I’ve been vaccinated. Can I visit friends or family who haven’t?
There is a lot of information to parse through these days, particularly when it comes to COVID-19.
Enter the Houston Chronicle’s COVID-19 Help Desk. Each week, a Chronicle reporter will take readers’ questions about how the virus works and what to expect with the vaccine.
I’ve been vaccinated. Is it safe to visit friends or family who have not been vaccinated?
“Everything is a risk-benefit decision,” said Dr. Prathit Kulkarni, assistant professor of medicine in infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine.
But he recommends erring on the side of caution. While the two major vaccines being distributed in the United States have shown high rates of efficacy against the virus, public health experts say that social distancing, mask wearing and other precautions should remain in order.
One big reason: There are many unknowns about how the virus spreads, particularly when it comes to asymptomatic carriers. Kulkarni said that research is ongoing into the spread of the virus between those who do and don’t show symptoms. And vaccines have only shown to prevent transmission one-way, meaning anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated could still become infected. Kulkarni said roughly a quarter of all people carrying the virus are asymptomatic.
How effective are current vaccines to new strains of the virus?
At least three new strains of the virus have been detected, including those that have been traced back to South Africa, Brazil and England. And already, two of the three have appeared in the Houston area.
Local researchers have found evidence that the Pfizer vaccine
is effective in battling the South African an UK variant. On Tuesday, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch and the pharmaceutical company Pfizer/BioNTech published a study in the medical journal Nature Medicine showing that the vaccine can neutralize those two SARS-CoV-2 strain mutations.
And health experts say the new variants shouldn’t change your vaccination plans.
“We don’t need to overreact,” said Robert Bollinger “But, as with any virus, changes are something to be watched, to ensure that testing, treatment and vaccines are still effective. The scientists will continue to examine new versions of this coronavirus’s genetic sequencing as it evolves.”
Bollinger, a medical doctor at John Hopkins University, continued: “These variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. An increase in the number of cases will put more strain on health care resources, lead to more hospitalizations, and potentially more deaths.”
I didn’t have a reaction to my vaccine. Does that mean I have antibodies?
Kulkarni, the Baylor disease expert, said it is difficult to make any correlation between someone’s reaction to the vaccine and potential antibodies.
Since the roll out of the two major vaccines, a handful of people have reported side effects ranging from a sore arm to allergic reactions. But those are rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported only 11 cases of anaphylaxis in response to the COVID-19 vaccine among 1 million vaccinations.
Common side effects for the shot include pain and swelling on your arm near the injection site, as well as fever, chills, fatigue and headache, according to the CDC. But don’t stress about that too much.
“COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection,” the CDC reports.
“These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.”
I’m 60 and have Type 1 diabetes. Depending upon where I look, it appears that I may or may not be eligible now for vaccine. What’s the answer?
Not yet. The first phase of the state’s vaccination plan includes those who have Type 2 Diabetes, but not Type 1. Among the pre-existing covered under the current phase are cancer, kidney disease, chronic pulmonary disease and heart conditions such as coronary artery disease.