8 things to know before getting a second COVID-19 shot

LTS: The American Aging Association (AARP) recently issued a notice that includes what to know about the following second COVID-19 vaccine recipients.

If you have received the first of the two COVID-19 shots, congratulations, as you are about to complete your body vaccination. But in order to have complete immunity, you will need a second shot.

Get the COVID-19 shot. (Illustration: AP Photo / Marta Lavandier, File)

Across the country, some people are in turmoil trying to get a second shot for various reasons.

Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, if your appointment is for you. If you canceled, don't wait for someone to call you, you should take the initiative to reschedule for a second injection.

Regarding the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, two of which are currently in widespread use in the United States, he said: “We have informed everyone that these vaccines are 95% effective. But they are only 95% effective if you do take the second dose. ”

Here are some things to know about the second dose of vaccine

1-Side effects are likely to be stronger

Many people who have had very little or no reaction to the first dose, now report that the second dose is very powerful - surprising even lifelong people who have studied the vaccine.

Dr. Greg Poland, an infectious disease specialist at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and director of Mayo's vaccine research team, had only mild symptoms after the first shot. But the second nose made him shiver with chills and the temperature was 101.

There is no live virus in the vaccine, so you cannot get COVID-19 with the vaccine.

In the Pfizer clinical trial, 31% of participants 18 to 55 years old reported having a fever after the second dose, while only 8% had a fever after the first dose. Fatigue, chills, headache, and muscle / joint pain were also more common after the second shot of both vaccines.

The good news is, based on these data, older adults have less of a response to the vaccine. Among people 55 years of age and older, 22% had a fever after the first dose through the Pfizer trial and 3% had a fever after the first dose.

2-Do not take pain relievers before injection

If you have heard of a second dose side effect, you may want to take the pain reliever before the injection.

According to the CDC, that's not a good idea, unless you have been recommended by your doctor. According to two doctors Poland and Schaffner, using pain relievers before injection can reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine.

3-The timing between injectable doses does not need to be exact

However, you can use acetaminophen (Tylenol) or drugs like Advil or Motrin after injections to treat side effects such as pain, fever, chills, or headache.

A second shot of the Pfizer vaccine will be given 21 days after the first shot. For Moderna, the interval between injections is 28 days.

However, the CDC does allow an adjustment of time, if you are unable to schedule your appointment on that date. Although the agency recommends trying to maintain the recommended interval, it also says a second dose can be administered six weeks after the first dose.

4-The second dose must be given by the same manufacturer of the first dose

Doctors have heard patients ask if they can get a second dose made by another pharmaceutical company, usually because they find another vaccine available in a more convenient location. The CDC advises not to do so, since the vaccines Moderna and Pfizer “are not interchangeable or alternative to the other COVID-19 vaccines. There is currently no assessment on the safety and efficacy of injecting shots from different manufacturers. ”Get the COVID-19 shot. (Illustration: AP Photo / Ted S. Warren)

5-If you get a rash at the injection site on the arm, the other hand should be

According to the CDC, if you get a rash at the injection site three to 10 days after your first shot, the second dose should not be missed, and the CDC recommends injecting your other arm.

Very few people experience such a rash after the injection, sometimes called the "arm COVID." In guidelines released Feb. 10, the CDC says the reaction did not get worse with the second dose.

6-Should temporarily avoid injecting other vaccines

If it is time for the shingles or Tdap shots, stop if you are getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Since there is currently no data on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine taken at the same time as other vaccines, the CDC recommends avoiding other vaccines for two weeks before and after two doses of the vaccine. COVID-19. Pauses also help avoid confusion about the cause of the side effects following COVID-19 vaccination.

7-Does not have an immediate full immunological effect

It takes two weeks after the second dose for your body to become fully immune to the virus. After that, it is almost impossible for you to get very sick if you come into contact with someone with COVID-19, says Dr. Schaffner. The CDC also says you no longer need quarantine if you come into contact with someone infected with COVID-19 - as long as you meet the following criteria: have no symptoms and have not been more than three months since your last shot Monday.

8-Still have to wear a mask

Experts all believe that you should continue to wear a mask and exercise distance in public. For one thing, you can still get sick even if you have been vaccinated. It is also possible that you can still carry the virus and silently pass it on to others who have not been vaccinated, even if you do not have symptoms.

Until the country is fully immunized - a time when a large percentage of the entire population is immune to COVID-19 - it is important for everyone to wear a mask to prevent, Dr. Schaffner said. block the spread of the virus.