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Staying Healthy
Why does my arm hurt after I get a shot?
- By Toni Golen, MD, Contributor, and
- Hope Ricciotti, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch
Ask the doctors
Q. I’ve been rolling up my sleeve more often since COVID-19 shots became available, and my arm always hurts for a day or two after vaccination. Why?
A. You’re certainly not alone, since soreness in the upper arm is the most common vaccination side effect. It happens after the tiny squirt of vaccine injected into your arm muscle stretches the muscle fibers and triggers an immune response, leading to temporary inflammation and discomfort.
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About the Authors
Toni Golen, MD, Contributor
Hope Ricciotti, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch
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As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
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