Is there anything more worthless than anecdotal evidence?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

I received my Pfizer vaccination and the aftermath was largely uneventful. My arm was a bit sore and I felt a wee bit tired the next day. My partner is getting her second Moderna shot and is going to use NYQUIL as a freaking prophylaxis because "all her friends" told her they had flu-like symptoms after getting vaccinated. I told her if she was concerned she should just take some Tylenol but no she intends on taking NYQUIL.


Oh well.

[Yonnie3]

1. Yes, Oh well ...

that's kind of screwed up as the anecdotes I've heard don't mention cough and congestion.

[nebby70]

2. as a household where all 3 vaccines were given to at least one of us ....

... we found that the Pfizer was a >yawn< - same as your experience ...
... the J&J claims he wasn't even given a shot (he's a sissy btw) and complained the bandaid ripped off his arm hair..,
... the Moderna resulted in moderate flu like symptoms, 18 hrs after injection, all of which were gone within 24 hrs....

... best response to Moderna was lots of warm tea, a good novel and a fainting couch whenever someone neared ...
... a cold pack on arm if needed; use Tylenol, not ibuprofen...
........ and a tragic-heroine-with-lace-hankie is always worth the drama..,

[stopdiggin]

3. all tried and true !

and darned if I didn't forget the lace hanky ..
----- -----

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Anecdotal evidence is indicative, not definitive, but indicative has worth

Not much, but some. It can point to directions for inquiry and research.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

5. My anecdote about getting the J&J shot

is that other than it being mildly painful, I had zero symptoms of any kind.

After effects are all over the map, from nothing at all like me, to being knocked down for several days. There's no way of knowing ahead of time what any individual will experience.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. Not Anecdotal

NIH issued a report on side effects a couple weeks ago.
They had a table with specific side effects (e.g. - fever, myalgia, fatigue...) & each vaccine across the top.
Moderna had a lower value for those experienced no side effects, compared to Pfizer. (24% v. 30%)
The fever & aches numbers were higher for Moderna.
So, there actually is data out there showing over 3 in 4 people get some side-effects.
My wife got Pfizer and her next day was pretty much like you.
I got Moderna & I did have "flu like" symptoms for about 14 hours.
Like you said, I took acetaminophen, but I waited longer than I should have. Maybe I should have listened MORE to anecdotal evidence!

[KT2000]

7. Hydrate!! that seems to be

the info I got.

[marble falls]

8. I wuz discussin' this wit this guy 'n he tole me that he thot anecdotes is tha hite o' unscientific.

[WarGamer]

9. Here's the keys.

1) Be well hydrated before shot

2) Work out the day before the shot.

3) Massage the arm vigorously after the shot

4) Pound more water

5) Exercise the arm AFTER the shot. Stretching, light dumbbell work. I went on a vigorous walk 2 hours after shot.

My sore arm was gone within 24h of getting the shot. You don't want the vaccine sitting in your muscle, flush it out.

No fever, no nothing... MAYBE a little extra tired.

Moderna, both shots.

*The worst thing you can do is run home after your shot and hide under a blanket waiting for symptoms. Be active, act like you didn't get a shot.

[Totally Tunsie]

10. It's been recommended that vaccine recipients NOT pre-treat

to reduce vaccine symptoms.

Here is just one example of why:
https://education.aaaai.org/resources-for-a-i-clinicians/vaccines-qa_COVID-19

Question:CDC recommendations say not to pre-treat with antihistamines so as to not “mask” a reaction. However, I think for those patients that have known allergies or a background of allergies, pre-treatment makes sense. We tell patients to pre-treat before immunotherapy, to pre-treat before Aspirin desensitization, and pre-treat in some cases before OIT. Antihistamine pretreatment can blunt the severity of a reaction and buy time in management, which might be an advantage in venues where the vaccine is being given by personnel who are not trained in allergy management. Why not pre-treat before the vaccine in patients that have a background of allergy?

Answer: Antihistamines are not contraindicated and can be given before the vaccination, although this approach is not recommended as a routine. One can make arguments either way as to whether this would hide or prevent a more serious reaction. In cases where the vaccine is administered without immediate availability of medical expertise, I would be concerned that the staff might miss a serious reaction if initial symptoms are blunted by the administration of the antihistamine before the vaccination.

and, another:

https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20210127/covid-19-vaccine-hThere are no specific recommendations to take allergy medications like Benadryl before the vaccination, she says. Antihistamine medications, unless advised by your doctor, are not likely to prevent a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine, “but may blunt the allergic symptoms and make it harder to diagnose the allergic reaction and delay treatment.” But if you have a history of a severe allergic reaction to a previous vaccine, or anything in a vaccine, Kaplan says to discuss what to do with your doctor beforehand.ow-best-to-prepare

She'll be doing herself a disservice by pre-treating, it seems.

[TxGuitar]

11. "Is there anything more worthless than anecdotal evidence?"

My friend's uncle says no way.

[Leith]

12. Here's my anecdote

I had flu-like symptoms for 5 days after getting my first shot. It was Pfizer.

I'm jealous. How come I couldn't have an easy time like so many others? *sniff!*

[smirkymonkey]

13. Everybody is different and will react differently to the various vaccines.

Just because someone's immune system knocked them out for a few hours or days, doesn't mean it's going to happen to everyone.

I had the J&J in the morning and started feeling fluish that evening, but I planned the shot on the weekend expecting that might happen. Still felt ill the next day, but by Monday I was fine. So many people get freaked out about it. People should just go in knowing that they might feel fluish for a day or two - or in rare cases, a little longer - but they also might not have any symptoms at all.

Expect the worst and hope for the best, and know that whatever happens, you will deal with it.