Coronavirus vaccination: what you need to know about unwanted effects

There is fierce debate surrounding coronavirus vaccinations. Opponents say that it leads to infertility and other irreversible health changes. Let's figure out how things really are.

After an illness, a natural but short-term immunity to the virus is formed, but at the same time there is a risk of having a serious infection again, getting complications and infecting loved ones.

The vaccine is a safer way to protect yourself from COVID-19. Vaccination forms more stable immunity to the virus, reduces the risks of severe disease and the spread of infection from person to person.

Sputnik V is a vector vaccine. For precise delivery of the virus, another virus from the adenovirus family is used as transport. Their genome has been well studied, and the methodology for developing vaccines based on it has long been developed. With the help of genetic engineering, the adenovirus is deprived of the ability to reproduce, and part of the coronavirus is integrated into it. Once in the body, this part is recognized and remembered by the immune system. This allows you to get protection without infection and risks of coronavirus infection. But this method has one drawback.

If a person has already had an adenovirus, then when they encounter it, the immune system can immediately destroy it, and the vaccine will not work. To prevent this from happening, the developers of GamCovidVac (another name for Sputnik V) used two types of adenovirus. First, a vaccine based on the rarer type 26 adenovirus is administered; the second time, another member of the family is used. This method not only increases the effectiveness of vaccination, but also increases the duration of the body's immune defense.

Why do adverse events occur after coronavirus vaccination?

The vaccine familiarizes the immune system with the virus, and an immune response is launched in response to foreign interference.

A local reaction occurs - in response to damage to the skin and the introduction of the vaccine, cells of the first line of defense rush there. They must prevent the spread of infection that has been able to overcome the skin barrier. This is manifested by swelling and redness at the injection site.

The vaccine then enters the bloodstream. This forces the immune system to react to a possible threat and triggers defense mechanisms. Antibodies are produced to remember and destroy the invading virus. In addition, the body seeks to weaken the enemy and prevent the virus from multiplying quickly while the antibodies look for a way to destroy the enemy. One way is to heat the body, since many viruses cannot tolerate high ambient temperatures.

All together this can cause a typical reaction: fever, muscle weakness, headache. How severe the adverse events will be depends not so much on the vaccine, but on the individual characteristics of the body. After all, one person tolerates the same infection calmly, while another with a temperature of under forty. Most patients do not experience any reactions after vaccination.

Prevention of intercostal neuralgia

The main measures to prevent the disease are:

• avoiding hypothermia;
• weight control;
• avoiding spinal injuries;
• timely treatment of somatic and nervous diseases, as well as pathologies of the musculoskeletal system;
• regular sanitation of foci of chronic infection in the body;
• physical education, walks in the fresh air;
• proper nutrition, avoiding junk food, introducing fresh fruits and vegetables into the diet;
• proper organization of the workplace;
• undergoing preventive massage courses using warming ointments that improve lymph flow and blood flow, improving metabolic processes in the body.

What adverse events can the Sputnik V vaccine cause (GamCovidVac)

15-20% of vaccinated people experience a flu-like syndrome (headache or muscle pain, malaise) or pain at the injection site. Serious adverse events following GamCovidVac vaccination are rare. 0.001% had a severe anaphylactic reaction. This is one person per hundred thousand vaccinated.

Vaccination has been going on at GMS Clinic since January 2021; more than 5 thousand people have been vaccinated; adverse events were observed in less than 15%. More often observed: rise in body temperature, pain at the injection site, rise in blood pressure. Most of these events were not considered serious, so patients were able to successfully receive the second component of the vaccine. Once I had a severe allergic reaction. This patient was not given the second component. The symptoms went away safely, but for further vaccination this patient will most likely be recommended a different drug.

Adverse reactions usually subside within three days after vaccination. Their intensity and duration depend on various factors and indicate the reaction of the immune system. Common and harmless adverse events include:

• temperature (if it does not cause discomfort, you don’t have to take anything);
• muscle pain;
• weakness;
• headache;
• local reaction: redness and swelling at the injection site.

Adverse events such as increased body temperature or local manifestations at the injection site usually disappear after a maximum of three days. If side effects are very bothersome, you can take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. You can apply a cool compress to the injection site.

Any medicine, including vaccines, can cause allergic reactions. Not a single manufacturer, unless he is a charlatan, will forget to indicate the possibility of an allergic reaction in the instructions for use of the drug. Also, any food product, any molecule heavier than salt, can cause an allergic reaction. If you suspect an allergy, you should consult a doctor.

Methods for diagnosing and treating neuralgia

The basis for making a diagnosis is the data from a survey and examination of the patient, as well as the exclusion of other possible causes of pain attacks. As a rule, laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods are used - blood and urine tests, computed tomography, MRI.

Treatment of neuralgia is complex and is aimed at relieving pain symptoms and stimulating the body's natural defenses. Modern analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, injections of B vitamins, physiotherapy, and acupuncture are widely used. In some cases, psychotherapy and the use of homeopathic medicines provide a good therapeutic effect.

If there is an underlying disease that caused neuralgia, efforts should be directed toward its treatment. The sooner therapy is started, the sooner a person’s ability to work and quality of life will be restored. If you do not contact a neurologist in a timely manner, the process can progress and lead to the appearance of signs of organic damage to nerve fibers. During the therapy period, the patient needs complete rest and bed rest.

Undesirable effects of other Russian vaccines

"CoviVac"

This is an inactivated vaccine. That is, a killed coronavirus is delivered to the body. This is an old and proven technology, many vaccines against viral diseases have been made using it: polio, influenza and others. Dead viruses cannot cause disease, but their entry is enough for the body to learn to recognize them. As a result, when a live virus enters from an infected person, a strong immune response is formed immediately.

To enhance the immune response, aluminum hydroxide was added to CoviVac. One dose contains up to 0.5 mg. This dose is much less than permissible.

The instructions for the drug say that the vaccine can rarely cause headaches and short-term fever. Pain and hardness at the injection site are more common.

"EpiVacCorona"

This vaccine differs from Sputnik V and CoviVac in that it is not created using viruses. It is not killed or neutralized virus particles that are introduced into the body, but artificially created proteins. Using them, the immune system is trained to recognize real viruses. This method of creation reduces the reactogenicity of the vaccine, so it is recommended for vaccination in elderly or weakened people.

In a publication in the Russian journal Infection and Immunity, the vaccine developers claim that the only adverse events were mild pain at the injection site. And the CoviVac vaccine does not cause headaches, muscle weakness and other common symptoms.

Causes of neuralgia

Pinched nerves
For example, with widespread osteochondrosis.
This can cause thoracic and intercostal neuralgia. The neurologist at the Bone Clinic prescribes a treatment program aimed not only at relieving pain and swelling, but also at treating the underlying disease that led to neuralgia (osteochondrosis). Hypothermia, infection or injury
is most often the cause of trigeminal neuralgia

In addition, neuralgia can be a consequence of impaired nutrition (blood supply) of the nerves that occurs due to ischemic disease or atherosclerosis

Which vaccine dose is more difficult to tolerate?

Sputnik is a two-stage vaccine. The first injection of the vaccine causes an unstable immune reaction, and the second dose consolidates the result. This method of administration increases the effectiveness of the vaccine and the duration of the body's protection. The interval between vaccines should be 21 days or slightly more. A deviation of several days (in one direction or another) does not pose a danger.

It is believed that younger and healthier patients respond more strongly to the vaccine, but there is no official data. Adverse effects the second time may be stronger than after the first dose, or they may be weaker. This is a normal reaction and may be associated with another type of adenovirus.

Typically, older people tolerate vaccination better than younger people. The risk of such an undesirable phenomenon as elevated body temperature decreases significantly with age.

When to see a doctor

After vaccination, it is better to wait half an hour rather than leave immediately. This is necessary to make sure there is no allergic reaction. If it becomes difficult to breathe, there is a feeling of a strong heartbeat, tinnitus, rash, dizziness, or swelling of the face begins, you need to contact the vaccination center for medical help.

You should also consult a doctor if after vaccination:

• headache, weakness or fever does not go away within three to four days;
• high fever is not brought down by medications;
• Redness and thickening at the injection site increases on the second or third day.

The most common types of neuralgia are:

Intercostal neuralgia
Intercostal neuralgia is compression and pinching (and sometimes irritation) of nerves and nerve ganglia that are located in the intercostal area.

Symptoms of intercostal neuralgia: pain is constant or paroxysmal, and can be shingles.
Pain is usually felt only in one half of the chest (in the intercostal spaces). Sometimes patients complain of impaired sensitivity, tension in the back muscles, pain increases with coughing, deep breathing, body movements and physical activity, as well as with palpation of the sore area. Trigeminal neuralgia
Typical trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by pain on one side of the face, which manifests itself as an attack. The pain is severe in intensity, stabbing in nature, and lasts for several seconds.

As a rule, pain is triggered by something. Thus, it can occur when hypothermia, overheating, chewing, articulation or touching the corresponding part of the face.

The trigeminal nerve is divided into three branches:

• optic branch: responsible for the sensitivity of the forehead and eyelids
• maxillary branch: responsible for the sensitivity of the area from the eyes to the upper lip
• mandibular branch: responsible for the lower lip and the area from the lower jaw to the neck

Neuralgia of the occipital nerve
Neuralgia of the occipital nerve is accompanied by pain in the head area of ​​a shooting nature.
The pain syndrome occurs due to a pinched nerve. As neuralgia progresses, the roots of the cervical spine (from which the occipital nerves are formed) can be affected - the pain becomes constant, and any, even the slightest movements of the head during an attack can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sometimes fainting. Pain can also radiate (spread) to the temple, forehead, and eyes. Neuralgia of the external cutaneous nerve of the thigh
The disease develops gradually and is characterized by unilateral damage. Patients complain of a feeling of tingling, numbness, and burning, which first occurs in certain areas of the thigh. Over time they become permanent. The pain appears over several months. Sensitivity along the anterior outer surface of the thigh is impaired. The pain is caused by compression of the fibers of the external cutaneous nerve of the thigh under the inguinal ligament. Some researchers consider such neuralgia to be a manifestation of osteochondrosis.

Why fill out a vaccination diary at State Services?

You can register possible adverse events on the government services website. This is necessary in order to collect as many statistics as possible and draw broader conclusions about the safety of the vaccine. This is especially important if the administration of the vaccine in a particular case is accompanied by serious adverse reactions.

In most cases, adverse events from vaccination go away within a short time without harm, unlike coronavirus infection. So far, there have been no serious complications or deaths reliably linked to Sputnik V or other Russian vaccines.

Where can I buy

These recommendations will help overcome the consequences of exacerbation of intercostal neuralgia. All drugs and their individual components can be purchased at Russian Roots herbal pharmacies for people who live in Moscow or nearby areas of the Moscow Region.

You don’t have to drive around the city, but place an order in the Russian Roots online store. The courier delivers the necessary remedy for the disease quickly. Residents of remote regions suffering from this neuralgic disease will receive healing compounds by mail.

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Myths about COVID-19 vaccination

Adverse events are normal possible consequences of receiving any vaccine. But in addition to the usual and carefully studied effects, there is an opinion that Sputnik V may cause unexpected long-term consequences:

Myth #1: Vaccines cause infertility.

None of the known vaccines affects the reproductive function of men or women. The issue of safety for offspring remains one of the most important for developers of medicines, including vaccines. This is considered a serious adverse event. Therefore, if there is minimal doubt, the drug will not pass phase 1 of clinical trials on laboratory animals. In this case, further development will be stopped. Vaccines that have passed the second and third phases are guaranteed to be safe for future parents.

There is no evidence that any vaccine causes fertility problems. But how a pregnant woman’s body will react to a coronavirus infection is a big question.

Myth #2: Vaccines affect DNA

None of the vaccines registered today are capable of integrating into DNA. Vaccines do not penetrate the cell nucleus, where the DNA is located. Therefore she is safe. The origin of this myth is unknown to science.

Myth No. 3: You can get infected with coronavirus from the vaccine and get a positive PCR test

The vaccine does not cause active disease, but stimulates specific immunity in other ways. PCR after vaccination will be positive only if you become infected before vaccination. The sooner you get vaccinated, the faster specific immunity will form. The only risk I see is a short-term increase in body temperature. It can be detected, for example, at the airport and prevent departure. Therefore, ideally, you should get vaccinated two to three days before your flight.

Myth No. 4: You can’t get vaccinated if you have chronic diseases.

In this case, it is better to consult with your doctor before vaccination. If a chronic disease worsens, vaccination may need to be postponed. Or perhaps not. But chronic diseases themselves are not contraindications. On the contrary, they greatly increase the risk of severe coronavirus infection. In this case, it is safer to get vaccinated and protect the weakened body.

Folk remedies for neuralgia

Intercostal neuralgia is a painful disease associated with compression of the nerves located between the ribs . Usually the pain subsides only after using proven folk remedies - ointments, rubbing, baths, medicinal drinks. These pain medications help calm the intercostal nerve endings, relax the intercostal muscles, and relieve inflammation. With a long course of treatment, a person forgets about the symptoms of this disease.

At any of the Russian Roots herbal pharmacies, you can consult with a specialist about the treatment of this disease with folk remedies. Those drugs of natural origin are selected that should help the patient in his particular case.

Treatment of intercostal neuralgia using baths

Only warm water is poured in; if necessary, it is periodically brought to the desired state. The room maintains a comfortable temperature. A sudden penetration of cold air currents or the presence of stable drafts will only worsen your well-being.

The duration of the procedure is up to half an hour . After taking a bath, the patient should lie down in bed, apply heated sand or salt sewn into tight bags to the affected area, and cover with a blanket.

It is advisable to add tinctures or oil preparations used in folk medicine to warm water. You should also pay attention to other recommendations.

1. 4 tbsp. l. sage, pour a glass of boiling water. The product is infused for 1 hour, filtered, and poured into the bath. The same volume of sea salt is added. Baths are taken before bed for 10 minutes, no longer.
2. Branches with buds, poplar and aspen leaves are mixed in an amount of half a kilogram. The mixture is poured with boiling water, infused, filtered, and added to the bath. The water temperature in the bath is approximately 40 °C. After completing the 15-minute procedure, additional fir oil is rubbed into the sore spot.

Baths are taken every other day. There is no need to rinse after each use, just wipe dry.

Tinctures for oral use for intercostal neuralgia

Some tinctures with alcohol and water are used both for rubbing and for oral administration.

1. Mummies at the same time:
   taken orally 15-20 g;
2. The alcohol solution is rubbed into the affected areas for 5 minutes.
3. Willow bark in a volume of 1 teaspoon is diluted with boiling water and the mixture is allowed to brew for half an hour. The medicine is taken 3-4 times daily.
4. A decoction is prepared from aspen bark. Consuming this medicine relieves muscles from tension and pain.
5. Chamomile is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. For neuralgia, an infusion of this plant is prepared. Flowers used - 70 g. The specified mass is poured with a glass of boiling water and continues to boil for 5-7 minutes. The tincture is cooled and filtered. Take this folk remedy 3-4 times a day, each time after meals.
6. Immortelle inflorescences (2 tablespoons) are poured with boiling water (half a liter) and left in a thermos for a day. The prepared volume should be drunk during the day.

Methods for treating intercostal neuralgia with compresses

For compresses they most often take:

1. Honey, which is applied to the body, first ground with vegetable oil. The top is covered with a film of polyethylene and woolen cloth.
2. A compress of 0.5 liters of vodka and 50-70 g of birch buds will have a warming and analgesic effect. This compress should be applied for no more than half an hour.
3. The same effect has 200 g of alcohol with rue herb, brought to a powdery state in an amount of 2 tbsp. spoons
4. Steamed flax seeds are a good help for pain relief.
5. A flatbread consisting of onion juice, steamed honey and beeswax. It relieves pain very well and has a calming effect.

All kinds of rubs and ointments help very well. After applying them, the patient should wrap the sore spot with a warm scarf or handkerchief, then lie down under a blanket.

1. Ointments based on snake or bee venoms have been used by healers in almost all countries and at all times. First, they are rubbed into the affected area, after which the sore spot is insulated with a woolen scarf.
2. An ancient method of treating neuralgia is a mixture of lard melted in water with lilac leaves and buds ground into powder, and the lard should be four times less than lilac. The resulting mixture is rubbed into sore spots.
3. Use of burdock. A freshly cut leaf is applied to the chest with the inner side. The painful area of ​​the body is wrapped in a woolen scarf. In this state, the patient should sleep until the morning.
4. A mixture of juices is rubbed into the painful area of ​​the body:
   radishes;
5. horseradish.
6. Pepper patch is applied to the affected area. Before applying it, the skin is wiped with alcohol;
7. Arnica is used. An alcohol solution is prepared and rubbed onto the affected area.
8. A mixture is rubbed into the sore spot, which includes:
   Vaseline (2 parts);
9. turpentine (1 part).
10. A saline solution is being prepared. For half a liter of water use 2 tbsp. l. table salt. The water must be hot. A cloth is soaked in it and applied to the painful area. This place on the body is covered with a warm scarf. The procedure lasts 2-3 hours.

It is advisable for the patient to sleep only on a hard mattress. Then the body, located in a comfortable position all night, will not tense up, the blood vessels will not contract, and the muscles will not compress the nerves.