Answers to common questions about COVID-19 vaccination

COVID-19 vaccination is an important tool for stopping an ongoing pandemic, along with wearing a cloth mask, social distance, and hand hygiene. Many people are asking questions about vaccines as large-scale vaccination efforts continue. The Mayo Clinic Vaccine and Distribution Workgroup has answered some of the most common questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Q. If I get vaccinated and have side effects, do I need to be tested?

A. Many people do not respond after vaccination, but if there is a response, it is normal. It does not mean that you are infected with COVID-19. If there is a reaction, rest for a while to recover. These reactions should not prevent you from going to work or doing other activities. However, if you have a fever, stay home. No COVID-19 inspection or quarantine required.

Q. What are the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?

A. For Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, mild vaccines may occur Side effects, Mainly pain at the injection site, malaise, chills. These symptoms usually improved within 24-48 hours without medical attention.

If any of these reactions occur after the first dose, a second dose of Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna vaccines should be given.

Q. Is it safe to use antipyretic analgesics such as acetaminophen before or after vaccination with COVID-19 vaccine?

A. Take antipyretics and analgesics such as thyrenol, pheral, and ibuprofen before vaccination only to prevent reactions that have not yet occurred, whether or not you have been vaccinated for the first or second COVID-19 vaccine please do not. Doing so may weaken your immune response. If you have moderate headaches or body pain in response to being vaccinated with COVID-19, you can take such medications as needed to treat the pain.

Q. Do I need to postpone the COVID-19 vaccine if surgery is planned?

A. COVID-19 vaccination does not need to be postponed until surgery is complete. Side effects such as fever that may occur with COVID-19 vaccination will disappear within 7 days. Most side effects resolve within 3 days.

Mayo does not recommend scheduling COVID-19 vaccination within a few days after surgery, especially a second dose of COVID-19 Pfizer / BioNTech or Moderna vaccine. About 15% of people have a fever after the second vaccination with these vaccines. On the first dose, less than 1% have a fever.

If you check in on the day of surgery and have a fever, you will need to reschedul the surgery. Fever immediately after surgery raises concerns about surgical wound infection, so it is ideal to have a week between vaccination with COVD-19 and surgery, especially the second vaccination.

Q. Can vaccinated people be infected with the COVID-19 virus?

A. It is not yet known if a person vaccinated against COVID-19 will have an asymptomatic COVID-19 infection and the infection can be spread to others. People who have been vaccinated with COVID-19 must do the same Safety precautions As a person who has not been vaccinated with COVID-19, such as wearing a mask, practicing social distance, and washing hands frequently.

It is known that the COVID-19 vaccine is 95% effective in preventing symptomatological COVID-19 infection.

Q. Was the COVID-19 vaccine developed using fetal tissue?

A. Neither the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19 nor the Moderna vaccine contained fetal cells, which were not used in their development or production.

In two animal studies, researchers conducted laboratory tests of vaccines using historically harvested fetal cell lines. However, both animal studies were conducted after these vaccines had already entered Phase 3 clinical trials.

Q. If I have recently been vaccinated with another type of vaccine, do I need to delay the COVID-19 vaccine?

A. Mayo Clinic experts recommend that you consider deferring COVID-19 vaccination if you have been vaccinated with another vaccine within the last 14 days. You also need to wait a few weeks after vaccination with COVID-19 before vaccination with another vaccine, such as the flu vaccine.

There is no reason to believe that one vaccine interferes with another, but when the COVID-19 vaccine was being studied, research volunteers were vaccinated at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccination or within 2-4 weeks of vaccination. did not do it.If there is a reaction after receiving the vaccination, separating the vaccination will help identify which one is correct. vaccine You may be responsible.

Despite recent vaccinations, Mayo Clinic experts are not concerned about the safety or efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine for those who choose to vaccinate with COVID-19.

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