08/17/2026
I want to take a moment to share my policy regarding massage appointments and recent vaccinations
I ask that clients wait 3 to 5 days after receiving any vaccination before coming in for a massage. This waiting period allows time for potential side effects to pass, such as a swollen arm, fever, or other immune responses that may occur after receiving a vaccination.
Once the shot is delivered into your muscle, you want the vaccine to move out of the muscle into your bloodstream. Massage can increase the blood flow taking the vaccine out of the muscles and into the bloodstream faster than it was designed.
This is one of the main reasons I prefer clients wait before coming in. It’s also a matter of liability and protecting both of us.
From my experience in my business, getting a massage immediately after a vaccination can actually make these side effects worse especially if you have an autoimmune disease. It can lead to fever, flu-like symptoms, inflammation, and swelling.
If you’ve received a vaccination on the same day as your scheduled massage, your appointment will need to be rescheduled.
Don’t Get a Massage Right After Your Vaccine. This issue is becoming more and more prevalent as we’re stepping into flu season. When you receive a vaccine, your body perceives the contents of the vaccine as an invader and mounts an immune response. The more robust the response, the more your body is producing antibodies against the illness. It can take a few weeks for your body to make all of the T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes needed to fight off an illness. Right after a vaccine, treat your body as if you have the illness you’ve been vaccinated against. Keep in mind that an hour Swedish massage has the same effect on your circulatory system as going on a five-mile hike. Massage moves a lot of blood and lymph around the body!
Lastly, if you are sick or not feeling well for any reason, my standing policy remains the same: please do not come in. This protects both you and me.
This policy comes from a place of care, personal responsibility, and professional boundaries. Thank you for honoring it so we can create the safest and most supportive healing environment possible.
Crystal Tounsley LMT
