Side effects occur after COVID vaccinations and are more likely with the second dose of COVID vaccination as compared to the first vaccination according to US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA). Both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna coronavirus vaccines have caused side effects post-vaccination. Muscle and joint pain are common symptoms associated with fever, chills, swelling and redness at insertion site, nausea, adenopathy and general unwell feeling. These symptoms occur as the immune system of the body generates a response to the vaccination. This is typical with many other vaccines.
The most common side effect of COVID vaccinations from both drug manufacturers is pain at the injection site. The majority of participants (>50%) also experience one or more of the following symptoms of fatigue, headaches, muscle and joint pain. All of these side effects should resolve within a few days.
As a health care worker, coronavirus vaccination was available to me. The first and second vaccinations were Moderna vaccinations on 12/27/2020 and 1/24/2021, respectively. After the first vaccination, pain at the insertion site was the only symptom that occurred. I attempted to minimize these post-vaccination symptoms with CBD intake prior to and after the second vaccination since:
- It is a known fact that the second COVID vaccination has more side effects than the first from US FDA reports.
- CBD has anti-inflammatory immune system effects through the Endocannabinoid System.
- CBD has a minimal side effect profile.
To limit the side effects of the second COVID vaccination, an initial preventive 50mg CBD dose was administered 30 minutes prior to the vaccination with a second 50 mg dose at 12 hours post-vaccination. The 12 hour post-vaccination CBD dose was chosen since post-vaccination side effects typically start within 12 to 24 hours of vaccination according to Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. 50mg oral dose capsule intake was administered due to its slow absorption in the gastrointestinal tract allowing lasting effect for 10-12 hours.
With the medical knowledge of the Endocannabinoid system (ECS) as an intricate network of receptors found throughout the brain and immune system maintaining homeostasis, the use of CBD is a potential option to minimize post-vaccination symptoms. There are primarily two types of receptors within the ECS, CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are primarily found in the brain and central nervous system. CB2 receptors are primarily found in peripheral organs and in cells associated with the immune system. The effect of CBD works primarily with the immune system at the CB2 receptor level regulating immune function with its anti-inflammatory effect and therefore a potential treatment for post-vaccination side effects.
Preventive CBD treatment potentially limited the second COVID post-vaccination side effects as seen with my personal experience with a 50mg dose prior to and 12 hours after the vaccination. I experienced no symptoms of headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain. No missed days of my patient care treatment at the office/hospital on the first and second day after my vaccination occurred. I personally encountered no vaccination side effects that were documented with the majority of COVID vaccination subjects.
Even though this is a single preventive CBD treatment discussion from only from one type of coronavirus vaccination (Moderna), this personal anecdotal experience with CBD may be initial evidence for CBD as a potential preventive treatment for post-vaccination COVID treatment to minimize side effect symptoms.
Personal experience documented by Dr Thomas Rocco.
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