Some who have recovered from COVID-19 wonder if they should still get a vaccine now or wait, especially if they tested positive between vaccine doses.
“Apparently I was exposed two days before my first dose. I ended up testing positive. Do I still get a second dose or do I need to wait?” asked WCPO viewer Amy Carroll on Facebook.
Hamilton County Public Health medical director Dr. Steve Feagins said yes, you should still get a second dose -- that is, once you aren’t contagious.
“Wait until you come out of isolation, which will occur 10 days for a mild and 20 days for a moderate to severe case, so you don't come into vaccine center during potential transmission,” he said. “After you are out of isolation, you can and should get a second dose.”
If you get a COVID-19 shot after you test positive, Feagins said it will not make your symptoms worse.
“The vaccine doesn't make COVID better or worse,” he explained. “On the flip side, someone who's had COVID could have a more vigorous response to the vaccine. Symptoms might last 24 hours after the vaccine. It just means it's working better.”
And, he said, it’s still crucial that you get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose.
This month, WCPO 9 is taking your questions about COVID-19 vaccines and posing them to local health care experts. Email newsdesk@wcpo.com or message @KristynHartmanWCPO on Facebook with your name, neighborhood and question, and you could see an expert answer it on air.
