As more COVID-19 vaccine appointments open up in the coming weeks and months, one of the questions healthcare workers may ask you while you're in your car waiting to get your vaccination is this: Are you on any blood thinners?
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Dr. Janice Johnston is the medical director for Redirect Health. She says the question is a safety precaution.
"People who take blood thinners will tend to bleed a little bit more easily. The injection is going into the muscle itself, so they may notice a small bruise or could even develop a larger bruise there. So, we do want to make sure patients who are on blood thinners are stable on them," explains Dr. Johnston.
Warfarin, Xarelto, and Eliquis are among the commonly prescribed medications that fall into this category, but there are others.
If you do take blood thinners, Dr. Johnston says it doesn't mean you can't get the COVID-19 vaccines.
She does encourage people to consult with their own physician if they're concerned about any medication and how it might impact the COVID-19 vaccine.
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