South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Why does 2nd dose cause strong reaction?
“Why do so many people have such a strong immune response after the second shot? Why not after the first shot? I had no reaction after my first vaccine but then headache, chills, fever and cramps after the second.”
I am hearing about more and more people who are having strong reactions to their second dose. Dr. Andrea Klemes, chief medical officer at MDVIP, a national physicians’ network with headquarters in Boca Raton, said this is to be expected and nothing to get alarmed about.
“Our immune system is an amazing thing,” she said. “The first shot is the first time our body sees the spike protein that the vaccines produce and so your body responds by making cells to fight it.” Many people feel this response, even from the first dose, with mild flu-like symptoms.
When it’s time for the second dose, your body recognizes the protein from the first dose and initiates a strong immune response quickly. Here’s how the Mayo Clinic describes the reaction:
“The second vaccine dose goes into your body, starts to make that spike protein, and your antibodies jump on it and rev up your immune system response. It’s kind of like they’ve studied for the test. And (are) acing the test.”
It’s hard to think of feeling sick as a good thing, but know that your body is doing what it’s supposed to do in response to the second shot. Symptoms should resolve within 72 hours.
“Can I get the COVID variant if I am vaccinated?”
— Lina Marker
Yes, but the chances are remote, said Dr. Chad Sanborn, an infectious disease specialist at KIDZ Medical Services, which has offices throughout South Florida.
“It’s very unlikely that you will become infected, and even less likely to become sick from a variant if fully vaccinated,” Sanborn said.
There are two variants, or COVID-19 mutations, we’ve been hearing a lot about. In the United States, the main variant is the B.1.1.7 (U.K.) variant, “which seems to spread easier and possibly make you more ill, but the vaccines available protect almost equally to the original, non-variant coronavirus,” Sanborn said.
Then there’s the B.1.351 (South African) variant, which is not circulating to the same extent here at the moment. The vaccines seem to produce fewer antibodies against this strain.
“However, as we know from studying the immune system, antibody production is only a part of our protection, which includes T-cells that help protect against viruses, so decreased antibody production is not the whole story,” Sanborn said.
Sanborn said the variants likely will be more of a problem in the unvaccinated population, because they can spread easier and mutate even further in infected individuals who have no protection from the shots.
“I have read that the Pfizer vaccine protects you for six months. Will there be a booster after those six months?”
— Jerilyn Falk, The Villages
The vaccines protect us for AT LEAST six months. The six-month mark means that’s the longest volunteers in the trials have been followed to see what their immunity is. The protection could last a year, or even longer, and we may never need a booster shot.
That would make the COVID-19 vaccines similar to the measles shots we got as kids, which provide lifetime immunity for most of us.
If we do need a COVID vaccine booster, the pharmaceutical companies are working on that, too. Moderna and Pfizer are now testing whether three doses of their vaccines work even better than two. They’re also tweaking their current formulas to develop a third shot to protect against the B.1.351 strain of the virus, also known as the South African variant, which some health officials fear may be resistant to the current vaccines.
“I received my first shot at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek and was told to return to the same site for the second shot. I work and cannot go that day. What are my options? I’ve called the 800 number, however there is no option to schedule another day or place. Can I go to the FEMA site which doesn’t require appointments?” — Laure Roy, Hollywood Now that more shots and sites are available, you have several options. The Miami-Dade FEMA site is a possibility, and so is Broward College’s north campus. You can also look into CVS and Publix. Just make sure the vaccines they are offering are the same brand as the one you already got.
“I represent hundreds of older vaccine recipients who got their shots at Hard Rock Stadium, but were not told or forgot to keep their receipts to prove they got their shots. Do you have any suggestions on how these seniors can get proof of vaccination?” — Richard Sherwin, Boynton Beach
This is an aspect of the vaccination process that was not thoroughly thought through by our health authorities. There is no statewide or nationwide database for you to access your information and get a printout.
“With COVID vaccines, there is no government tracking or entering of information for who has received the vaccine at this point, like we do with the Florida SHOTS database for other vaccines,” said Dr. Joanna L. Drowos, an associate professor of family medicine at Florida Atlantic University’s medical school. “There may be an opportunity to access vaccine records in the future if you received your vaccine at Walmart or Sam’s Club; if so, you may soon be able to access your vaccination records digitally through CommonPass, which is still in a development phase from the World Economic Forum.”
Otherwise, your only option at the moment is to return to where you got your shots and provide as much information as you can about the dates and manufacturer.
For those who still have their cards, Drowos suggested taking a photo with your smart phone, placing it in a digital folder and keeping the original paper record in a safe place.