Has anyone been vaccinated for Covid somewhere besides the upper arm?

[YSI]

I have had too many reactions with injections and punctures in my arms. I currently get flu shots in buttocks or upper legs. Usually, I have to insist on it before the tech will comply. Just wondering what kind of pushback I will face this time with the Covid vaccination.

(Mom age 90 had Pfizer. She had breast cancer surgery and chose to get the Pfizer shots in the opposite stronger arm. Her second shot left her shoulder so sore she was sorry she didn't use the already bad arm.)

[Barb135]

Paxiled:  I know they say you get the worst side effects from the second Moderna shot, but I had very little with the second one.  A little fatigue and the arm soreness was about it.  It doesn't seem like soreness even lasted as long as it did with the first shot.  

[Paxiled]

Got my fingers and toes crossed it goes that way for me, too.  

[Barb135]

I was told (by the pharmacist that gave mine) they could only give the shots in the LEFT arm, but wasn't given a reason for that.  Everyone I've talked to that's had the shots has had them in the left arm.   Can't imagine what the reason could possibly be...

I had the Moderna vaccine and like others who had it, my arm was really sore, swollen and red.  After a couple of days it got itchy, but after about the third day, it was fine.  I also had a lot of fatigue.   I always have them do flu shots in my right arm and because I'm right handed, that arm is stronger than my left.  Although a flu shot swells up and gets sore, it doesn't last as long as the shot(s) in my left arm.

[Paxiled]

I don't think what you were told is correct.  I think what they are recommending is to get the shot in the non-dominant arm, which for most people would be the left arm, but if you're left handed, the recommendation would be to get it in the right arm.  That's what I was told when I got my shot.  The EMT guy who gave me the shot asked me which arm I wanted it in.  I asked which one was best, even though I had already seen this advice.  He said the non-dominant arm, which for me was the left.  I had no redness, no swelling, no itchiness, no fatigue, no nothing other than a fair amount of pain in the muscle.  It lasted 3 days, then magically disappeared.  Second shot on Sunday, so we'll see about that one -- 2d shot is supposed to be the one we get the immunity from and so more side effects for more people, but again, we'll see.  Peace.

[Paxiled]

I should say, most of the immunity from.

[AnnieBrooke]

I was also surprised by the assertion that it "had" to be in the left arm, and wondered if someone had read an instruction incorrectly, either the EMT or the EMT's boss.

When I went in for my shot, they didn't like one thing I had filled out on the bottom two-line section of my form, and said I had to fill out a whole new form. I said, "Why can't we just put an X through the part and use a new form for just those two lines, and attach it to it?" (So as not to bother to write the whole thing out again.) The gals looked at each other and one said, "No, it's a GOVERNMENT FORM, so we have to do a whole new one." Well, that was b.s., they had already written all over it with yellow highlighter and added a bunch of extra stuff their pharmacy wanted (like my driver's license number) that were not on the form. But their limited understanding made them adamant.

I looked online for anyplace from a government or even a news agency that confirmed that the left arm was the only place, and all I found were cheerful articles saying you could use either arm.

[Barb135]

I've looked everywhere I can think of, as well to find out if there's any guidance for doing the shot(s) in the left arm and can't find anything.  I wouldn't have thought so much of it, except I, specifically, asked to have it in my right arm (I never ask to have a shot in my non-dominant arm) and the pharmacist said:  "No, we HAVE to do it in the left arm."  My husband and I both thought that was odd.   It seems that the way they had things set up, just made it slightly easier for him if he used the left arm.

The whole thing sounds about as silly as your gals insisting on a whole new form because you did something wrong.  I've worked for government entities and it's perfectly acceptable to draw a single line through an error and initial it, then write the correct information.  

People do get some strange ideas, don't they?

[AnnieBrooke]

Oh, I knew they were being stupid as sh*t even when they were saying it. But when a person has only one piece of information, there's the tendency to cling to the one fragmentary thing they (think they) know, and refuse to hear of anything else. I was really irritated, I had carefully filled out the whole form at home to save time, and here they had me sit down with their unclean pen and clipboard and do it all again. lol

[Barb135]

I hate when I spend time filling out something at home, then end up having to do it again, especially, when it's because of someone else's stupidity.  :-)

[Paxiled]

I think my experience was quite different perhaps because I got it done at a community center in a mass vaccination event, as I will my second shot, not at a pharmacy.  Sometimes the chair is set up so that only one side of the body is accessible, and that's more likely in a small space, so maybe that was the thing.  I was in a large space with the tables quite spread out for social distancing, but we were all in one large room and at least for me, there were no forms to fill out, all I needed were my tickets from the event organizer hired to do the mass testing.  

[Paxiled]

Well, all, got my 2d shot this morning.  Can't say how I feel because I sleep in the daytime these days due to things that have happened to me the last few years, and I'm always in pain, so have no idea how I'm feeling from it so far.  I've often said to my wife, since I feel sick most of the time and am always in pain, how would I know for sure?  Now, if I get something like the flu, that would be different, and I was warned by the person who gave me the shot that could happen, it happened to her, and my neighbor was sitting out on the porch and also was sick for a day or so, so again, we'll see.  Peace, all.

[AnnieBrooke]

For what it's worth, I've heard more than one anecdotal story of people feeling a bit punk for 1-2 days after the shot, starting 8-12 hours after it. Not sick, just shaky, chilly and their arm was sore (but not as sore as the first time). It didn't impede them going anywhere and doing things, but they didn't mind staying home in bed either.

[Paxiled]

It didn't stop me from doing anything, but I do feel a bit weird, but then, I generally do these days.  Mostly a bit of just odd feeling, low energy, weird fullness in my head, and of course my arm hurts, but nothing but the arm pain can I with any certainty pin on the shot.  No flu symptoms, though, no fever, no chills.  But weird.  I'm sure a lot better than covid, but of course we all do have to remind ourselves we are doing this for everyone else, as we can still get covid even if vaccinated and several have.  What we're truly going for is herd immunity to rob the virus of hosts.  Peace, all, and get your shot when it's your turn.

[auntiejessi]

I don't know what "arm reactions" you've had, or what that means, but like Pax, I got the Moderna shot, and the arm pain is REAL. I can't imagine having that in my thigh or butt.

Mine lasted 2.5 days. I woke up on the third morning, and it was just gone.

[AnnieBrooke]

If everyone is saying the arm that gets the shot is sore for two or three days, it actually sounds better to opt for a possibly sore arm than a sore leg. If the leg is achy enough, it might cause you to limp, or be unable to get in and out of a car easily.

[Paxiled]

I will add. the pain in the arm didn't actually prevent me from doing anything, and to be honest, I've got so much pain on a regular basis that does hurt when I do stuff I do know the difference.  So moving the arm didn't make it hurt any more or any less.  But lying on it was a bit of a challenge and that's why I certainly wouldn't want it in my butt.  As for the thigh, again, if the pain didn't affect me in any way other than surprise at how much it hurt and the fact it lasted 3 days I wouldn't guess it would hurt you as you move your thigh, but I wouldn't want to find out as that's more important to be able to move than your arm.  

[Paxiled]

Most of the shots are being given in public settings, so I don't think the buttocks or thigh is really going to be a realistic option if you get the vaccine now.  If you wait, which means you have to keep isolating and such a lot more than when you get vaccinated, there will be more vaccine available in doctor's offices in which case it will be private and you can get it wherever you want.  I got my first shot at a community center, and there wasn't going to be any drop trou, if you get my drift.  However, I will say, I got the Moderna, and the arm did hurt a fair amount for about 3 days and then it was just gone.  But I wouldn't really want to have that kind of pain either in my thigh or my buttocks, as they're harder to avoid putting pressure on than the arm muscle.  But again, if you wait long enough, it will be up to you, but right now, it's not.

[AnnieBrooke]

It's supposed to be an intramuscular shot, and you've got muscles all over. It would be surprising if there was a serious reason they could not administer it in the buttock or thigh (unless, of course, you're getting it through a car window at a big vaccination site). As long as the person giving the shot is experienced at giving IM shots, it seems like you could get it in a different location than the upper arm. On the other hand, I wouldn't let this concern stop me from getting the shot. If they insist in the arm, I'm taking it in the arm.

[YSI]

Thanks and I enjoyed the car window visual lol-it would make a good comic for an editorial page!

Pharmacies are giving Covid vaccinations-they have a private room next to the counter areas here for shots. I haven't been able to get an appt yet but currently the nicer pharmacy is giving Pfizer (but their supply has run out.)

Reactions? Red hot baseball upper arm faded to dusky flat circle upper arm faded to painful pit with crease in the fat of upper arm and minimal weakness in bicep and many years later there is somewhat of a lump/crease, from flu shot. At the time I wondered if they had injected the exact same spot as my childhood vaccination site.

Upper leg 2 inch 'petrified wood' which faded to permanent dent in muscle/weakness in muscle, from the flu shot.  

Buttock caused an enlarged lymph node which subsided, from the flu shot.  

Measles in my 50's from the MMR  and not sure if the humerus bone infarct might have been caused by that injection-I am so blessed!

TB puncture reaction--was it exposure or my latex allergy-they don't know but stopped giving me the puncture and had a negative lung xray (many years ago now.)

Cold ucticaria in both arms-who knows?!

I also have a severe nickel allergy-jewelry, watch bands/clasps, sandal clasps, the back of the snap on my jeans.