One of the most common side effects of vaccinations is soreness and redness at the injection site. A reaction that is produced by an inflammatory response that has to do, above all, with the speed of the puncture and its location.
Antonio Ríos Luna, a specialist in traumatology, has broken down in an article in the newspaper El Mundo the keys to why vaccination causes pain, redness and swelling in the injection area. Specifically, he explains that there are two main reasons.
1. Speed. The trauma specialist says that intramuscular injections should be applied slowly, because if they are done quickly, more pressure is generated, separating the fibers and causing more pain.
2. Place. The expert says that the deltoid, where the puncture is made, is a very vascular muscle and that it is the main one in charge of moving the shoulder joint. Thus, you can see more pain in the movements or if you sleep on the vaccinated arm.
The elements that would not come into action in the production of pain, according to the expert, are the amount of liquid that is injected, which in the case of the Covid-19 vaccine is very small compared to others, and the size of the needle. , which in this case is also reduced. In addition, the traumatologist also does not believe that the components of the drug are causing pain.
How to combat the pain of the Covid-19 vaccine puncture
To reduce pain and discomfort where you received the injectable vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC has three recommendations:
1. Apply a clean, cool, damp cloth to the area.
2. Use or exercise your arm
When to go to the doctor for pain or redness in the arm
Side effects, whether local or general, do not require medical treatment. Likewise, they should disappear at the latest after three days. However, one must be aware of possible longer lasting skin adverse reactions, such as skin rash and itching, caused by Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
In these situations, the dermatologist at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona explains that a doctor should be consulted when they appear. In addition, delayed reactions have also been recorded in the form of “very large plaques, sometimes up to more than 10-25 centimeters, in the injection site. They don’t appear immediately, but after the fourth or fifth day after the injection,” he says.
The expert explains that these types of side effects are due to a response from the immune system and that they are not serious. However, the consultation with the doctor can be interesting because a series of advice can be given before taking a second dose. In addition, there are treatments for the pain.
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