May 11, 2021 You’ve Booked Your COVID-19 Vaccine? Your Magic Bag Can Help You Manage Common Side Effects at Home!
After over a year of living in pandemic mode, we are all feeling COVID-fatigue and want to return to some form of normal. Let’s face it, we miss our families, friends, and even our colleagues. As such, Canadians from coast to coast have been eagerly booking their COVID-19 vaccine appointments. If you’ve already booked yours, read on and discover how Magic Bag can help soothe some of the common side effects.
Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign
Health Canada has approved four vaccines for use in Canada: Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna, AstraZeneca’s COVISHIELD, and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen. According to the Government of Canada these vaccines are safe and effective, and of high quality. Two of the four—Pfizer and Moderna—are mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccines. But what is an mRNA vaccine? In a nutshell, mRNA vaccines teach our cells how to make a protein that will trigger an immune response without using the live virus. These vaccines require two doses: the initial shot and a booster shot administered three weeks to four months later. On the other hand, the AstraZeneca and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines are single-dose viral vector vaccines. This means that they use a harmless virus (not the COVID-19 virus) to trigger an immune response in your body.
For all the restrictions and for more detailed information about the authorized vaccines, visit the Government of Canada’s website or talk to a health-care professional.
So, who can get vaccinated against COVID-19?
Each province’s vaccination campaign is moving at its own pace. For example, in Quebec, vaccination opened for people 45 years of age and older at the beginning of May. Every few days, the age of eligibility will drop. As of May 14, any person 18 years of age and older will be able to book an appointment. Furthermore, Health Canada has approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine for children as young as 12.
Magic Bag can help soothe common side effects!
It is normal to have temporary side effects after getting vaccinated. In fact, this is your body’s natural response and it shows you are building immunity. These side effects can last a few hours to a few days. Here are a few of the most common and some tips on how Magic Bag can help soothe them:
Redness, swelling, or soreness at the injection site
Apply a cold Magic Bag compress to relieve soreness in the arm.
Headache
Apply a cold Magic Bag to your forehead or temples to numb the pain. You can also apply a warm Magic Bag to the shoulders, or to the back of the neck or head for relief.
Muscles aches
A warm or hot Magic Bag can help soothe the aches.
Joint pain
A hot compress can help soothe joint stiffness, while a cold compress can help relieve acute pain.
Other common side effects may include fatigue, chills, and a mild fever. Just remember to drink plenty of fluids and to take it easy. While allergic reactions are very rare, if you develop serious symptoms after vaccinations call 911 immediately.
Remember: keep following health guidelines!
Following vaccinations, it takes three weeks to build a certain level of immunity, which is not 100%! As such, it is important to keep following public health guidelines. This includes social distancing, wearing a mask, washing your hands, and respecting all government restrictions. And remember if you develop symptoms such as fever, a dry cough, fatigue, loss of taste or smell without nasal congestion, or shortness of breath, go get tested for COVID-19.
It is important that we all continue to protect ourselves and each other. If you have any concerns or for more information, please talk to your health care provider.
