What to Do Before and After Your COVID Vaccine

Americans are receiving approximately 2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine daily and the government is negotiating for more product so there will be enough vaccine for every U.S. adult by May.

Many individuals are concerned about what to expect during their vaccine appointment and how they should react after getting the shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued updated guidelines for people who are fully vaccinated. The new rules include being able to visit other vaccinated people without wearing a mask or socially distancing. However, even vaccinated persons should continue wearing masks and watching their distance when socializing with unvaccinated individuals over 65 or who have underlying medical conditions.

The CDC still recommends avoiding medium to large social gatherings and advises Americans to refrain from traveling, according to USA Today. If you do need to travel, wait at least two weeks after getting your second shot and check the travel restrictions of your destination. The agency reiterated that the ''W's'' need to be followed by all travelers: wear a mask, watch your distance, and wash your hands.

If you are still waiting for the vaccine and have secured an appointment, check with state officials about which documents you will need to bring with you such as picture identification or proof of registration, according to USA Today. Make sure that you inform the health professionals administering the shot about any allergies you have. According to CDC recommendations, you will need to stay at the location for at least 15 minutes after the shot to ensure that you do not have an adverse reaction to the vaccine. Make sure to bring your vaccination card with you for the second dose, along with other necessary documents.

Common side effects of current COVID-19 vaccines include fever, chills, fatigue, and headache, along with pain and swelling around the injection site. The CDC explains that these side effects are ''normal signs that your body is building protection.''

According to Healthline, side effects tend to be more common after the second vaccine dose and hit younger people harder because their immune systems are more robust, said Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children's Hospital in New York.

''In general, the older the patient is, the less likely the reaction is going to be significant or severe,'' she added.

Medical experts note that post-vaccine symptoms and side effects usually clear up within 48 hours after the injection. According to USA Today, the recently approved one-dose Johnson & Johnson may cause fewer side effects than the other vaccines.

Dr. Meg Sullivan, medical director of Mecklenburg Public Health in Charlotte, North Carolina, says that ''the lack of side effects does not indicate the vaccine is not working,'' according to a local NBC affiliate.

Experts say that taking a pain reliever before getting vaccinated is not recommended as it can dull the effect of the vaccine. It is fine to use them afterward to help deal with unpleasant side effects or discomfort, according to USA Today.

When you have had your second dose that is administered 21 days after the Pfizer initial shot, and 28 days after the Moderna, it then takes 10 to 14 days for the body to build immunity, according to the CDC.

Once you are fully vaccinated, you can still transmit the COVID-19 virus to others, say researchers, without getting sick yourself. And since the vaccines are not 100% effective there is a small chance that you, too, can contract the COVID-19 virus.

However, studies have shown that the vaccines protect against severe illness. For the Pfizer vaccine, that protection was shown to be 100% in clinical trials. Getting vaccinated not only protects the individual from the COVID-19 virus but helps the country achieve herd immunity which will hopefully contain the virus and reduce the current strain on our healthcare system, according to USA Today.