Learn more about theCOVID-19 vaccineand MS, including side effects, effectiveness, and risks.
Younger children and adults over 65 may receive additional updated doses.
This is typically a sign that your body is working to buildimmunityagainst SARS-CoV-2.
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If your side effects are not going away, reach out to your healthcare provider.
Drinking extra fluids and dressing in cool clothes can help to relieve fever symptoms.
Talk to your healthcare provider if your side effects are persistent or start to get worse.
MS Flare-Ups
Some people with multiple sclerosis experienceMS relapsesafter getting certain vaccines.
Research suggests that MS symptom flare-ups are rare after the COVID-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile, only 3.3% of people with MS experienced a severe relapse after getting their third shot.
According to the National MS Society, the COVID-19 vaccine isnotlikely to trigger an MS flare-up.
For most people with MS, the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks.
DMTs typically work by reducing the bodys natural immune response and level of inflammation.
Because they are immunosuppressants,DMTscan increase your risk of infection.They can also make certain vaccines less effective.
However, the COVID-19 vaccine is not a live vaccine.
Instead, both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines aremessenger RNA(mRNA) vaccines.
They can help you decide how to time your vaccine doses safely and effectively.
Who Should Not Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine?
However, someMS medicationsmay reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine.
It can also heighten the bodys naturalinflammatory response.
Why Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Important?
Therefore, the CDC recommends that immunocompromised people receive extra doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
Research suggests that most people with MS experience only mild side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine.
It is especially important for people in these groups to get vaccinated.
The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for most people.
Serious side effects from the COVID vaccine (such as a severe allergic reaction) are extremely rare.
For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
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