Coronavirus vaccination in India: Is it normal to feel tired after getting a vaccine shot? When should you worry?
What can you expect after receiving your COVID vaccine?
More than a year after the first confirmed coronavirus cases were reported, vaccinations have kickstarted globally. Millions of people have already been vaccinated against the pandemic.
While this is the first time a vaccine has been rolled out for use in such a short timeline, what makes many worry are news about possible side-effects. The coronavirus vaccine may take us closer to defending the pandemic, but it may not be a simple ‘walk in the park’.
Certain side-effects can also be a little unpleasant to handle.
People are reporting feeling tired after getting vaccinated
Tiredness, for one, can be a possible reaction which can be expected after vaccination.
In India and the world around, many people have reported experiencing tiredness after getting the COVID-19 vaccine shot. Fatigue can also be expected.
But is that a normal reaction? Here’s what you should do if you suspect unsual tiredness after being inoculated?
Why does a vaccine create side-effects?
Immunization works by sort of ‘tricking’ the body. When the system is injected with a live or modified strain of the virus, it kicks off certain inflammatory reactions and starts preparing antibodies. This, in turn, leads to side-effects some of which include fever, chills, pain at the injection site, nausea and in some cases, tiredness and fatigue.
Now, while most of the side-effects are usually mild and temporary in nature, they happen after you get two complete doses. Some, such as nausea and fatigue can also occur, but the likelihood of the same is not common.
A lot of these symptoms could also mimic the disease itself but should not be confused to be the same.
What causes tiredness?
Fatigue and tiredness can seldom have reasons which are unrelated to any specific illness.
Usually, fatigue and tiredness are caused by problems like an overactive or heavily engaged immune system, lifestyle causes, extreme stress.
In certain cases of viral and bacterial infection, fatigue can also be caused by the rapid spread of the infectious germ to the body's vital cells.
In cases of vaccination, when a body is deliberately infected with a germ, fatigue and drowsiness is thought to be an inflammatory response of routine nature
Why is tiredness concerning?
Of those who have reported tiredness after vaccination complains of feeling dreary and wanting to take a sick day off after the shot. In an extreme case, a medical worker fainted after getting the Pfizer shot.
However, since it is unusual and any feeling of discomfort, drowsiness or fatigue can be confusing.
Since tiredness, as a symptom is also something that can also make it difficult for a person to go on with his or her day after vaccination, people are now worried that such symptoms will only drive vaccine hesitancy rates up.
How to know if your tiredness is linked to a vaccine reaction?
Do remember that it isn’t necessary that feeling tired is related to the vaccine.
Tiredness, as a symptom, can also be related to obesity, deficiencies, burnout, recovering from an illness, or just stress in general.
If you experience any other symptoms after getting a vaccine shot, such as fever or chills, fatigue may be tied to the unpleasant symptoms associated with a vaccine.
What should you do?
If your fatigue and dreariness are related to the COVID vaccine shot, there shouldn’t be anything major to worry about.
However, feeling zapped out of energy and tired can make your day uncomfortable. Plus, for the vaccine to work well, it’s doubly important to keep the immune system healthy and strong.
How to manage your symptoms at home
Energizing drinks, herbs and supplements can be taken if your bout of fatigue is making it difficult to concentrate on the job ahead of you.
Doctors also suggest people to take over the counter medications to manage and relieve symptoms at home.
If you experience adverse, unusual reactions, or do not see a difference in your energy levels, consider getting a doctors advise.