When you get vaccinated, what happens to your body?

In a nutshell, vaccines are safe and effective, and they keep us healthy and thriving.

So how do vaccines work, anyway?

doctor vaccinating patient

How do they prevent disease and protect our immune systems?

And is there any reason to worry when you get these shots?

Read on to learn all about what happens to your body when you’re vaccinated.

Woman giving a thumbs up

But whatspecificallyis happening to your body in the hours after you get a shot?

But there’s actually more to it than that, according toDr.

Jay Woody, CMO of Intuitive Health.

A family together on a couch

“Vaccines don’t just protect you,” he explained toThe List.

“They protect everyone around you as well.”

The mechanism at work here is called herd immunity, as noted by theMayo Clinic.

A tired woman yawning

Additionally, if you have big plans, you might not want to get vaccinated right before them.

Chun Tangshared withThe List.

“This is completely normal.”

A DNA double helix

Rather, get immunized when you’ll have time to take it easy, according to Tang.

But that line of thinking is especially dangerous, says board-certified physicianDr.

That’s the case with diseases likeCOVID-19,influenza, andmeasles, to name just a few.

A woman blowing her nose

But that’s just not the case, according to Olulade.

“It does not alter your DNA,” she continued.

It’s better to be safe than sorry, right?

A woman with a sore arm

Or perhaps you’re about to head off on a kayaking or canoeing trip?

But why, exactly, is that the case?

What’s happening inside your body to trigger such a reaction?

Woman struggling with a headache

And that can definitely put a damper on your rowing plans.

But since it’s possible, it can’t hurt to plan around it.

“It just means that your body responded the way it’s supposed to.”

A pregnant woman getting vaccinated

Fortunately, the headache will eventually go away, so any discomfort is temporary.

For the curious,here are the potential side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.

In addition to a sore arm and a possible headache,Dr.

A woman taking her temperature

Jenna Liphart Rhoads, a registered nurse, says there are other possible things that can occur post-vaccine.

However, if you find yourself contending with one more of these conditions, don’t freak out.

Why do you feel ill after getting vaccinated?

A senior couple snorkling

One of the most common misconceptions about vaccines is that they can make you sick in and of themselves.

So no, getting the flu shot won’t give you the flu.

So why on earth do some people feel sick after they receive a vaccination?

Doctor preparing to inject a patient

After all, doesn’t the idea of jet-setting around the world in retirement sound pretty great?

“In 1900, life expectancy in the United States was47.3 years.

“We have the availability of vaccinations to thank,” he added.

A healthcare worker smiling

Jay Woody, CMO of Intuitive Health.

“Some patients have a reaction to the components in the vaccine,” he shared withThe List.

That’s just another reason thatherd immunityis so important!

Woman suffering from facial paralysis

Fortunately, she was treated with epinephrine and steroids, and was released a few days later.

The second had a less severe reaction, and was treated and released within the hour.

To that end, if you know you have vaccine-related allergies, talk to your doctor about your options.

Doctor having a virtual chat

Additionally, here’swhat you should know about the COVID-19 vaccine if you have allergies.

Naturally, it was an emotional moment for her.

“It feels surreal,” she confessed in an interview withThe New York Times.

“It is a huge sense of relief for me, and hope.”

Given all that healthcare workers in New York went through in 2020, it’s a completely understandable reaction.

Oh, and it means you won’t get sick, too!

Can you get facial paralysis after getting vaccinated?