COVID-19 vaccines can cause temporary side effects while they are building immunity, although some people don’t experience any side effects at all. The most common side effects are soreness, redness, and swelling in the arm where you received your shot. Other side effects include tiredness, headache, nausea, chills, fever, and muscle pain that occur throughout the rest of the body.
For most people, these side effects go away within a few days. But we can’t all afford to lose a few days not feeling our best. What’s working for many folks is to plan ahead for side effects before (and if) they happen. Think about who could babysit, deliver a meal, or run an errand.
Get your vaccination 1-2 days before your planned time off or weekend
Uber and Lyft provide free transportation to vaccination sites, which may be faster than transit
Call the Maryland Court Help Center (410-260-1392), available from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., for a free call with a lawyer to learn your rights as an employee, or contact Maryland Legal Aid– services are confidential and they will not record your contact information without permission
See this list for Howard County locations
Plan to have a family member or friend stay with you or to have your child stay with them
Contact the companies on this list who are offering free childcare for customers and employees while they get the vaccine
Organizations in Howard County are here to help in all kinds of ways
Stagger your vaccination appointment with that of a friend, and take turns helping each other
If you have pain where you got your shot, apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth and exercise or move your arm
Before you get your shot: have fans or A/C (if possible) to help cool you if you have a fever, turn off or dim the lights, and prepare a light blanket that is not too heavy
Talk to your doctor about taking ibuprofen, acetaminophen, asp irin, or antihistamines, for any pain
Drinking plenty of fluids is especially useful to reduce discomfort from fever, and dressing lightly helps too
Prepare a few meals for yourself (or order food, if possible) so you do not have to cook for a day
