A California nurse tested positive for COVID-19 more than a week after receiving the vaccine, although medical experts say the deadline is not uncommon.
Emergency room nurse Matthew W., who works at two different hospitals in San Diego, received the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine on December 18 and initially reported arm pain for a day, KGTV reported.
The 45-year-old nurse was sick after working her shift at the COVID-19 unit, seven days later, on Christmas Eve.
The nurse had classic symptoms such as fatigue, chills and body pain. Two days later, Matthew was tested at a drive-up hospital and his results were positive for the coronavirus, according to the agency.
Dr. Christian Ramers, an infectious disease specialist at the Family Health Centers in San Diego, told KGTV that it is possible that Matthew contracted the virus before taking the injection, as it takes about two weeks for the first dose of the vaccine to take effect .
“We know from the clinical trials of the vaccine that it will take about 10 to 14 days for you to start developing vaccine protection,” said Ramers. “This first dose, we think it is around 50%, and you need the second dose to reach 95%”.
Ramers added that people should not let their guard down, even if they have been vaccinated, and that they should continue to follow protocols such as washing hands and wearing masks during the pandemic.
“You hear health professionals being very optimistic about this being the beginning of the end, but it will be a slow process, from weeks to months as we launch the vaccine,” said the expert.