It is reasonable to assume that the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak has caused many individuals to reassess their goals and prioritize their objectives. Whatever your plans were, we are confident that you were forced to cancel or postpone them, which was and probably continues to be a pain.
However, with the discovery of the COVID-19 vaccine, things began to return to normal in several nations and regions, allowing people to go about their daily lives as they had previously planned. For instance, I had an urge to get a tattoo.
However, there is now a debate over the relationship between tattoos and vaccinations. Many individuals are perplexed about whether they can be vaccinated and then get a tattoo or whether they can do the opposite. When should we cancel or change our plans? What is the relationship between the two, and should we?
You’re correct if you’re wondering the same thing as I am. Let’s begin by reviewing everything we know about tattoos and COVID vaccinations.
Every Detail We Need to Know About Tattoos and the COVID Vaccine
1. What is the source of the concern in the first instance?
We may safely assume that tattoo artists do not have a definitive solution to the question of the relationship between COVID vaccinations and tattoos. On the other hand, tattooists and physicians can agree on one thing: there is cause for alarm.
Getting a tattoo is a procedure that creates an open wound on the skin, which the body sees as the most critical wound to heal first in the healing process. The lymphatic system performs its functions, resulting in the movement of white blood cells to the tattooed region, where the healing process may begin. In the case of someone who already has a weak immune system, all of this might cause an immune response, which can make them feel a little sick.
But why are we talking about it in the first place?
As far as we know, COVID vaccinations are associated with specific adverse effects; the majority of these side effects may be defined as a person feeling ill for a few days, possibly even developing a fever, following vaccination. If you have COVID, you get the vaccination, which is entirely safe and effective in place of the virus.
Consequently, the following issues raise concerns: If a person receives a vaccination, they will almost certainly have some side effects that may compromise their immune system’s ability to fight off infection. Assume that the same individual gets a tattoo shortly after receiving the vaccination. Because their bodies may not be able to deal with both concerns simultaneously, they might suffer from tattoo healing troubles and longer recovery from the vaccination in this situation.
2. Should I Wait To Get Tattoed Before/After Vaccination?
Pain, exhaustion, discomfort, and sleepiness are all common vaccine side effects, as are potential blood coagulation difficulties and fever in severe cases. According to reports, there are some blood clotting concerns with the Johnson & Johnson vaccination. This might be important when deciding whether or not to get a tattoo after getting the vaccine.
Doctors stress the need to wait a few days, or even a few weeks, following a vaccination before getting tattooed to avoid any potential complications with blood coagulation. Individuals using blood clotting medications should be extra cautious in this regard.
So, should you put off getting a tattoo until after your vaccination? It is, without a doubt, recommended that you do so. It is advised that you wait somewhere between two weeks and two months. It is not recommended that you avoid being tattooed or immunized after having a tattoo. It might take up to two weeks for it to take effect and resolve the blood clotting problem, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
If you have a fresh tattoo and wish to be immunized after getting it inked on your body, the same is true. In such a circumstance, the doctor recommends that you wait up to 2 weeks before getting vaccinated again.
We must highlight that none of this information is yet apparent. Still, it is what we know so far and what physicians and tattoo artists have discussed and supplied as recommendations for the time being.
3. Is It Safe to Get a Vaccination While Having a Tattoo Done?
Suppose you already have a healed tattoo and wish to be vaccinated against the disease. The tattoo is placed somewhere on the upper arm, where vaccinations are typically administered. Is it safe to get vaccinated while having a tattoo on your body?
Some research has looked into what it would be like to get a COVID vaccine injection while having a tattoo. This is important because shoulder and upper arm tattoos are the most common, especially for men.
Some of the results and concerns from the most recent studies are summarized below.
At least not to our knowledge, it appears that puncturing or vaccination of a tattooed region (which is repeatedly tattooed skin) did not expose people to infection risks. However, because COVID immunization is unusual and relatively new, there are certain health risks.
For example, there is a concern about the tattoo pigment injected into the blood circulation during the vaccination procedure. During vaccination, there is a risk of introducing dangerous particles into the body, resulting in infections and allergic reactions. One reported example of a military recruit who received a smallpox vaccine in the tattooed region and who afterwards had smallpox symptoms in that particular location of the body.
However, these concerns have not been investigated, particularly in the case of COVID-19 vaccinations. It’s not clear what the results of future studies will show about the health risks of getting COVID vaccine injections while getting a tattoo.
Generally speaking, it is acceptable to assume that the current study primarily focuses on healthcare professionals’ worries and misunderstandings. However, because the COVID vaccine is still in its early stages, it’s better to follow some tattooing or vaccination rules until we know more about how tattooing and vaccination work together.
4. Do you have any recommendations about how to be vaccinated while getting a tattoo, or vice versa?
Doctors and tattoo artists have recently issued suggestions on how to be vaccinated if you have a tattoo or get inked if you have been vaccinated; these guidelines are available here.
- Only when a tattoo has wholly healed should you consider getting immunized. Getting immunized while still sporting a new tattoo is not recommended. If you have just had a tattoo, it is suggested that you wait at least one month before getting a vaccination shot.
- It is preferable to have a vaccination shot in an arm that has not been tattooed while receiving a vaccine.
- It is not recommended to have a tattoo after receiving a vaccination. Even though we’ve said that one should wait at least two weeks, experts advocate waiting between 30 and 60 days in some cases.
- Suppose the individual has tattoos on both of their arms. In that case, they might try to be immunized by picking a part of a tattoo that doesn’t have any color.
- Consider the scenario in which someone wishes to get a tattoo after receiving a vaccination. In that situation, it is critical not to get the tattoo done in the exact location where one has had a vaccination injection. One will likely have skin swelling and redness if this is not done.
- If you plan on getting a tattoo between vaccinations, you should see your doctor. You will be able to continue getting tattoos when you have received your second vaccination dose or have been revaccinated. You should wait at least one month before getting a tattoo after receiving the vaccine shot for one-dose immunization.
- The wearing of a mask and practicing social separation are two of the most crucial things to remember when being tattooed during these times, even if you’ve been vaccinated. Doctors and tattoo artists constantly highlight this point. They expect individuals to adhere to crucial guidelines throughout consultations, vaccinations, and tattoo procedures.
5. Why is it preferable to get tattooed rather than vaccinated if you have a contagious disease?
Unfortunately, the epidemic is far from over, and it is necessary to reevaluate our objectives once more. Getting a tattoo is a significant aspect of one’s life because it commemorates an era or a period of one’s life, represents a unique experience, or demonstrates an artist’s ability.
It is preferable to be immunized and keep healthy in these trying times rather than get tattooed, as previously said. On the other hand, no one is advocating that you refrain from getting tattooed. You can certainly accomplish this, but it will require more preparation and a slight shift in priorities. In order for our lives to go back to normal, we need to get vaccinated, cut down on the number of cases, and help our lives get back to normal.
Finally, remark that
Because the problem of tattoos and COVID vaccinations has not yet been thoroughly researched and examined, this is all we have to say about it for the time being. We can only wait for new information to be released by physicians and researchers. We will have to choose between vaccinations and tattoos during this time and try to be patient. Yes, it’s challenging to keep your wishes at the back of your mind. Nonetheless, until the epidemic is over, it is critical to establish clear priorities and emphasize immunization more than on getting a tattoo.
