'Moderna arm' or 'COVID arm' is found to be one distinctive reaction, a delayed-onset rash appearing at the injection area up to one week or so after a shot is given.
Eat This, Not That! reported that this one Moderna COVID-19 vaccine side effect has raised some eyebrows although new research says it is harmless.
This newly observed occurrence comes along with other common COVID-19 vaccine side effects which are minor and similar to the ones reported with other vaccines such as soreness at the injection area, fever, and fatigue.
This, the same report specified, can grow quite large. It added, around 95 percent of cases are linked to the Moderna vaccine.
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A man receives a dose of the Moderna vaccine against the COVID-19
'Moderna Arm' Rash
The new study entitled, Cutaneous Reactions Reported after Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccination: A Registry-Based Study of 414 Cases and published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology showed that delayed skin reactions to the vaccine, which can take place from one to eight days from vaccination, are harmless.
'Moderna arm' rash most frequently occurs after the initial dose of the vaccine although it does not prevent people from completing their vaccine injections.
According to study author Dr. Esther Freeman, study author and director of global health dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital, people can experience full-body rashes, and that can be "surprising and a little scary," although these same people did extremely well, recovered from the rashes and were able to return and have their second dose of the vaccine.
People, she added, can feel guaranteed about their second dose despite the occurrence of 'Moderna arm' rash.
'Moderna Arm' Reaction
As indicated in the study, 'COVID arm' is different compared to a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine-like anaphylaxis, a possibly life-threatening swelling of the airway.
It usually takes place within few minutes of the injection which is the reason the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised the public to wait from 15 to 30 minutes from vaccination before leaving the injection area.
However, rashes that begin to appear later do not indicate a severe problem. For those whose rashes begin four or more hours from getting vaccinated, none of them went on to have anaphylaxis or any other severe reaction, explained Freeman.
According to this research, most people who had 'COVID arm' did not experience the same effect following their second shot. In people who did, it was generally less serious and it was resolved within just three to six days.
Freeman, principal investigator for the international COVID-19 Dermatology Registry said, people can have the reassurance about having their second jab of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
She also explained, even if one has quite an impressive rash after his vaccine, as long as it did not start within four hours of vaccination, he should feel comfortable getting his second dose of the vaccine.
As for the public, the expert's advice is for people to do everything they can to stop getting and spreading the virus and the first and most important things to do include wearing of face mask, getting tested if they think they have COVID-19, avoiding crowded places like house parties and bars, practicing social distancing, going out only on essential errands, frequent disinfecting and regular washing of hands, among others.
A similar report on 'Moderna arm' is shown on KHON2 News's YouTube video below:
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