Getting the Covid shot? Here’s how to make it as SMOOTH as possible

Maybe you’ve been holding out to see how other folks in your age group fare…

Or maybe you’ve recently bit the bullet… and gotten your first shot.

The choice to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is completely yours. After doing your research… and talking with your doc… only YOU can decide what’s right for you.

But if you DO opt to roll up your sleeve… and get the jab…

Or if your appointment for your second dose is approaching…

There are some things you should know… and some things you SHOULD and SHOULDN’T do right after getting the vaccine.

In fact, there’s even one simple way to OPTIMIZE how well the vax could protect you!

Here’s what they may not tell you as you BARE your arm…

And what could save you from excess worry!

Do THIS and not THAT

Friend, I know you must have a lot of questions about the COVID-19 vaccine…

Including whether it’s safe… whether you should choose Pfizer, Moderna, or J&J… and what life will be like afterwards.

I urge you to talk to your doc and ask him ANYTHING that’s on your mind.

But there are a few things I can give you a “heads up” on today.

First of all, the vaccine won’t make you completely IMMUNE to the novel coronavirus. It’s not 100% effective in preventing symptoms OR infection.

That’s why NO vaccine can replace following proper hygiene… protecting yourself from crowds… and supporting your healthy immune function.

You’ll have to keep doing many of the same things you’ve been doing over the course of the last year… at least for a little while longer.

Now is not the time to rest on your laurels.

I can also tell you that when some folks get the vaccine, their arms hurt where they got injected… they feel a little tired or even a bit woozy…

And those side effects may be WORSE after receiving the second shot.

As long as these symptoms stay MILD… and RESOLVE within a few days… they’re just a sign that the immune system is working overtime to build up new defenses.

That’s why you SHOULD drink plenty of water before AND after the shot… and SHOULDN’T skip any meals.

You’ll need all the energy you can get!

While not comprehensive, there are some other things that experts DON’T recommend doing related to the COVID-19 vax, including…

• Taking OTC pain relievers (like acetaminophen or ibuprofen) BEFORE your shot, as they can BLUNT your immune response. They’re OK to take afterwards.
• Schedulingwithin a couple of weeks before or after your shot. You’ll want to space them out more so they’re not competing for your immune system’s attention.
• Becoming alarmed if something shows up on your mammogram. Although experts say you shouldn’t RESCHEDULE your vaccine or DELAY your breast screening, they do warn that the immune response to the vaccine may cause armpit lymph nodes to swell on the same side as the shot… and that may LOOK like a lump to a radiologist. If you can, get imaging done before your shot… or, as the Society of Breast Imaging recommends, 4 to 6 weeks after your second shot.

Now, I promised you a secret way to help IMPROVE your immune response to the vaccine… and of course I would NEVER leave you hanging.

Turns out, past research has shown that SLEEPING LONGER can help MAXIMIZE the efficacy of vaccines!

You probably know firsthand how LACK of quality sleep can wear you down…

And in the case of vaccines, that’s especially true the night after you get your shot.

If you need a little help getting your full 8 hours, melatonin can help REGULATE your sleep/wake cycle… and even help FINE-TUNE your immune system.

Wishing you continued health and peace of mind,

Melissa Young