As the vaccine roll-out continues in Liberia, social media are filled with controversies on pain relievers before and after the Covid-19 shot.
There have been viral messages taking pain killers like Tylenol, Diclofenac and others after or before receiving the Covid-19 vaccine can be harmful and can lead to death.
The COVID-19 vaccine-related claims have engrossed many reactions. The STAGE MEDIA contacted medical experts to verify the confirmation.
The WhatsApp message claim that Dr. Hari Harini allegedly died when her husband who is a doctor injected her with a dose of Diclofenac after she earlier received the COVID-19 vaccine.
The claim went viral and resulted in multiple shares on WhatsApp.
Many fact-checking outlets have verified the claim, though the doctor’s died; the factor of pain- reliever was not the basis of her death.
The Centre for Disease Control guidelines Interim Clinical Considerations for use of COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Authorized in the United States recommended that “It is not recommended you take these medicines (pain killers) before vaccination for the purpose of trying to prevent side effects.
CDC is recommended that “Talk to your doctor about taking over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin, or antihistamines, for any pain and discomfort you may experience after getting vaccinated. You can take these medications to relieve post-vaccination side effects if you have no other medical reasons that prevent you from taking these medications normally.”
Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, Biomedical Scientist Infectious Diseases said Diclofenac is a member of the painkiller class called the “Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAID).”
He said Researchers at Yale University have found that the NSAIDs may hamper the body’s immunologic ability to fight COVID-19. Hence, it is not advisable to take diclofenac or other NSAIDs to treat pain caused by COVID-19 infection or COVID-19 vaccine. Instead, we suggest taking a painkiller like “Acetaminophen” for pain.”
Dr. Nyan said Diclofenac and other NSAIDs are also not recommended for treating body temperature (fever) caused by COVID-19 infection or after taking COVID-19 vaccination.
Also, the Journal of Virology study on whether to take pain relievers after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine also found that “nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which include painkillers like ibuprofen reduced the production of antibodies and other aspects of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2.”
The study says NSAIDs could also regulate the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in multiple ways that ameliorate or exacerbate COVID-19.
“While mounting an immune response is necessary for clearing SARS-CoV-2 infection and establishing immunological memory to combat reinfection, it has also been appreciated that hyperinflammatory responses underlie the pathology of severe COVID-19.
“Studies using immunomodulatory agents to treat COVID-19 suggest that immunostimulant is helpful early in the disease course, whereas immunosuppression may be more beneficial later. For example, dexamethasone treatment decreases mortality in COVID-19 patients on respiratory support but is potentially harmful to those with milder disease, suggesting that late-stage disease is mediated by hyper inflammation and therefore benefits from immunosuppression.”
Fact Check: Research shows that taking pain relievers after the COVID-19 vaccine is risky, especially without a doctor’s prescription.
The claim that the late doctor did not die of Covid-19 as stated in the WhatsApp message.
Meanwhile, experts have advised against the use of pain reliever before and after the Covid- vaccine shot.
