covid vaccine
Yesterday Linda and I received our second covid vaccine (Moderna). So far no side effect except the usual arm sore spot that goes away in a day or so. The vaccine takes two weeks to become effective for us. We are wondering how this might allow changes to how we are living under covid precaution guidelines, masking, social distancing, shopping, eating out, visiting with loved ones. I've read several online articles to help us.
Copy-and-pasted below is advice from Mayo Clinic that I read just now. Going by this and other articles, it appears to me that we need to continue all our precautions even after the next two weeks. After about two weeks (i.e., as from Friday 26 Feb) the Moderna vaccine will give us up to about 94% protection from getting covid19, but we can still get it. It is not certain whether, if we get it despite the vaccine, its severity will be reduced. And also, it is not yet known whether we can contract it as carriers, and communicate it to others.
With only the slightest modification, and that only and specifically in regard to seeing loved ones and that still cautious maybe hug but masked and care to not breathe on each other - -
- - hey, I can do this, as a teenager I used to hold my breath while dancing cheek-to-cheek with my sweetheart so as not to offend, and hold breath while smooching lips to lips, nomesane? - -
- - our intent is fully to continue precautions. Mask when out, starting and ending with HV elevator. Double-mask in public places like grocery store and fish market. Avoid touching face eyes nose mouth (ears?). Wash hands in soap and hot water when returning from outting. Regular social distancing. No visiting in homes. No restaurants (except now I may call and go pick-up, I've not had fried oysters since damn near a year ago, and suppose Jesus comes before I get another fried oyster, that would be even worse than if he comes before dessert). Mask in church except when isolated up front and when speaking. Reconsider whether to continue wearing a mask when leading Sunday School class (while wearing a mask I can be heard mumbling but not understood by those who are watching the livestream). Except for groceries, continue to shop online.
So at least for now I don't see the vaccine significantly changing our covid normal.
Here's that Mayo Clinic essay:
After I get a COVID-19 vaccine, is it safe to visit in person with friends and family?
Answer From Daniel C. DeSimone, M.D.
After getting a COVID-19 vaccine, it's still important to take safety precautions, such as avoiding close contact with others, to prevent the spread of the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Further research is needed to understand the immunity that a COVID-19 vaccine provides and how long protection lasts before experts will consider changing current safety recommendations.
After you get both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, it takes about two weeks for your body to build up protection. But even then you could become infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Keep in mind that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is 95% effective in preventing the COVID-19 virus. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is 94.1% effective in preventing the COVID-19 virus. While your risk of getting the COVID-19 virus after being vaccinated is low, it is possible.
It's also not clear if the COVID-19 vaccines reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As a result, it's not known if a person who is vaccinated could be a carrier of the COVID-19 virus and spread it to others, even if he or she doesn't become sick. More research is needed to determine if you are still contagious after being vaccinated.
Because of these factors, even once you're vaccinated you could still pose a health risk to unvaccinated family and friends by visiting with them in person. The risks of serious illness from COVID-19 are highest for people who are older. Nursing home residents are at high risk because they often have multiple underlying health problems, combined with advanced age.
Even after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, continue to follow safety precautions and consider avoiding in-person visits with friends and family until more is known about the immunity the vaccines provide. If you choose to have in-person visits, remember to keep distance between yourself and others (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters). Wear a mask. Visit outdoors, when possible, or open windows and doors to make sure the space is well-ventilated. And wash your hands often.