The biggest hurdle could be convincing a vaccine-weary American public to get their flu shot this year.
Myth: Taking over-the-counter pain meds after the flu shot reduces its effectiveness
There are two areas for debate here. Some people take over-the-counter pain meds like ibuprofen or acetaminophen for a weekpost-shot pain or other side effects. Does this work? Probably not. These OTC meds are short-acting . Plus there are side effects from taking frequent daily dosing of ibuprofen like stomach irritation or bleeding that don't make this a good idea.
An oft-cited 2009 study that gained notoriety warned that ibuprofen , which work by blocking the cox-2 enzyme involved in pain, should be avoided after vaccination. The researches hypothesized that since cox-2 is necessary for the production of memory B cells, which make antibodies that protect against the flu, taking ibuprofen could potentially reduce the immune system's response to the vaccine.
Although the evidence is mixed, my recommendation would be to try to soldier thru the post-vaccination discomfort. It's usually short-lived; 24-48 hours at most. If you're concerned about an over-the-counter medication reducing your vaccine effectiveness, opt for ice packs or an Epsom salt bath instead. And if you must take a pill, choose acetaminophen instead of ibuprofen.
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