Why Does My Arm Hurt After a Vaccination?

“Got my first Moderna vaccine today. Arm’s a little sore but so far, so good!!!”

You may have heard people who’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19 say their arm was out of commission for a day or two post-shot.

Per CDC,You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Some people have no side effects.The side effects may impact your ability to do some activities, but they should last no more than a few days. The most common side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine include:

Pain in the arm where you got the shot
Redness in the arm where you got the shot
Swelling in the arm where you got the shot
Tiredness
Headache
Muscle pain
Chills
Fever
Nausea

Why you may feel arm pain after receiving any vaccine?

1.The vaccine can trigger inflammation at the site of the injection.
2.When you receive a vaccine,vaccine reactogenicity started.Your immune system uses several mechanisms to fight off infections which may also cause a sore arm.

How long does arm pain last?

For most people, arm pain can last for about a day or two. This experience can vary based on which vaccine you are receiving. If the redness or tenderness where you got the shot gets worse after 24 hours,pls call the doctor.

How to Treat a Sore Arm Post Shot?
1.Decide which arm should receive the injection.
2.Avoid tensing your arm muscle during the injection
3.Apply ice or a warm compress after the injection
4.Moving your arm in the hours after the shot can lessen the pain
5.Keep that arm active

Additional Tips

While true allergies (closing of the throat or swelling of the face, neck, and lips) to vaccines are rare, painful rashes after receiving a shot are more common. It is not unusual for these reactions to happen several days to weeks later. This type of side effect is not always a sign of an allergy, but it could be. If you notice a rash or hives where you received a vaccination, you should be seen by your provider.