Experts: Avoid over-the-counter painkillers before getting COVID-19 vaccine Taking medicine before the COVID vaccine By Cassie Fambro | January 22, 2021 at 11:25 PM CST - Updated January 23 at 3:29 PM BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - There is new data to suggest that taking a painkiller before getting your COVID-19 vaccine may not be a good idea. Experts at Vanderbilt University say it’s not a good idea to take common over-the-counter meds like Tylenol or Advil because it could affect the vaccine. It’s advised that you don’t take an over-the-counter painkiller because it could blunt the immune response, which is how the vaccine works.