The Sinopharm vaccination holds a staggering 75% market share in Sri Lanka, a number that could increase over time. Sinopharm is different from widespread high-efficacy western vaccinations. While the do's and don'ts apply to almost all vaccines, the side effects vary drastically. I believe it would be beneficial for many to note down potential side effects from the vaccine and what you should do and shouldn't do after vaccination.

Side Effects

Sinopharm is an inactivated vaccination. Here, the COVID19 SARS CoV2 virus is grown in a lab setting and then chemically inactivated or, in other words, killed. This inactivated virus is what gets injected into your arm.

Inactivated viruses have milder side effects than mRNA (Pfizer, Moderna) and viral-vector (AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson) vaccines. About 3% of vaccine recipients state that the side effects prevented them from performing daily activities.

Common side effects:

• Sore arm and minor swelling
• Fatigue or cold-like symptoms that go away in a few days

I personally had a mildly sore arm and a little swelling. In addition, I had very mild cold-like symptoms that lasted about 2 days. I didn't need to get any panadol or, for that matter, any medications for the cold symptoms. I was able to go about my daily activity without significant impact. The most difficult part was not having a bath after the vaccination under the doctor's request.

Do these

• Stay hydrated before and after vaccination - drink plenty of water
• Eat a well-balanced diet including green vegetables, turmeric (if you could find any 😞), garlic and fruits, including vitamin C.
• Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep. Sleep is essential to keep an effective immunity with or without vaccination.
• Do light exercises, like a light walk, to increase blood flow. Avoid rigorous activities for a couple of days. Listen to your body, give what it needs.

Avoid these

• Do not apply pressure in the injection location.
• Many doctors request to avoid bathing for the day. The main concern appears to be the concern of an infection on the site.
• Avoid strenuous activities for a couple of days. Listen to your body, give what it needs. Consult a doctor if you experience COVID-19 symptoms. It could be that you contracted the virus in the vaccine queue.
• Remember, you are not immune from the virus. For best results, you should wait about a month after the 2nd dose. Even then, it will only reduce the possibility of severe complications and death. You should always wear a mask and follow health guidelines.

Conclusion

Sinopharm is a good-enough vaccination and the only vaccination available to many in Sri Lanka. Ideally, like in the UAE, we would be offered a Pfizer booster shot for improved immune response in a couple of months.

If you haven't already, It is of utmost importance that you get the vaccination as soon as possible in a safe manner. The delta variant is everywhere and tries to avoid long queues. Once you get the vaccination, you might experience mild side effects, which would rarely prevent you from carrying out your daily activities.

I hope you get your vaccine soon and stay safe.