{"id":40003,"date":"2021-08-30T09:30:12","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T13:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=40003"},"modified":"2024-08-09T10:01:03","modified_gmt":"2024-08-09T14:01:03","slug":"arm-pain-after-vaccine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/arm-pain-after-vaccine\/","title":{"rendered":"Why does your arm hurt after vaccination?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No one enjoys getting a vaccination: the needle poke, the sting of the medication, the resulting soreness for the next few days. Of course, most people know that immunizations help protect against illnesses and diseases and are necessary for our health. In other words, they\u2019re worth a little discomfort.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may be wondering why your arm hurts after a shot and if it\u2019s normal. You may also ask yourself if you should get further vaccines if you have a reaction. Here\u2019s what the science says.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why does your arm hurt after a shot?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A sore arm after a vaccine is a normal reaction to an immunization. Mild injection site pain and irritation (also known as a sore arm) are common after receiving many vaccinations, including the influenza vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, varicella vaccine, and COVID-19 vaccine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Side effects after receiving a vaccination are normal and aren&#8217;t necessarily cause for concern,\u00a0 such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Redness or soreness at the site of injection<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Muscle aches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fever or chills<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headache<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some vaccines can hurt more than others. In fact, about <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jama\/fullarticle\/2778441\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">65% to 82%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of people will have injection site pain with the COVID vaccine, and more specifically, if you\u2019ve gotten the Moderna shot. Along with the COVID vaccine, the shingles vaccine, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/shingrix\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shingrix<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, can cause more and longer-lasting pain than other vaccines. The flu vaccine, on the other hand, usually causes less pain, explains <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pharmacy.umn.edu\/bio\/cop-experts\/grant-anderson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grant Anderson<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Ph.D., an associate professor in the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But why does injection site pain occur? Getting vaccinated causes an inflammatory process in the body, says <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/online.maryville.edu\/nursing-degrees\/faculty\/mykale-elbe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mykale Elbe,<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DNP, APRN, a board-certified family nurse practitioner and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Director of the<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/online.maryville.edu\/online-masters-degrees\/master-science-nursing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MSN Nurse Practitioner Program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This can happen after any type of injection as the body responds to the external fluid being injected into the tissue\/muscle, Dr. Elbe says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Usually, injection site pain will occur within the first 30 minutes of receiving any vaccination, including the Shingrix vaccine, says Dr. Elbe. Patients are typically asked to remain at the location where they were vaccinated, such as a doctor\u2019s office or pharmacy, for about 15-30 minutes after a vaccine. That way, they can be monitored for side effects.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which arm should you get your vaccine in? Dr. Elbe <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">recommends getting vaccinated in your dominant arm because you use it more. \u201cWe want you to move that arm and use that muscle to help distribute the vaccine better and hopefully help prevent soreness,\u201d she says.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How long does your arm hurt after a vaccine?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Arm pain is likely to begin within 24 hours of vaccination and lasts a few days after the vaccine is administered,\u201d says Anderson. A sore arm after a COVID shot is the most common side effect, and according to Anderson, only 25% of vaccinated people report experiencing side effects other than arm pain.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s how long injection site soreness can last for common vaccines:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COVID-19 vaccine or booster: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/expect\/after.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1-3 days<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Influenza vaccine: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lung.org\/blog\/arm-hurts-after-flu-shot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1-2 days<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Varicella vaccine: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vaccinesafety\/vaccines\/varicella-vaccine.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1-3 days<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pertussis vaccine: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/pertussis\/pregnant\/mom\/safety-side-effects.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1-3 days<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MMR Vacine: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/vaccinations\/mmr-vaccine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1-3 days<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pneumococcal vaccine: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/vaccinations\/pneumococcal-vaccine-side-effects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1-3 days<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/flu-shot-reactions\/\"><b>Can you get the flu from the flu shot?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is COVID arm?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may have heard of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/safety\/allergic-reaction.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COVID arm<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and are concerned it will happen to you. COVID arm is a local reaction by your immune system, meaning it occurs around the injection site. Injection site swelling and redness from a COVID vaccine should dissipate within one to three days, while COVID arm symptoms usually last <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34120504\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">four to five days<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, according to a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamadermatology\/fullarticle\/2779643\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">report<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in JAMA, symptoms of COVID arm can last up to 21 days with the Moderna vaccination. You may experience:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A painful and\/or itchy rash that can get very large<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swelling<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Warmth<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A firm bump under your skin where you received your shot<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/safety\/allergic-reaction.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (CDC), COVID arm can start a few days to a week or more after getting your shot. It\u2019s not caused by the coronavirus itself, since both the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/moderna-covid-19-vaccine\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moderna<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vacc\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pfizer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> vaccines are MRNA vaccines that don\u2019t contain the virus.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Phase 3 trial results in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nejm.org\/doi\/full\/10.1056\/NEJMoa2035389\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New England Journal of Medicine<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, this rash affected 0.8% of participants after the first dose, and 0.2% of participants after the second shot. In both cases, a very small number.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;It&#8217;s not completely known why this occurs, but it\u2019s considered rare and shouldn&#8217;t be a reason to put off getting the vaccine,&#8221; explains <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/midoctoruc.com\/our-team\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vino Palli<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, MD, founder of MiDoctor Urgent Care in New York City. The immune response to the vaccine is thought to come from the muscle as it absorbs the vaccine. Your body\u2019s immune system thinks the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein produced by the vaccine is in fact a virus. The immune system then mounts a defense, only this defense goes overboard and causes a bigger reaction than what is considered normal. It\u2019s similar to an anaphylactic reaction, but instead of affecting the entire body, this hypersensitivity is contained around the injection site only. The Shingles vaccine behaves similarly. People who receive it could get a rash as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Age can play a role in who has a higher chance of having COVID arm. \u201cIt seems as if younger patients have more arm pain compared to older patients looking at a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vaccines\/covid-19\/info-by-product\/pfizer\/reactogenicity.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that was done using the Pfizer vaccine,\u201d Dr. Palli says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you do notice a rash after your first COVID-19 vaccination, inform your healthcare provider before you get the second one. A rash may not be a reason you shouldn\u2019t get your second dose. However, your healthcare provider may advise you to get the second injection in your other arm. Other things that can help treat the rash include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Topical steroid medications for the itching, such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/hydrocortisone\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OTC hydrocortisone cream<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Topical anesthetics such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/lidocaine\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lidocaine<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoiding fabric over the injection site to prevent further skin irritation<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/compare-covid-vaccines\/\"><b>Compare COVID vaccines<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are side effects worse after the second COVID vaccine?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;For many recipients, side effects are worse after the second dose,\u201d says Anderson. Local inflammation from the body\u2019s inflammatory response leads to redness, warmth, swelling, and pain at the injection site\u2014aka arm pain.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhen enough of these substances are released, muscle aches can occur and you begin to feel tired,\u201d Anderson explains, \u201cWith the second dose, your immune system is really fired up and ready to immediately and forcefully respond to the vaccine components.\u201d However, he adds, this is a good sign your body is mounting a strong immune response. And if you don\u2019t have any side effects from the vaccine, it doesn\u2019t mean the vaccine didn\u2019t work or that you have a weak immune system. \u201cThe protective immunity afforded by the vaccines takes longer to develop and isn\u2019t associated with these side effects,\u201d Anderson says.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8 ways to treat arm pain after a vaccine<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although a sore arm after COVID shots is temporary, there are a few things you can do at home to help treat a sore arm after your vaccine:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Use a cold compress on the injection site<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Applying a cool compress or wet washcloth on the arm where you got the shot may help relieve pain and discomfort at the injection site.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Move your arm<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> around frequently throughout the day to reduce pain.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/ibuprofen\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advil (ibuprofen)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/acetaminophen\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tylenol (acetaminophen)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> if approved by your provider before and after the vaccination at appropriate intervals.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Use antihistamines<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/benadryl-allergy\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Benadryl<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> if you experience itchiness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Request the vaccine goes in your non-dominant arm.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This may help as you won\u2019t use it as frequently as your dominant arm and may not notice the soreness as much.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Relax your arm before your shot<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Injections into clenched muscles can cause more pain.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Request ice or a numbing spray<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> before your vaccination.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Engage in gentle exercise. <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/health.clevelandclinic.org\/can-you-exercise-before-or-after-youre-vaccinated-for-covid-19\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gently stretch or take a walk <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to get the blood flowing can help minimize pain. Or you can try specific arm exercises, including:\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lateral deltoid raise:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Starting with your palms touching the sides of your body, raise your arms straight all the way up to your shoulders.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Overhead press:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> With your arms bent at the elbows and your hands near your shoulders, straighten your arms while lifting them over your head.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unless you have a health condition that prevents you from taking certain OTC pain relievers, such as a bleeding condition or liver or kidney problems, you may find relief from arm soreness as well as certain other vaccine side effects such as headache or fatigue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, you want to avoid taking OTC pain medications before your vaccine in anticipation of side effects. While it may decrease your arm soreness, \u201cthe local inflammation is beneficial to the development of a vigorous immune response and anti-inflammatory drugs may reduce this beneficial response,\u201d Dr. Anderson explains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\t\t<div class=\"singlecare-dynamic-newsletter-wrapper sin-newsletter-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"heading\">Get our allergies newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t\t<form class=\"form-wrapper\" data-newsletter-form=\"1\" data-subsource=\"Allergies Newsletter\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"dynamic-email\">Email<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"email\" id=\"dynamic-email\" class=\"email\" required>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<input class=\"submit-form-btn\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Click to sign up\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"success-message\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When to see a doctor<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A more serious reaction to vaccines is rare and isn\u2019t always cause to not receive any more vaccinations in the future. For the most part, reactions are mild and go away in a few days. But there are some instances where you should contact your healthcare provider for medical advice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some serious vaccine side effects include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Shoulder pain:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This occurs when you receive the shot <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6707642\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">too high on your upper arm<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This can cause pain that starts within 48 hours along with difficulty moving your shoulder around. It lasts longer than the normal timeline for injection site reaction for that vaccine and taking pain medication doesn\u2019t relieve the pain.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Infection:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It\u2019s rare, but receiving a shot punctures your skin, and does put you at a very small chance of the area becoming infected, causing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jwatch.org\/na54228\/2021\/11\/04\/vaccination-associated-injection-site-infections-before\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pain, redness, and injection site nodules<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If this occurs, it\u2019s likely you would need to be treated with antibiotics.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Anaphylaxis:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The risk of a serious allergic reaction is about <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6602527\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1.31 for every million<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> vaccine doses. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include swelling of the face, lips, and neck along with rapid heartbeat, and trouble breathing. It usually happens <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/article\/000005.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">immediately after<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and in lesser cases, several hours post-vaccination. Very few people will have an anaphylactic reaction after 24 hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arm pain is inconvenient, but it should go away after a day or two. If you\u2019re still having arm pain weeks after vaccination, or have concerns, call your healthcare provider who can determine whether you need medical attention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although getting a vaccination isn\u2019t usually comfortable, it\u2019s important to know that arm soreness is normal and usually goes away within a few days. If you have any questions and concerns about vaccines and their side effects, talk with your healthcare provider to get the best medical advice for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>No one enjoys getting a vaccination: the needle poke, the sting of the medication, the resulting soreness for the next few days. Of course, most people know that immunizations help protect against illnesses and diseases and are necessary for our health. In other words, they\u2019re worth a little discomfort.\u00a0 You may be wondering why your [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":53409,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8029],"tags":[14636,8905,3381],"coauthors":[20620],"class_list":["post-40003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-education","tag-coronavirus","tag-seasonal","tag-vaccines","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why does my arm hurt after a shot?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sore arm after a vaccine? It\u2019s normal! 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