We spoke with CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and visiting professor at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, for guidance on planning how to care for ourselves and our loved ones as we go. more people are vaccinated.
Dr. Leana Wen: With vaccine shortages, the biggest challenge people face is getting a vaccination appointment. Depending on where you are, you may be able to apply to the local or municipal health department, a local pharmacy, a doctor’s office or a local hospital.
After making an appointment, follow all instructions. Fill out the paperwork if there are any that you need to do in advance. Bring all necessary documentation; some places ask for identification or proof of residence, so know what you need and make sure you have it.
If you know other people who were vaccinated in the same place, you can ask how their experiences were – for example, how long the wait was. Remember that a lot is evolving as sites discover the best way to vaccinate en masse. Therefore, the experience of a few weeks ago may seem different now.
CNN: Should people wear masks when they get vaccinated?
Wen: Absolutely. The protection of the vaccine against coronavirus is not immediate. The locations will require you to be masked and you will want to minimize your exposure to the coronavirus while waiting in line.
If this is a drive-thru test, the risk of exposure to coronavirus is minimal. It is a little louder if you have to wait around the house with other people for an extended period of time. In this circumstance, I would recommend a second mask, a tightly fitting cloth mask, over the three-layer surgical mask, or you could use an N95 or KN95 if you have access to one. Try to keep physical distance from others – ideally 10 feet, but at least 6 feet, if you are indoors.
CNN: Assuming I get one of the two-dose vaccines that is already being used, how is it? Will I feel anything after the first shot?
Wen: You feel the shot itself, of course, as you would any injection. You may feel a little pain in the area where it was injected.
Many people have no symptoms beyond that. Some develop side effects in one of two categories. First, they may experience more pain, redness and swelling at the injection site. Second, they may have what we call systemic symptoms, which means that they feel something all over the body. They can develop headache, fever, fatigue and muscle pain. This can last for hours and usually goes away after a day.
Most people with these symptoms consider them a minor inconvenience. They can go to work and continue their day. Some people may experience symptoms a little more. Rest usually takes care of the symptoms, and people can also take ibuprofen or Tylenol to help with pain and fever.
CNN: Really? The side effects don’t look so good.
Wen: If you develop these side effects, you should know that this is normal and expected. And that these symptoms are really good! This means that the vaccines are working. This is your body’s reaction. The vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies that will protect it against coronavirus infection in the future.
It is important to note that people react differently to vaccines. There are some people who have minimal or no side effects. This also does not mean that there is anything wrong with them. The vaccine is also working on them, but their bodies are just reacting differently.
CNN: I heard that some people experience more side effects after the second dose.
Wen: Interestingly, this seems to be true. Many people feel very little after the first injection, but have more side effects after the second injection of the coronavirus vaccine. One hypothesis is that the first shot, the primer, gets your immune system ready. The second shot, the booster, is when your body is ready and that’s why you have a stronger response. Remember that the answer is good and the evidence that the vaccine is working!
Since some people have this stronger reaction the second time around, it is a good idea to try to program the scene when you can rest, if necessary. Some people schedule the second scene when they’re off or at least can work from home. If you are unable to do this, let your employer know that you are getting the vaccine if you need to take a break that day or the next.
CNN: Why do people have to wait 15 to 30 minutes after getting the photo?
Wen: The waiting time is just in case someone develops an allergic reaction, which is very rare and on the order of two to six per million people. If a severe allergic reaction develops, it will happen shortly after vaccination.
People should wait 15 minutes for the case. If this is a drive-thru vaccination, they can wait in their cars; otherwise, there is an area where people can sit or stand and be watched if they have a reaction. In very rare circumstances, they develop a reaction, this can be easily treated by nurses and doctors on the spot.
Those with a history of very severe allergic reactions to other medications or foods should wait 30 minutes. Note that these individuals can still get the vaccine – the only reason for not receiving the vaccine is if they have a known allergy to a component of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine itself.
One more thing: after being vaccinated, enroll in the CDC’s V-Safe program. You can quickly insert any side effects you may have and, depending on your answers, someone from the CDC can call to check on you. Side effects are expected and the government still tracks them as part of routine monitoring after a vaccine or medication is launched.
CNN: I heard that a shot gives you some protection. Can I skip the second photo?
Wen: No. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are studied as two-dose vaccines. You can get some degree of protection after the first shot, but you won’t get optimal protection unless you get two shots.
The second injection should be given within the approved time frame: three weeks after the first dose for Pfizer and four weeks after the first dose for Moderna. The CDC said that, in exceptional circumstances, you can still get your second injection six weeks later, but that should not be the norm.
CNN: How long does it take for me to have complete immune protection after receiving the second injection? Can I go out with family and friends after that?
Wen: It takes about two weeks to develop optimal immune protection after the second injection. The vaccine is about 95% effective, which means that you are very well protected against the coronavirus.
This is great – but it is not 100%. You should still be careful when you are around other people and maintain masking and avoid crowded indoor environments. Also remember that we still don’t know if getting the vaccine means that you are protected against having the coronavirus. You may not be sick, but you can still infect others if you have it.
All of this means that you are better protected against this deadly virus, but you should still be careful. I know that grandparents are so eager to see their grandchildren. You can do it more safely now, but I would still try to see people outdoors when possible, with everyone wearing masks, unless everyone was quarantined for seven days and tested. But maybe you can accept that hug that you’ve been waiting for. And if you have friends who are also fully vaccinated, it is probably very safe to see them.
We will reach the point where most of the population will be vaccinated and we can finally end the pandemic. Until then, we’ll keep it safe – and get vaccinated when it’s our turn!