Some People Get a Rash after a COVID-19 Vaccine: Here’s Why It’s Not a Big Deal

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• New research finds that some people develop a red, itchy, swollen, or even painful rash where they received their COVID-19 vaccine shot.
• However, this reaction is rare and occurs only in a small percentage of people.
• Experts say these reactions are relatively minor and are not a reason to avoid the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some people have reported a red, itchy, swollen, or even painful rash where they received their COVID-19 vaccine shot.

This reaction can begin from a few days to over a week after the first dose, and sometimes rashes are quite large. These rashes, sometimes called “COVID arm,” can also occur on other parts of the body.

New research recently published in JAMA Dermatology looks into how common these reactions are and how frequently they recur after getting your second dose.