By Alex Teerlinck
New data from the CDC indicates that over 1 in 4 Americans are fully vaccinated, with even more of the population receiving at least one dose of their COVID vaccination. With universal eligibility going into effect this week, any American 16 or older is eligible to receive a vaccine. For more information on how to register for a vaccine appointment in DC, check out Caroline Dehn’s “Vaccine 101” article here.
This article is your one-stop shop for fears, anxieties, and medical questions about receiving your vaccine. It’s ok (and normal!) to have a few questions about the vaccination process, but we all need to be doing our part and getting the shot. In fact, if you’re a returning GW student planning on living on campus next fall, you’ll need to provide proof of full vaccination to the University.
A Google Form sent to GW undergraduate students by The Local found that eighty-one percent of respondents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, over thirty percent higher than the national average as of Wednesday. About two-thirds of those vaccinated received Pfizer, and the remaining one-third received Moderna. With Johnson and Johnson’s pause and updated recommendations regarding vaccine procedures, students will likely receive either Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, both being two-dose procedures.
100 percent of our respondents indicated that they are planning on receiving a vaccine when an appointment becomes available to them, but a lot of questions still remain. What’s going on with Johnson and Johnson? Do I have to get both doses? What’s with the booster shot recommendations recently made by Pfizer?
To answer some of the questions students have regarding vaccination technicalities and processes, I talked to my mom, Dr. Cynthia Teerlinck, who is a family practitioner in New York familiar with vaccination recommendations through working with patients of all ages.
Q: I’m worried about the side effects of the second dose. What can I expect?
Dr. T: About one-third of people with their second dose have a robust immune response. This one-third of patients may experience body aches, headache, possible fever, and/or fatigue. These symptoms generally do not last more than 24 hours and should not discourage you from receiving your second dose.
Q: How is the booster shot system going to work?
Dr. T: As of right now, scientists think that a booster will be needed to cover different COVID variant strains such as the one in the UK, B 1.1.7. Pfizer is currently recommending that everyone receives a shot six to twelve months after their second dose.
Q: I’m worried about developing a blood clot if I receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. If it’s safe, why was it linked to health risks?
Dr. T: There have been one in one million cases of a rare blood clot in women under the age of 50 which is less than the two to three per million of blood clot in the general population. However, the FDA will likely change the recommended age of Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients to those 50 and up. The pause on the vaccine was done out of an abundance of caution, and patients will only receive this vaccine if proven both safe and effective.
Q: Can I take over-the-counter pain medication after my vaccine?
Dr. T: Theoretically, medications that reduce fever (which includes many over-the-counter painkillers) can suppress the immune response to a vaccine. This could compromise the efficacy of your vaccine, so it is not recommended to take over-the-counters unless the patient considers their use absolutely necessary for discomfort or pain.
We’ve been in the pandemic for over a year now, and we owe all of our thanks to the scientists who worked tirelessly to make safe and effective vaccination available to us. However, having open and honest discussions with experts is never a bad thing. You are the guarantor of your health, so if you have any remaining questions, please talk to your healthcare provider or consult the CDC’s website on vaccinations for more information. The best thing you can do for yourself and your community is to get vaccinated!
