Reasons why you shouldn't massage your upper arm after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine.

Get vaccinated against Covid-19.Vaccines are one of the key elements in protecting people during a pandemic. Regardless of which vaccine you choose, you need to follow the guidelines to maximize immunity and minimize side effects.

Experts advise people to avoid excessive stress before or after vaccination and to refrain from using too much pain medication. Additionally, those who have been vaccinated should avoid rubbing the injection site to prevent putting pressure on the area.

Causes of pain at the injection site

After vaccination, soreness and muscle stiffness at the injection site are common side effects. This condition can last for several days, making it difficult to move the arm.

Arm soreness is an early reaction showing the body is recognizing the vaccine. When you get a vaccine, your body treats it as an injury, like bleeding or a cut, and sends immune cells to your arm.

Doctors and nurses from the hospital participate in vaccinating residents of Vinh City against Covid-19. Photo: PV

As part of this process, immune cells also cause inflammation. This provides protection when you are re-exposed to the pathogen. Experts call this the potential for a vaccine reaction. Some irritation in the arm also stems from the muscle reacting to a small amount of injected vaccine fluid.

In addition to pain, some people also experience redness and swelling near the injection site.

Will rubbing the injection site cause irritation?

Some local reactions to vaccines, such as stiffness or swelling at the injection site, can be quite painful. While gentle massage might seem soothing, experts advise against it, as it can reduce the vaccine's effectiveness.

One of the main reasons is that the Covid-19 vaccine is injected into the upper arm. Massaging the injection site can prevent the vaccine from being absorbed. Such actions can also lead to unwanted side effects, such as inflammation and soreness.

Doctors recommend avoiding massaging the injection site for several hours after vaccination because the vaccine reaches its highest concentration at that time.

The benefits of massage before injections

If you've ever received any type of vaccine, you'll have noticed some healthcare workers gently massage your skin before the injection. This is a widely used clinical practice around the world, softening and relaxing the muscles in the arm, making the vaccine more effective.

However, some studies have found that such manipulation slows down the absorption of certain vaccines.