Should I take paracetamol before vaccinating against COVID-19? [WE EXPLAIN]

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When looking for information on vaccination against COVID-19, we often find a government website first. In the tab # grafimysię we find advice to take paracetamol in the event of local pain or fever after the injection. However, many people, fearing possible side effects, would like to protect themselves from going to the vaccination point. Does preventive ingestion of paracetamol make sense?

1. There are studies that show a decreased immune system response to vaccines with paracetamol early, but there are also studies that do not.
2. The WHO and CDC, however, warn against taking painkillers before vaccination
3. Researchers say acetaminophen lowers fever, which is crucial for a proper immune response
4. Polish experts also advise against taking medications prophylactically
5. You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page

We know that in the event of alarming post-vaccination symptoms, you can take paracetamol in the doses specified in the leaflet. We also know that in this case the drug does not affect the body’s subsequent immune response. However, doctors advise that you avoid taking paracetamol just in case.

Paracetamol and COVID-19 Vaccination

Although we do not have any studies yet, the position of specialists around the world is consistent: taking paracetamol or ibuprofen before going to the vaccine to prevent pain is not the best idea. We are not 100% sure that this will not weaken the immune response.

British GP Dr Sarah Jarvis says there is “theoretical evidence that painkillers can alter the body’s immune response to certain vaccines”. Whereas prof. Mahyar Etminan, a pharmacologist at the University of British Columbia, says that, based on research into flu vaccines, pain medications weaken it.

The rest of the article under the video.

A study in mice, published in the Journal of Virology, found that they can lower the production of antibodies that prevent viruses from infecting cells.

Another study shows that acetaminophen “reduces the immune response to several vaccine antigens” in children. In contrast, a randomized study of infants given paracetamol immediately after vaccination showed lower levels of antibodies compared with children who did not receive the drug. All other studies that show similar effects say they only occurred when paracetemol or a similar drug was taken before, not after, vaccination.

However, there are also analyzes that show no difference in the immune response to vaccines between pain-takers and non-takers in the pre-vaccination period.

Paracetamol before vaccination against COVID-19. WHO and CDC recommendations

As we do not yet have specific evidence that taking, for example, paracetamol before vaccination against COVID-19 will affect the body’s ability to build immunity, it is better to give it up just in case.

The World Health Organization is a blast on the cold, so warns against taking painkillers before vaccination. In addition, side effects such as elevated temperature, pain at the injection site, and headache and muscle pain mean that the body is boosting the immune system.

1. Editors recommend: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, J&J – what are the side effects?

Experts from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are also cautious and advise everyone going for vaccination to refrain from similar ideas. The agency advises against taking painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen before receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

– It’s better to suffer from side effects than risk reducing the effectiveness of the vaccine – explains Dr. Gregory Poland, director of the Vaccine Research Group at Mayo Clinic.

However, there are exceptions: people who usually take painkillers, such as those who have recurrent migraines, should continue to take them.

If you are already taking acetaminophen, do not stop taking it for the sake of vaccination, at least not without consulting your doctor, advises Dr. Jonathan Watanabe, a pharmacist at the University of California.

– If you have an acute migraine, you can go ahead and take a painkiller – advises Dr. Gregory Poland.

Further part under the video.

Paracetamol prior to COVID-19 vaccination may interfere with the immune response

Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Immunization Center at Children’s Hospital Philadelphia and a member of the US Advisory Board on Vaccines, agrees that it is not a very good idea to take painkillers before immunization.

“I’m convinced that preventing fever is never good because fever is the adaptive part of the immune response,” he says. “You have to let your immune system do its job,” adds Dr. Offit.

Dr. Jonathan Watanabe adds that you shouldn’t take painkillers as a precautionary measure before immunization unless your doctor has told you to. However, if such a preparation is needed, paracetamol is safer.

Why does body temperature rise when we fight infection?

Prof. Sharon Evans, an oncologist at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, studies how the immune system works in the fight against cancer. She became interested in fever because it is the most common reaction among animals. Even before the pandemic, she and her colleagues wrote a paper on how fever helps to alleviate and shorten the disease. She called the fever “amazing” because of its ability to boost the body’s immune response.

– Fever mobilizes cells, moves them to the right place at the right time – says prof. Evans. Inflammation, even without fever, can also enhance the immune response. Therefore, pre-vaccination antipyretic pills are generally not recommended.

Paracetamol before vaccination against COVID-19. What are the recommendations in Poland?

Dr. n. Farm. Leszek Borkowski, former president of the Registration Office, drug market consultant, member of the National Development Council at the President of the Republic of Poland advises: do not use any medications prophylactically before vaccination.

The portal Nauawpolsce.pap.pl informs: «Do not use medications prophylactically before vaccination. The administration of the vaccine may be associated with the occurrence of temporary side effects, the most common of which are shoulder pain, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and / or joint pain, fever. Before receiving the vaccine, however, do not take any medications (eg paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) for prophylactic purposes ».

Do you want to test your COVID-19 immunity after vaccination? Have you been infected and want to check your antibody levels? See the COVID-19 immunity test package, which you will perform at Diagnostics network points.

See also:

1. 18 questions to answer before vaccinating against COVID-19
2. When do COVID-19 vaccines start to work, and how do you check it? [WE EXPLAIN]

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