BUSINESS BUZZ
Vax FAQs By Elizabeth Morse Read
D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy that changed the course of WWII, was a massive mobilization. The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is worthy of comparison – “V-Day” – a global race to fight an existential enemy that threatens everyone everywhere. But as with any bold new endeavor, people have a lot of questions and concerns. How frequent are side effects after getting a shot? The vast majority of
post-vaccination side effects happen in people 18-55 years old and last only a day or so – soreness at the injection site, slight fever, headache, fatigue. They are more common after the second shot, so you may want to take it easy the next day. While potential side effects aren’t enjoyable, they signal that your immune system is in overdrive generating antibodies – and the side effects are trivial when compared to the complications of contracting COVID-19.
I’m nervous about these allergic reactions I’ve heard about. Should I be? The fact is that of the one million
doses that had been administered by Christmas Day, fewer than ten people had experienced a true allergic reaction after getting a shot. Anyone who carries an epi-pen because they’re allergic to certain foods, medications, or insect bites is at a higher risk of experiencing an allergic reaction to any vaccination, so they should hold off on getting a shot until they’ve discussed it with their doctor. But that’s why, when you go for your shot, you’ll be asked to sit and wait for 15-30 minutes before you leave – such allergic reactions happen almost immediately. The person
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vaccinating you will be equipped with epi-pens and trained to recognize signs of an allergic reaction. I’ve read a lot of scary stories on the internet about the vaccines – do they cause sterility? Don’t use social media as your source of information about the COVID-19 virus or vaccines. Listen to public health officials in your state and community and contact your health care provider if you have questions or concerns. Vaccines do not cause sterility or change your DNA, nor do they contain microchips so that the government can track you. If it sounds crazy, it probably is.
How dangerous are virus mutations? Viruses (like bacteria) mutate
constantly – it’s how they survive. That’s why each year’s flu shot is slightly different from the previous year’s shot – they’re formulated to attack whatever variant strains and mutations that occurred in the previous year. The COVID-19 vaccines – especially the two mRNA vaccines – were designed to be “tweaked” whenever necessary to address viral variations that could lessen the effectiveness of the vaccine.
How long does immunity last after getting vaccinated? We will learn
February 2021 | The South Coast Insider
soon enough whether it will need to be an annual event, like the flu shot, or whether a person’s immunity lasts longer than that, needing only an occasional booster, like tetanus shots. The immunity you develop after getting vaccinated is more powerful and long-lasting, though, than the brief immunity after recovering from the virus.
If someone misses the second dose of a two-dose vaccine, do they get any protection at all? A week or
so after the first does, your body does produce antibodies, but only about half of what you’d achieve by getting the second booster dose. Consult your doctor or pharmacist to schedule the second dose as soon as possible if you miss it.
Will we have to continue wearing masks and socially distancing after getting the vaccine? Yes. It’s not
entirely understood whether vaccination (a) prevents you from developing serious illness or (b) prevents you from becoming infected entirely. If there’s a possibility that you could become infected after being vaccinated (but be asymptomatic), you’d still be able to spread the virus. Until more research is done, assume that you are still a potential “silent spreader” after being vaccinated.
