Experts warn that over-the-counter painkillers, such as aspirin, tilenol or ibuprofen, can erode the effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines.
As the U.S. continues to roll out both Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to the general public, recipients have reported minor side effects, such as temporary pain, that have led some to take over-the-counter preventive painkillers before inoculation.
But several experts who spoke to ABC News on Wednesday warn that this practice may hinder the body’s ability to form antibodies that protect against COVID-19.
“We do not recommend premedication with ibuprofen or Tylenol prior to COVID-19 vaccines due to the lack of data on how it affects vaccine-induced antibody responses,” said Dr. Simone Wildes, an infectious disease expert. and member of COVID-19 of Massachusetts. The vaccine advisory group told the network.
Concerns stem from a study at Duke University that found that children who took painkillers before routinely getting vaccinated produced fewer antibodies.
The CDC also published guidelines advising people who have received the vaccine to control its side effects and try natural methods of pain relief before resorting to painkillers.
“If fever, chills and headaches develop after the injection, use painkillers to help with your symptoms, but not before they develop and report any significant side effects to a medical professional,” Drs. . Wildes.