What to Avoid After a COVID Shot (and Do Instead)

The updated COVID-19 vaccine is widely available in many pharmacies and doctor’s offices across the country, making now a good time to book your shot if you haven’t already.

You’ve probably heard that the vaccine comes with a risk of side effects. While doctors stress that these are potential side effects and that there’s no guaranteed way to avoid symptoms like fatigue or chills after your shot, it makes sense to want to be prepared for them just in case. With that in mind, doctors recommend taking these steps after receiving your COVID-19 vaccine to try to help yourself feel comfortable and to enhance your body’s response to the vaccine.

Medications to Avoid

If you’re not feeling well after you have your vaccine, it’s fine to take medicine like acetaminophen to help with any flu-like symptoms you may experience, Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York, told Verywell. It’s also possible to take ibuprofen for the same reasons, but he recommended starting with acetaminophen first due to some data that suggested ibuprofen may reduce the effectiveness of other types of vaccines. 

“Because of this, I generally recommend avoiding ibuprofen after a vaccination, if possible,” Russo said.

It’s also a good idea to avoid taking steroid medication in the immediate aftermath of your vaccine, if you can, infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, MD, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told Verywell. While steroid medications aren’t used to treat vaccine side effects, using these drugs right after you’ve had your vaccine “would likely blunt the immune response to the vaccine if given in the days after vaccination,” Adalja said.

If you need steroid medications for a health condition, Russo recommended talking to your doctor.

“Most people on steroids cannot just stop them,” he said. “If you’re on a more potent immunosuppressant medication, it’s a good idea to have a discussion with your healthcare provider about the timing of your shot.”

Food and Drink to Avoid

There are no general recommendations about foods and drinks to avoid after having your COVID-19 vaccine. However, doctors suggest being mindful of what you’re eating and drinking during this time.

“I would avoid anything that would make you feel more rundown,” Patrick Jackson, MD, an infectious disease physician at UVA Health, told Verywell. “If you’re not feeling your best, having a few alcoholic drinks would not help the situation.”

But Adalja said it’s more of an issue if you plan to drink a lot.

“This really only applies to excessive alcohol that might cause a hangover,” he said. Meaning, you may be OK to sip a glass of wine after your shot—but it’s not a good idea to have more than that.

Are You Contagious After a COVID Shot?

There has been some chatter online about being contagious after getting your COVID-19 vaccine, but doctors stress this isn’t possible.

“You are not in any way contagious,” William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, told Verywell. “The COVID vaccines are not live viral vaccines. You can’t transmit anything to anyone else.”

Russo agreed. “You are not contagious unless, of course, you had COVID-19 when you got the vaccine and didn’t know,” he said. “But the vaccine will not cause COVID and will not make you contagious.”

What to Do If Your COVID Shot Wipes You Out

It’s possible to feel under the weather after getting your COVID-19 shot. This is simply your immune response to the vaccine, Russo said. If you’re not feeling your best, he recommended focusing on hydration and doing your best to rest.

“It’s a great opportunity to snuggle up on the couch with a good book and the clicker to do some binge watching,” Russo said.

You can also take acetaminophen to help with any uncomfortable symptoms you may have, Jackson said.

“Keep in mind that these symptoms will go away on their own, even without treatment,” he said.

Ways to Feel Your Best After a COVID Shot

There’s no way to determine in advance how you’ll feel after your shot.

“The vast majority of people feel perfectly fine, except they may have a bit of a tender, sore arm,” Schaffner said.

To increase the odds you’ll feel well after your shot, Russo recommended doing your best to stay hydrated. While it won’t take away side effects, it can help support your body’s normal functioning, he explained. You can also apply ice or a cool, damp cloth to the arm where you received your shot.

If you work out regularly, Russo suggested exercising right before or after your shot, since side effects will often take several hours to go into effect, if you experience them at all. Getting a good night’s sleep can also help, Adalja said.

Just in case, Schaffner suggested trying to schedule your vaccine on a day when you can rest the following day if needed.

“Some people will get their vaccines on a Friday, so they have the weekend to recover and can take it easy,” he said. “Try not to plan for a big day the next day.”

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.