Red, painful arm after vaccination

[Squaffle]

Anyone had this before? On Weds morning I had a pneumococcus vaccination, nurse said “this is a great vaccine, no side effects, you won’t even know you’ve had it”. By Weds eve I was feeling shivery but I had that after the covid vaccines and have also had a cold and cough this week so I just took it easy.

On Thurs my arm was extremely sore (had that after Covid vaccines too) and I noticed the red patch in the pic below starting to develop. Same yesterday and still red today but marginally less painful. I felt absolutely grim yesterday morning (sweaty and weak but no temp) but that might have been down to having a cold and not enough rest.

There’s no urgent care or walk in places near me and I’m looking after DD on my own this weekend as DH is away. So it’s GP or A&E (which I obvs won’t go to as neither accident or emergency). Is this concerning or am I ok to just wait it out?

I'd put something cold on it and take paracetamol/ibuprofein. And report it online if you have the time but doesn't look like anything I'd worry about.

I react like that to the flu and covid vaccines - feverish, headachy, bone aches etc but not so much the arm marks. Dose up well with paracetamol and ibuprofen, whack an ice pack or frozen peas in your arm and see how it reacts.

Maybe draw around the red mark and of its spreading over a period of time, it might need to be looked at in case of infection, but I'm willing to bet its a known side effect if you have the information sheet to check.

I react that way to any injection in the arm. Last time I had a booster (flu or covid? Can't remember) the nurse on hearing this advised me to take an antihistamine tablet immediately after and it did help.

Oh great, thanks all, that’s really reassuring. It’s never happened before so v good to know it’s nothing to worry about.

I had this after the covid vaccination. It was sore and extremely itchy. Took a few days to go.

Yes I did after my first covid vaccination. I was told to take antihistamines for it. It helped a bit. Mine was red, itchy and hot.

I had quite a reaction to the pneumococcus vaccination - more so than after flu or Covid vaccine

The nurse shouldn’t have said that, but it is a normal reaction. If you’re concerned that it’s spreading, draw a dotted line around the edge.

Keep an eye on your temp and ring 111 if temp elevated and the redness extends. I've known folk develop cellulitis after pneumococcus vacs, you'll probably be fine but like I say ring 111 if it worsens.