PITTSBURGH — When Sophia Cosentino received the second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, she felt sick right away the next morning.
“It felt like a mild flu or a bad hangover,” she said. “The body aches, headache and feverishness felt like the flu. The thing I felt the most was fatigue. I would feel drained walking short distances from my kitchen and back. I wanted to stay in bed.”
Allegheny Health Network physician Dr. Brian Lamb said it’s really up in the air what you’ll feel after getting the vaccine.
“We can’t really say that ‘Oh, these many people are going to have an adverse reaction or symptoms,’ because we are vaccinating so many people. It’s becoming random,” Lamb said.
He said there are things you can do in advance to prepare.
“Make sure you stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids before you get the shot. Make sure you have something to eat before you go in,” he said. “Gatorade itself is probably no better than water. We haven’t seen a whole that says you have to have the extra electrolytes.”
When it comes to Vitamin D, there’s no clear evidence that helps either.
“Some people swear it makes them feel better,” Lamb said.
Despite any potential symptoms, Lamb said the alternative could be much worse.
“Don’t worry about what may happen with the side effects. Most of them are self-limited and go away within 24 hours. The protection you get is worth what you are going through,” he said.
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