Tylenol and Ibuprofen: Before or After COVID-19 Vaccine?

COVID-19 vaccine distribution is underway in the United States. You might feel fine and experience no side effects after the vaccine, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it’s possible to experience minor flu-like symptoms. The CDC says you should avoid taking an over-the-counter pain-relieving medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen before you get the vaccine. It is unclear at this point how these medications will impact the vaccine’s ability to create important COVID-fighting antibodies. Thomas A. Russo, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, notes that data doesn’t definitively say taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen after getting vaccinated will interfere with the vaccine’s effectiveness.