A new study suggests that the side effects experienced after receiving a Covid vaccine may actually be a sign of a strong immune response. Researchers found that individuals who experienced symptoms such as chills, fatigue, headache, and malaise after the second dose of the vaccine had higher levels of antibodies against the coronavirus compared to those who did not have symptoms. Increases in skin temperature and heart rate were also associated with higher antibody levels. The study aims to address concerns about vaccine side effects and encourage more people to get vaccinated.
While the increase in antibody levels among those with side effects was small, experts emphasize that lack of side effects should not be taken as a sign that the vaccine is not working. A previous study found that even people without symptoms still produced ample antibodies. However, the new results indicate that individuals who experience side effects are likely to be well protected from the virus. The study also examined the use of painkillers to relieve vaccine side effects and found that taking these medications did not dampen the immune response. In fact, those who took painkillers had more antibodies, likely due to the fact that individuals with symptoms tend to have a greater antibody response.
The study tracked participants’ antibody levels over time and found that those who reported specific side effects had higher antibody levels. The researchers conducted the study during the initial vaccine rollout, recruiting participants through various means. They tracked symptoms and gave some participants biometric devices to record temperature, breathing, and heart rate. The study focused on the protection provided by the original version of the coronavirus, and its findings should still be relevant to all iterations of the vaccines.
While the rollout of Covid vaccines has faced challenges, with canceled appointments and confusion about insurance coverage, millions of Americans have received the shots. The encouraging results of this study may help alleviate concerns about vaccine side effects and encourage more individuals to get vaccinated.
Please note that this study has not yet been reviewed for publication in a scientific journal.