because of this, it cannot cause you to become ill with COVID-19.
Both vaccines use mRNA technology to generate an immune response to SARS-CoV-2.
Can The Vaccine Change Your Dna
You may have heard concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine affecting your DNA. This isnt possible.
Your DNA is contained within a special part of your cells called the nucleus. The nucleus is separated from other areas of the cell.
The mRNA that your cells naturally produce every day is made within the nucleus, but is promptly transported outside of the nucleus to be translated into protein. After the protein is made, the mRNA is destroyed.
Likewise, the mRNA from the COVID-19 vaccine will remain outside of the nucleus. It will also be destroyed after the spike protein has been made.
Some people should avoid getting the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. This includes anyone whos had:
- either a prior severe or immediate allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in the vaccine
- either a severe or immediate allergic reaction after getting the first dose of the vaccine
- a previous allergic reaction to polyethylene glycol or polysorbate
If youre concerned about the ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccine, both provide full ingredient lists on their fact sheets for recipients and caregivers.
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