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We spoke with CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen, emergency physician and visiting professor at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, for advice on how to plan to take care of ourselves and of our loved ones as more and more people get vaccinated.
Dr. Leana Wen: With the vaccine shortage, the biggest challenge people face is getting an appointment for vaccination. Depending on where you are, you may be able to register with your city or county health department, a local pharmacy, your doctor’s office, or a local hospital.
Once you have the appointment, be sure to follow all of the instructions. Complete the paperwork if there is any you need to do in advance. Bring all the required documentation; some places require ID or proof of residency so know what you need and make sure you have it.
If you know of other people who have been vaccinated in the same place, you can ask what their experiences are like – for example, how long was the wait. Keep in mind that a lot is changing as sites figure out how best to do mass vaccinations, so someone’s experience from a few weeks ago may be different now.
CNN: Should people wear masks when going for the vaccine?
Magnifying glass: Absolutely. Protection against the coronavirus vaccine is not immediate. The sites will require you to be masked, and you will want to minimize your exposure to the coronavirus by standing in line.
If it is a driving test, the risk of exposure to the coronavirus is minimal. It’s a bit higher if you have to wait indoors with others for an extended period. In this case, I would recommend a second mask, a tight fitting cloth mask, over the three-ply surgical mask, or you can wear an N95 or KN95 if you have access to it. Try to keep a 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 already used, what does it look like? Will I feel anything after the first hit?
Magnifying glass: You feel the blow itself, of course, as you would with any injection. You may have a little pain where you are injected.
Many people have no symptoms beyond this. Some develop side effects in one of two categories. First, they might have more pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site. Second, they might have what we call systemic symptoms, which means they are feeling something throughout their body. They can develop headaches, fever, fatigue, and muscle pain. These can last for hours and usually go away after a day.
Most people with these symptoms find them a minor inconvenience. They can go to work and go about their business. Some people may feel the symptoms a bit more. Rest usually helps with symptoms, and people can also take ibuprofen or Tylenol to relieve aches and fever.
CNN: Really? The side effects don’t seem so good.
Magnifying glass: If you do get these side effects, you should know that this is normal and expected. And how good these symptoms are! This means the vaccines are working. It’s your body’s reaction. The vaccine stimulates your immune system to make antibodies that will protect you against coronavirus infection in the future.
It is important to note that people respond to vaccines differently. Some people have little or no side effects. It also doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with them. The vaccine works on them too, but their body just reacts in a different way.
CNN: I’ve heard some people have more side effects after the second shot.
Magnifying glass: Anecdotally, this appears to be true. Many people feel very soon after the first vaccine, but have more side effects after the second coronavirus vaccine. One guess is that the first shot, the primer, prepares your immune system. The second hit, the booster, is when your body is already prepared and that’s why you have a stronger response. Remember, the answer is a good thing and proof that the vaccine works!
Because some people have this stronger reaction the second time around, it’s a good idea to try and plan the shot when you have the ability to rest if needed. Some people schedule the second shot when they are on leave or at least can work from home. If you cannot do this, you may want to let your employer know that you are receiving the vaccine in case you need to take time off that day or the next.
CNN: Why do people have to wait 15-30 minutes after being vaccinated?
Magnifying glass: The wait time is just in case someone develops an allergic reaction, which is very rare and in the range of two to six per million people. If a serious allergic reaction were to develop, it would occur very soon after vaccination.
People should wait 15 minutes just in case. If it is a driving vaccination, they can wait in their car; otherwise, there is a place where people can sit or stand and be observed in case they have a reaction. In the very rare cases where they do develop a reaction, it can be easily treated by the nurses and doctors on the site.
People with a history of very serious allergic reactions to other medicines or foods are asked to wait 30 minutes. Note that these people can still get the vaccine – the only reason not to get the vaccine is if they have a known allergy to any component of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine itself.
One more thing: After getting vaccinated, please sign up for the CDC’s V-Safe program. You can quickly grasp any side effects you might be having, and depending on your answers, someone from the CDC can call you to check on you. Side effects are to be expected, and the government is still monitoring them as part of routine surveillance after a vaccine or drug is released.
CNN: I’ve heard that one hit gives you some protection. Can I skip the second shot?
Magnifying glass: No. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are being studied as two-dose vaccines. You can get some degree of protection after the first shot, but you won’t receive the optimum protection unless you get two hits.
The second injection should be taken within the approved period: three weeks after the first dose of Pfizer and four weeks after the first dose of Moderna. The CDC said under exceptional circumstances you could still get the second shot for up to six weeks later, but that shouldn’t be the norm.
CNN: How long does it take for me to have full immune protection after receiving the second hit? Can I spend time with my family and friends after this?
Magnifying glass: It takes about two weeks to develop optimal immune protection after the second stroke. The vaccine is around 95% effective, which means you are very well protected against the coronavirus.
It’s great – but it’s not 100%. You should always use caution when around others, and continue to mask and avoid cluttered indoor environments. Also remember that we don’t yet know if getting the vaccine means you are protected from being a carrier of the coronavirus. You may not get sick, but you could still infect others if you are a carrier.
All of this means that you are better protected against this deadly virus, but you still need to be careful. I know grandparents can’t wait to see their grandchildren. You can do it more safely now, but I would always try to see people outside when possible, with everyone wearing masks, unless everyone is quarantined for seven days. and has been tested. But maybe you can give that hug you’ve been waiting for. And if you have friends who are also fully vaccinated, it’s probably pretty safe to see them.
We will get to the point where most of the population will be vaccinated and we can finally end the pandemic. Until then, let’s be careful – and get your shot when it’s our turn!
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