Does paracetamol reduce vaccination efficiency?

[Rufus27]

DP had his vaccination yesterday and has since felt rough - chills, aches, headache etc. A neighbour, who’s a nurse practitioner, has told him to try not to take paracetamol as it will reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine. Does anyone know if this is true? Surely, if it were true, it would be far more widely known? His view is that, as she’s a nurse, it must be right. I’m not convinced. Does anyone know for sure?

This isn’t true , my friend had hers yesterday and was advised to take paracetamol just before the jab so the side effects wouldn’t be that bad . She didn’t though

She’s wrong. Hope your DP feels ok.

Poppycock! You’re advised to actually take paracetamol.

Official advice is to take paracetamol if you feel you need it if the vaccine side effects are making you feel rough. Your DP's neighbour is talking out their ringpiece.

Yep had mine earlier. Told to take paracetamol by the 2 nurses doing vaccinations.
That's awful that she is saying not to.

This is so untrue it’s ridiculous. Why on earth would a nurse tell you that?!

Arguably, a fever is your immune system doing their thing do you don’t need to do anything about it. But taking a paracetamol to reduce fever doesn’t make your immune system stop working or reduce in efficiency!

For example, when a baby gets their newborn immunisations, you are told they must have calpol every 4-6 hours for up to 24 hours after them to reduce any fever they may get..

So same principle with adults!

Thank you! Not only do I love it when I’m right, but I also hate seeing DP look as bloody awful as he does tonight - he’s seen this and agreed to take Paracetamol!

It’s not true, but people definitely believe it.

There is a theory that treating a fever reduces the body's response. Dr John Campbell m.youtube.com/watch?v=171J_hC83XU.
He posted more recently about vaccine and paracetamol.

I was also told by the nurse administering the vaccine to take paracetamol if needed on both occasions. As far as I'm aware from research there is nothing to suggest that taking it would reduce the effectiveness of the covid vaccine.

This is quite correct.

NOBODY should be taking ANYTHING prior to vaccination that is not ESSENTIAL.

www.rivm.nl/en/news/paracetamol-taken-to-prevent-side-effects-lowers-response-to-vaccination#:~:text=If%20paracetamol%20was%20taken%20before,the%20body's%20natural%20defence%20system.

You can take paracetemol to combat side effects from the vaccination without consequence, but don't have any in your system when you have the vax!

Maybe you show your friend page 7 of public health England vaccine leaflet here (or one covering your area) and ask her what sources she is using for claim that paracetamol should not be used.

Although feeling feverish is not uncommon for two to three days, a high temperature
is unusual and may indicate you have COVID-19 or another infection. You can rest
and take the normal dose of paracetamol (follow the advice
in the packaging) to help you feel better.

@Bedforme

Maybe you show your friend page 7 of public health England vaccine leaflet here (or one covering your area) and ask her what sources she is using for claim that paracetamol should not be used.

Although feeling feverish is not uncommon for two to three days, a high temperature
is unusual and may indicate you have COVID-19 or another infection. You can rest
and take the normal dose of paracetamol (follow the advice
in the packaging) to help you feel better.

Straw-man - the nurse said don't take paracetemol BEFORE THE VACCINE.

The leaflet you cite says you can take it to relieve side effects AFTER the vaccine.

NOBODY should be taking ANYTHING prior to vaccination that is not ESSENTIAL.

I’m not sure you’ve read the OP properly.

@PuppyMonkey

NOBODY should be taking ANYTHING prior to vaccination that is not ESSENTIAL.

I’m not sure you’ve read the OP properly.

"This isn’t true , my friend had hers yesterday and was advised to take paracetamol just before the jab so the side effects wouldn’t be that bad . She didn’t though"

THAT's what I'm responding to - it's wrong, potentially harmful advice.

there is not conclusive proof. There are contradictory studies about other vaccines previously and no study about the Covid vaccine.

I don't think there are any studies that have shown it to improve the immune response so, on that basis, I'd not bother with them.

People are being advised to take them I think because the authorities want the least negative publicity possible and as a lot of people are scared of pain and fever they'd rather they suppressed it quickly.

The AZ leaflet i received today says to take paracetamol for side effects if needed, which is common vaccine advice so unless the nurse practitioner friend can cite something pretty compelling go with the paracetamol!

I was advised to take it afterwards and did because I needed it.

I despair

@mummabubs

Both occasions, now you are just bragging.

No, it's the same as giving babies paracetamol after their injections.

NOBODY should be taking ANYTHING prior to vaccination that is not ESSENTIAL.

What do you class as essential? I have a headache, period pain etc. before the jab I'll be taking paracetamol as it will be essential!

I suspect that what she was referring to is that pyrexia, ie fever, is the body's way of fighting infection or mounting an immune response, so suppressing temperature could be considered counter productive. As someone else pointed out Dr John Campbell explains this in some of his videos. Taking paracetamol for headache would be OK, though.

@notrub

Sorry I was referring to the OP and should have said neighbour not friend.

@unchienandalusia

I despair

Me too.