What is ‘Modern arm?’ Can I take antibiotics and get the COVID vaccine?

DETROIT – Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Frank McGeorge has kept viewers up to date and informed on all fronts. He is answering your questions about the vaccine, the vaccination process and more.

READING: More answers to questions about coronavirus

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Does the use of antibiotics interfere with the vaccine?

No. You must take all the antibiotics prescribed as instructed.

Why is the second vaccine more likely to cause a reaction than the first? Is it more powerful or done differently?

The second dose of the vaccine is exactly the same as the first. The reason more people react to the second injection is that their immune system was activated with the first dose. This is how your immune system works. The response to the second exposure is generally expected to be stronger. But in terms of a two-dose vaccine, that translates to more potential side effects the second time around.

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I had the COVID-19 virus and recovered. How long do I have to wait to receive the vaccine? I was told 90 days, but recently I read online that now says 6 months. How long should I wait?

The reason for the wait is that the vaccine was missing. People with a recent infection are already protected for at least 90 days and can wait to be vaccinated. Once the vaccine is more widely available, you do not need to postpone it.

The CDC said you can be vaccinated as soon as you recover and the quarantine period is over.

I received the first dose of Moderna vaccine without any significant event. Eight days after the vaccine, my arm became hot, red, itchy and swollen around the injection site. The next day, I had another red, swollen spot. On the third day, another red and swollen spot and the small spots on the second day got bigger and merged into one. What is causing this, what should I do about it and do I take the second dose?

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This is a rare documented reaction, dubbed the “Modern Arm”. It appears to be a delayed skin hypersensitivity reaction. It can be treated with ice and antihistamines.

There is a risk that you will have the same reaction to your second dose, but it is still recommended that you take the second injection to be fully protected.

READING: Michigan coronavirus cases up to 642,869; Death toll now at 15,984

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Pfizer said it launched its vaccine trial in children aged 6 months to 12 years.

The first participants are 9-year-old twin girls who were immunized on Wednesday at Duke University.

Moderna and AstraZeneca have already started testing their vaccines on young children. Johnson and Johnson are testing their shots on older children.

READING: Michigan vaccines COVID-19: how to find appointments, information about phases

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