Why would it matter?

I have no idea! I'm weird about medical stuff and just wondered!

This is something I have wondered about because one time I was asked which arm I had been given a shot in and the nurse deliberately gave me the shot in the other arm. If when I am able to have the shots I think I will try to have one in each arm.

When I have an injection I use my non dominate arm.

I usually have it in my non dominant arm, but a nurse friend told me that if you have it in your dominant arm, you use it more and moving it around seems to help with muscle pain where the injection is given.

I have mine in my left because I sleep on my right.

I prefer to have shots in my dominant arm. Had one in the other once and was miserable. I'd given into the nurses argument. Never again. But I am someone who believes in moving what hurts. It was easier to continue to use my dominant arm rather than to have to make a conscious effort to exercise my other one.

But no, the effectiveness of a vaccine doesn't care which arm.

I can only have injections and bloodwork/IV's in my right arm. Lymphedema in my left arm secondary to breast cancer surgery is aggravated by any of those procedures. I wear a medical alert bracelet because of it.

seagrass

Same for me as what function said but it's non-dominant, not non-dominate.

I think people often choose arms they use less and or don't sleep on. I can't imagine that with a two shot sequence it would matter. It's your body receiving the vaccine, not just your arm.

Always use my dominate arm, because it's moved more during the daytime and I sleep a lot on my other arm.

I get allergy shots every month and I have them switch arms each time.

Now with the COVID vaccine I think I will have the second shot in my right arm again.
That is the arm that it is easier for me to keep ice on it all night.

I got my allergy shot today and I know I will be up most of the night with the itching. I do have a med for itching, but it causes dry mouth. Anyways, it will be a rough night tonight and tomorrow night.

here, they are telling people if they sleep on their side, get it in the opposite side on which you lie.

I had mine in the same arm

I haven,t had my second yet, but plan to have it in left arm again..just because

I am right-handed and worry that the second shot may cause soreness when

using that arm.

I can only sleep on my right side so injections always go in the left. The vein on the inside of my left elbow usually rolls when having blood work done so I always use my right arm for that. I hate having blood taken from the back of my hands!

I had both shots in my dominant arm. Had the first shot late in the day, and the next day did hours of pick and shovel work. It didn't make a difference as far a pain. The second shot was different, it was the most painful of all the shots I've ever taken. I slept fitfully the night I took the shot, every time I moved the pain woke me. In the morning I took acetaminophen for the pain and a couple hours later I felt like I was run over by a truck in an ice cream freezer. This lasted til late afternoon, when the symptoms disappeared as fast as they appeared. The pain at the injection site, which lasted 3 days the first time, is almost gone after two. I'm not complaining, I'd do it again...

"Dominant arm" is only used more if you are what: writing/pitching/throwing...I would say most of the time my right arm is very much doing what my left arm is. They sort of work in tandem....I presented my nurse with the arm closest to her. Will repeat that for shot #2. NO way to know today how we will be seated.

KennsWoods, I did not need to hear that about the second shot, and I hope yours was an anomaly.

I was also told not to take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain, as that can interfere with the vaccine working properly.

My dominant arm is the one I reach with. That prevents the injection site freezing up. My dominant arm stirs the pot, hold the knife, reaches for items, washes me in the shower, turns things on and off, combs my hair, brushes my teeth, takes care of personal bathroom hygiene. It loads and unloads the dish washer and measures out the detergent, pours the juice, turns on the faucet, holds the broom, pets the dog, grooms the horse, reaches for dropped items etc. etc. etc. Unless one is ambidextrous the dominant arm is called that for good reason.

When my kids were little and getting all their vaccines I took them swimming afterwards if possible. If it was too cold I would have them play in the tub. The more you move the faster the pain will leave and it will hurt less all along. Baby the area and you may add days to the discomfort.

""Dominant arm" is only used more if you are what: writing/pitching/throwing...I would say most of the time my right arm is very much doing what my left arm is. They sort of work in tandem....I presented my nurse with the arm closest to her. Will repeat that for shot #2. NO way to know today how we will be seated."

I'm very right handed and do little or nothing with my left. it's usually just resting. I think that's true of most people, they don't typically work in tandem.

As to which side is accessible for an injection, a left-handed friend drove himself to a large mega-site vaccine operation taking place in a parking lot. He wanted the shot in his right arm and the person administering the shot said "no problem, slide your seat back, twist your body, and I'll be able to do that". If that can be done with a person confined in a car seat, any other situation (including in a room) can be easily accommodated.

I would prefer my dominant arm, a muscle used will heel faster and not be as sore in the long run. May hurt a day or two.

When I was waiting for my shot I saw a person turn the chair around so that they could receive the shot in the opposite arm from the way others were receiving it.

Lars, my son and DIL work in one of the largest hospital systems in FL. They've both received their two shots in Jan, both received Pfizer. I've got both also, but Moderna. This is what my son told me: NO ibuprofen, use acetaminophen. There is some evidence that the booster of M produces more side effects than P, but both are mild and short-lived. Anecdotally those I know who've received P have few to no side effects, those with M have side effects of varying degrees similar to what I had.

I've been reading the same thing that Lars mentioned. To not take ibuprofen 24 hrs prior & 36 hrs post injection. I did take 2 naproxen (another NSAID) the night before getting the injection--before I read not to.

From UCI Healths: In general, pre-medicating with over-the-counter medications that reduce fever or inflammation such as acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) and ibuprofen (e.g. Motrin, Advil) before receiving a vaccine may reduce its ability to work and can blunt your immune response to the vaccine.

More bad news, since my first shot was Moderna. As Roseanne Roseannadanna would say, "Thanks a lot, Jane!"

More from my son. Two doses of Moderna confer 98% immunity. Both M and P appear to be good to go for the UK strain, but the South African strain may be problematic. Tweaking the existing vaccine and another booster may be in the offing.

Having said all of the above, it's a no-brainer for me to take any and all the recommended vaccines, practice masking, distancing, and personal hygiene until herd immunity is obtained.

I'm glad you brought this up, as I hadn't thought about it and therefore didn't realize that I do not want the shot in my right arm. I still have some radiculopathy in that arm from the nerve that was damaged from shingles in 2019, and I don't want to risk having it flare up. So it'll be left arm again for me.

I take ibuprofen for arthritis pain every day. I got the Moderna vaccine (first shot only) and they told me to take acetaminophen for pain if needed - I didn't need it. They did not say the ibuprofen was a problem; I figured maybe they recommended acetaminophen because sometimes there is a little fever?