Your COVID-19 vaccine questions are answered with Dr. Alsip from University Health

SAN ANTONIO As the COVID-19 vaccines are still relatively new, it is understandable that many people still have questions about how they work, who should get them and how much protection they offer.

The medical officer of the University’s health, dr. Bryan Alsip, answered some questions about the COVID-19 vaccines. You can read his answers below and watch a video in the video player above.

How much protection does a first dose of vaccine offer?

The best protection comes from two doses in a series of two doses, but the available data for the two vaccines currently approved indicate that a single dose provides a degree of protection of 50 to 80 percent efficacy.

How soon does your immunity start to develop after the first dose?

The initial reaction comes about two weeks after your dose of vaccination, which is about as long as it takes you immunity to kick, to develop your antibodies, and so on.

What should I do if I feel unwell after getting the vaccine?

Side effects are common with both currently approved vaccines, but they are relatively minor. Most people report whether they are mild or swell at the site of injection, headache, fatigue, sometimes body aches and rarely fever. And in those cases, people can usually take paracetamol or Tylenol or ibuprofen to help with these symptoms. Generally, it also only lasts 24 or 48 hours.

What happens if I do not get my second dose?

Well, nothing happens, per say, but so far we really want people to take the second dose, if possible, because it really offers the highest level of effectiveness, probably about 90 to 95 percent for both of the vaccines currently available.

What happens if the second dose is delayed for any reason?

Since we want people to take the second dose in the two-dose series, the goal is to get it as soon as possible. Like most vaccines, you can always take the second dose later than the interval indicates. But since the studies were really done based on the twenty-one-day or twenty-eight-day interval, it is important to try to get the second dose as close to it as possible.

Does the booster differ from the initial dose?

The (second) injection is the same – the same dose, the same volume, but it increases your immunity, so the name you offer is the highest level of vaccine effectiveness. And presumably it also allows the vaccine to work longer over a period of time.

Do we know how long the vaccine protection lasts?

We do not. There are some recent reports from Moderna that say they feel it is taking at least a year, and this may also apply to the Pfizer vaccine as it is very much the same. The hope, then, is that it would be something that would last at least a year in terms of protection.

Can I get another vaccine if it is available when the time comes for my second admission?

It is currently not recommended to mix the vaccine, so whatever brand you receive for your first dose, you should try to get the same for your second dose.

Should pregnant women receive the vaccine?

The COVID vaccine is indicated for pregnant women, and pregnancy is on the list of priority conditions for phase 1B. This is set out by the Texas Vaccine Allocation Panel. I think it is often recommended that pregnant women discuss their specific situation with their healthcare provider just to see what works best for them.

Should I get the vaccine even though I already have COVID-19?

For COVID infection, its natural immunity to it is relatively unknown and may vary among individuals. It is therefore felt that the vaccine, which appears to be effective in reducing symptomatic diseases, is a better way to ensure immunity and that it also lasts longer.

Can I stop wearing a mask if I am vaccinated?

The answer is no. The clinical trials used to study the vaccines did not determine whether the vaccine transmission could occur. It is therefore quite possible that you can reduce the chance of disease by getting a vaccine, but still allow yourself to transmit the disease to someone else who has not yet been vaccinated, or is still vulnerable. The recommendations are therefore at least until we have enough people vaccinated to maintain the protection we have done.

If my friends and I are all vaccinated, can we go together without masks?

If everyone close to you has been vaccinated, it is very likely that you will all be protected from the symptomatic effects of diseases. But since any of you can possibly transmit the disease, you need to be very careful about how you are around others. I think this is the important message to remember.

Does the vaccine prevent the disease or just symptoms?

We do not know if the vaccine prevents you from becoming infected, but we do know that the efficacy data are the most important in preventing symptomatic diseases. You are therefore much less likely to get sick if you get the vaccine than if you did not have the vaccine.