Got vaccinated; now what?
Local doctor answers dozens of your vaccine-related questions
What can you safely do once vaccinated? Dr. Faiqa Cheema, an infectious disease specialist at Hartford Hospital, answers questions about the COVID-19 vaccines.
You got your COVID-19 vaccine. Great. So what now? Can you safely visit with family? Should you feel more confident about going to the gym or dining indoors? What side effects should you expect from the vaccination?
Dr. Faiqa Cheema, an infectious disease specialist at Hartford Hospital, answered reader questions regarding the vaccine during a live chat Tuesday. Catch up on some of her answers (edited for length and clarity) below.
Question: I received my first shot March 4, that evening I started getting flu symptoms (chills, body aches, runny nose, headaches). They lasted for 14 days before finally easing off. I am scheduled to get my second shot on March 27. Is there anything I should be concerned about?
Answer: It takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. A person can get infected with the COVID-19 virus just before or after receiving the vaccine. This happened because you were exposed to the virus very close to the timing of your vaccination, and the vaccine did not have enough time to provide your body protection. If you get COVID-19 between your first and second dose of the vaccine, we recommend that you proceed with the second dose as long there has been a minimum of seven days from when you first tested positive for COVID-19 and you have been symptom free for at least 48 hours. The second dose may cause you to have body aches, chills and low grade fevers again, but the symptoms should only last for 72 hours.
Question: Just received first shot of the Pfizer vaccine. Can you give estimated immunity build by week through the second shot and thereafter weekly build to 100%? (understanding you’re never really 100% immune)?
Answer: Based on published data, the Pfizer vaccine showed 52% efficacy 12 days after the first dose. This efficacy or level of protection increased to 95% 14 days after the second dose. This vaccine is 100% protective against death from COVID-19.
Question: I have had my two vaccine shots, and my 18-year-old granddaughter will be home from college for Easter. Are there any precautions that I should take as I haven’t hugged her in over a year?
Answer: If it has been 14 days after your second dose of vaccine and you have not been on any active chemotherapy for cancer or any other medication that decreases your immune response such as anti-rejection medicine, you may hug your granddaughter. I would advise that your granddaughter should still wear a mask around you if she is traveling from a different state.
Question: Can I visit my son in another New England state?
Answer: If you are completely vaccinated (two weeks after your second vaccine dose) you may travel in your own car to visit your son. If he is also fully vaccinated that would be better and a safer approach. I would still avoid crowds and eating indoors at restaurants when you
visit him as the pandemic is far from over.
Question: Group singing indoors has been shut down since the unfortunate Oregon choir incident last year. Will a fully-vaccinated group be able to sit close enough to function as a choir? What other precautions will be needed in order to sing safely?
Answer: At this time singing indoors despite being vaccinated is not encouraged. At this time we are still learning about the vaccine’s effectiveness. This activity remains moderate risk as there is no way to eliminate all risk to zero from gathering singers. We know that during singing droplets are transmitted farther away and can remain aerosolized much longer depending on the ventilation system of the room. CDC still recommends that fully vaccinated individuals should still stay away from medium and large groups indoors and outdoors.
I’ve had COVID-19 in the past 90 days. Can I still get the vaccine?
Answer: Yes, it is strongly recommended that you should still opt in to receive the COVID19 vaccine as we believe that your protective antibodies from coronavirus infection will fade away in 90 days and some studies have reported cases of reinfection with COVID-19.
Question: What are coronavirus variants and why are they important?
Answer: Viruses constantly change through a process called mutation and over time can change in genetic structure compared to the original “wild type” virus. Health experts are concerned about the emergence of these variants as they seem to spread more easily compared to the original Sars CoV-2 virus that originated in December 2019. These new variants can lead to more cases of COVID-19, increase the number of new cases, increase hospitalizations and also lead to increased deaths. CDC in collaboration with other public health authorities are monitoring the situation to detect the emerging viral variants. We are still not out of the woods and need to remain vigilant and continue with simple public health measures and continue to wear masks, avoid crowds and avoid unnecessary travel until we achieve herd immunity.
Question: If I’m protected after my second dose, why do I need to take precautions like avoiding crowds or eating indoors?
Answer: COVID-19 vaccines mark an important milestone in our efforts to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Even though we know a lot more now about the virus now than we did last year there is still so much we are still learning. Emergence of the new variants (reported now by CDC in 20 states) may perhaps reduce effectiveness of some of the vaccines; this is still new information and being studied closely by Public Health authorities and CDC. The problem with the variant is if you are exposed to it you can still get sick and spread the virus to others around you. How sick one can get from the new variants is still evolving and information is incomplete with some early signals suggesting that the UK variant spreads more easily and is capable of causing more severe COVID-19 disease. The overall protection offered by the three vaccines ranges from 74.4% to 95%. You can increase your protection closer to 100% by wearing a mask when outdoors and avoiding crowded indoor spaces.
Question: Everyone in my immediate family is fully vaccinated except for me. Would it be safe for me to have dinner with them before I receive my vaccination?
Answer: If you are at low risk of complications of severe disease from COVID-19 and the rest of your family members are fully vaccinated (two weeks after the second dose) you can meet your immediate family (no more than a group of five-six) for dinner. As the weather is getting warmer, prefer to eat outdoors on your patio, or open up some windows in the room where the family will gather for ventilation. Immediately wear your mask after finishing dinner.
Question: Can I feel safe dining indoors with a small group of fully-vaccinated friends?
Answer: If you and your friends are fully vaccinated you can meet up as a small group (five-six) and choose an outdoor location for dinner and drinks.
Question: I have received both doses of the Moderna vaccine. It has been two weeks since my second dose. Can I visit with unvaccinated friends and family? Are there risks for me or for them?
Answer: You can visit your close family from the same household but should pick an outdoor location. Wear masks, maintain physical distance and practice preventive measures when visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple households even if you are fully vaccinated.
Question: If I’m vaccinated, but my partner is not, do I need to worry about possibly infecting them if I go to a small gathering with other fully-vaccinated people?
Answer: If your partner has low risk behavior and is wearing his masks correctly and diligently and avoiding crowded, indoor spaces his risk of acquisition of the virus is lower (not completely zero but lower). Therefore, as a result of his behavior the risk of transmission of the virus will also be lower and you will have added protection with the vaccine. New emerging data shows that vaccinated individuals may have a lower risk of transmitting the virus to others. The gray zone is the variants that have made things a bit more complicated. More information is needed on how variants impact the efficacy of the vaccine.
Question: Is it safe to attend a large wedding this summer or fall if I am fully vaccinated?
Answer: Avoid large gatherings even if fully vaccinated as we have not as a country reached herd immunity.
Question: I had a mild allergic reaction to the first dose of the Moderna vaccine and have been told by my doctor not to get the second shot. What are my options?
Answer: The science from the mRNA vaccine suggests both vaccines should be given, but in your case due to allergic reaction you have been recommended not to get the second dose. In the study design the results from the
Moderna vaccine showed effectiveness of about 86% after the first dose. The first dose helps “prime” your immune response and second dose helps your immune system to have a longer lasting response.
Question: If I’m fully vaccinated is it safe to be in the same house with my older child who has COVID-19?
Answer: Yes, if you are fully vaccinated and have no COVIDlike symptoms, you do not need to quarantine or be tested following an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID19. Fully vaccinated people who do not quarantine should monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days following an exposure and get tested if they develop symptoms.
Question: Is it safe to have a person wearing a mask work in my home for a two hour period of time?
Answer: Yes, as long as the person is wearing a mask appropriately covering their nose and mouth and does not have any COVID-19 symptoms they can work inside your home for two hours.
Question: We have book club and would be socially distanced, wear masks and have windows open. We are all vaccinated. Any concerns?
Answer: This sounds reasonable. I would limit the number of people indoors based on Connecticut state guidelines.