The day after a vaccination can bring a sore arm, tiredness, achiness or feeling a bit unwell. Which effects you notice, and how long they last, depends on the vaccine and on you, and symptoms can also have other causes. These five tools are for staying comfortable for a day or two. They are not medical advice, and anything worrying belongs with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
1. Let yourself rest
Tiredness can follow a vaccination, though you cannot tell its cause from timing alone. If you feel tired, you can take an easy day, a nap if it comes, and no heroics. Tracking how you feel, in a few notes, can help a clinician if you need to speak to one. Do not assume tiredness has a particular cause or timeline. If it does not ease, or you are worried, ask a clinician.
You might plan ahead. If you can, get your vaccination on a day when you have a lighter schedule, and let the people you live with know that you may be slower.
2. Care for the arm
For a sore arm, you can move it gently through the day instead of guarding it, unless the leaflet or your clinician says otherwise. Follow the leaflet that comes with your vaccine or the advice of your clinician, and do not force painful movement. If you have a condition that affects your arm, such as a past injury or lymphoedema, ask your clinician what is suitable for you.
3. Drink normally and keep food simple
Drink normally to stay hydrated, keep food simple, and ask your clinician whether to avoid alcohol. Eat what you feel like. If you have a long-term condition such as diabetes, keep to your usual plan and monitoring, and ask your clinician if you are unsure.
4. Slow down in the evening
If you feel achy in the evening, you might have a warm shower, wear comfortable layers and have an early night. A few long exhales are optional, with no counting, and you can skip them if breath focus makes you uneasy or dizzy. Ask a clinician or pharmacist about pain or fever relief that is right for your vaccine and your medical history, and do not take extra medicine without checking.
5. Let a flat mood be weather
If you notice a low or flat mood after a vaccination, you do not have to assume what caused it. You can let it be weather, and not meaning. There is no required timeline. If low mood is persistent or severe, tell a clinician.
A simple day-after plan
If you like having a list, here is a sample:
- Eat a normal breakfast and drink water.
- Move your arm gently through the morning.
- Do one thing you enjoy, and keep optional tasks light.
- Rest in the afternoon if you can.
- Have a warm shower and an early night.
Adjust it for work, children or caring duties. If you have to work, take breaks and keep expectations modest, while keeping up essential medicines, monitoring and care arrangements.
Questions worth asking at the appointment
If you want to be prepared, you can ask the person who vaccinates you what effects are usual for your vaccine, how long they are likely to last, and which symptoms mean you should get advice. Ask whether you should avoid anything, such as heavy exercise or alcohol, and whether there is anything about your medicines or health that matters. Keep the leaflet or take a photo of it, so you can check it later. If you have had a reaction to a vaccine before, tell the clinician before you are vaccinated.
What to tell people
If you need cover for the day, you can say you had a vaccination and may be slower. You do not have to say more. If you are looking after children or other people, ask someone to help for the first day if you can.
When to get help
Possible effects and how long they last depend on the vaccine. Check the leaflet or ask your clinician or pharmacist. Call your local emergency number immediately for sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue or throat, struggling to breathe, or a tight throat or difficulty swallowing. These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction. If you have a prescribed adrenaline auto-injector and suspect anaphylaxis, use it as directed and call for emergency help. Do not stand or walk while waiting; follow the emergency operator’s instructions.
After a COVID-19 vaccine, chest pain or tightness, severe breathing difficulty or a fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart within a few days need emergency help. Do not drive yourself. Check your vaccine’s leaflet for other serious warning signs, and do not use a comfort practice to delay urgent care. These timings come from the COVID-19 vaccine guidance and do not apply to every vaccine.
Contact a clinician promptly for a high or persistent fever, symptoms that are getting worse or persisting, or anything that worries you. Follow the leaflet and your vaccination team’s advice for your particular vaccine, but use your local emergency number for severe symptoms rather than waiting to ask a pharmacist.
Related: tools for actually resting on a sick day.
