Have Had An Allergic Reaction To Any Vaccine
If youve had a serious or immediate allergic reaction to any vaccine or injection in the past, discuss this with your vaccinator.
If you have a history of anaphylaxis
You shouldnt get the Pfizer vaccine if you have a history of anaphylaxis:
- to any ingredient in the Pfizer vaccine
- to a previous dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
Is It Safe To Have The Covid
Yes, it is safe.
The COVID-19 vaccine helps your bodys immune system to identify the coronavirus, which enables you to fight it off more quickly and effectively. The vaccine essentially trains your immune cells to identify, attack and kill the virus.
Antibiotics, on the other hand, kill the bacteria that are causing an infection in your body. This means that your antibiotics should have no impact on the coronavirus or the vaccine, and the vaccine should have no impact on your bacterial infection or your antibiotics.
If you have any immediate medical concerns about your health or your treatment, please contact your GP or healthcare provider. If you would like support and information related to an antibiotic-resistant infection, you can reach out to our Patient Support Service who will be happy to listen and help.
Dr Fauci Warns Dont Take This Medication With The Covid Vaccine
The COVID-19 vaccine is here, and with it, many questions about what to do after you get it. Top of mind for many is, can you still take your medications? Dr. Anthony Fauci, the chief medical advisor to the President and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, spoke with CBSN about just that during a Q+A session. Patients often ask me whether they should be taking pain relievers either before or after the vaccine shot, asked a healthcare worker. I’ve heard mixed advice. What do you think? Read on for his answer, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss theseSure Signs You’ve Already Had Coronavirus.
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How Long Are The Vaccines Effective Will I Need To Be Revaccinated Each Year
Scientists do not yet know how long the protection from the COVID-19 vaccines will last. These are new vaccines for a new disease, which means there are not yet long-term data. Vaccine researchers and public health experts are closely monitoring vaccine effectiveness and safety, and new information will be shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as it becomes available.
Some vaccines provide life-long protection, such as the measles vaccine. Others require booster doses. For influenza , everyone age 6 months and older should get vaccinated each year.
Is It Safe To Take A Pain Reliever When Getting A Covid
Do not take a pain reliever or fever-reducing drug before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine because these drugs may impact the immune response to the vaccine. If you experience side effects after getting vaccinated, it is safe to take these drugs as needed to treat pain. Patients routinely taking low-dose aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications may continue to take these medications as instructed.
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Antibiotic Research Uk Calls For Clear Guidance On The Use Of Antibiotics And Covid
Antibiotic Research UK has urged the UK government to provide clarity on whether people receiving antibiotics can also receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
The charity, which provides support to people with antibiotic-resistant infections, has said it is clear that better patient advice regarding COVID-19 vaccination is needed.
We are looking to the UK health authorities to provide clear advice to patients who are on antibiotics as to whether they can be given a COVID-19 vaccine or not, said Colin Garner, chief executive of ANTRUK.
We are being approached by many patients every day asking this question and we would like to provide them with official guidance on this issue,” he added.
In a statement, the charity added that it has anecdotal evidence that people are being refused COVID-19 vaccination due to the fact that they are currently taking antibiotics.
To address the lack of information, ANTRUK is calling for the government to publicly clarify the issue by publishing official guidance on the use of antibiotics and COVID-19 vaccination.
Antibiotics are not a contraindication to COVID-19 vaccination per se. As with other vaccines, however, administration of COVID-19 vaccine should be postponed in individuals suffering from an acute severe febrile illness, confirmed the UKs Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency .
However, the presence of a minor infection, such as a cold, and/or low-grade fever, should not delay vaccination, it added.
Why Do Doctors Prescribe Antibiotics To Those With Covid
The new coronavirus causes a respiratory infection that can weaken the immune system. This impact can increase the risk of getting a bacterial infection, which the individual may find harder to fight off.
Doctors may prescribe antibiotics to people with COVID-19 to prevent or treat secondary bacterial infections, such as bacterial pneumonia. Doctors may then use antibiotics as part of the treatment to fight the infection.
Food and Drug Administration has not approved any drugs for the specific treatment of COVID-19.
Current treatments depend on the severity of each case and focus on treating symptoms and complications of COVID-19.
For mild symptoms, people may be able to treat COVID-19 with home remedies. These can include:
- getting plenty of rest
- drinking plenty of fluids to stay well hydrated
- fever and pain relief medication, such as acetaminophen
- monitor symptoms, and contacting a doctor straight away if they worsen
Current treatment options for people hospitalized with COVID-19 can include:
- intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration
- oxygen supply if people have difficulty breathing
- treating any complications, such as pneumonia
- antiviral drug remdesivir for emergency cases of COVID-19
Researchers are also looking into a range of existing drugs as potential treatments. These medications include:
Further tests and trials will help to determine whether any of these options could be potential treatment options for COVID-19.
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Do Any Drugs Or Medicines Impact The Effectiveness Of Covid
Prescription drugs that affect the immune systemsuch as certain cancer chemotherapies or drugs for HIV or autoimmune diseasesmay impact the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. Even if they do not prevent disease entirely, COVID-19 vaccines can help prevent hospitalization or death, and prescription drugs used to treat other conditions will continue to work when taken as directed.
This Massive Use Of Azithromycin A Vital Drug For Treating Typhoid Fever And Diarrhoea Is Highly Concerning As It Will Lead To Resistance In Bacteria That Cause These Illnesses
Sumanth Gandra, Washington University School of Medicine
According to Brian Godman, a visiting professor at the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, UK, it is important to curb inappropriate use of antibiotics for viral infections which will increase resistance rates and result in greater loss of life in the future.
This is particularly important in the community since inappropriate prescribing and dispensing of antimicrobials for essentially viral infections constitutes their greatest overuse, Godman tells SciDev.Net. Trained pharmacists are important as they can direct patients to more appropriate treatments that are more effective in symptomatic relief and often cheaper. This should be a priority in India given the rising antimicrobial resistance rates.
Similar trends are likely to have occurred in other low- and middle-income countries where antibiotics are often overused, the study said. The medium- and long-term consequences for bacterial resistance patterns are highly concerning, it added, highlighting the need for urgent antibiotic stewardship measures such as avoiding the use of antibiotics if there is no suspicion of bacterial infection, and limiting the duration of antibiotic treatment for co-infections.
According to Sarkar, there will likely be increased community resistance to common antibiotics in India as a result of the pandemic. It may lead to the evolving of superbugs in hospital practice, he says.
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Why Do Some Vaccines Interact With Medications
Vaccines work by creating an immune response in our bodies. This immune response does more than just create antibodies against a disease: It primes our bodies to fight an infection. Sometimes, these changes can affect how the cells in our bodies use the medications we take.
For example, some of the medications we take for other diseases are activated by an enzyme called cytochrome p450. Cytochrome p450 is a working molecule made by our bodies. It turns some medications on. It turns other medications off. We count on cytochrome p450 to work at a certain speed in order to get a steady response from our medications.
Strong inflammation, including the inflammation caused by severe COVID-19, puts this enzyme on hold. We dont know yet if the immune response caused by the vaccine could havea similar effect on cytochrome p450.
The good news is that most of the time, a small change in how quickly a medication is activated wont have any meaningful effect on your health. And the initial inflammation caused by the COVID-19 vaccine only lasts a few days. Once it goes down, your immune system will remember COVID-19, but the rest of your body will return to normal.
Q: Can Pets Carry The Virus That Causes Covid
A: Although we know certain bacteria and fungi can be carried on fur and hair, there is no evidence that viruses, including the virus that causes COVID-19, can spread to people from the skin, fur, or hair of pets.
However, because animals can sometimes carry other germs that can make people sick, its always a good idea to practice healthy habits around pets and other animals, including washing hands before and after interacting with them and especially after cleaning up their waste.
Do not wipe or bathe your pet with chemical disinfectants, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or other products, such as hand sanitizer, counter-cleaning wipes, or other industrial or surface cleaners. If you have questions about appropriate products for bathing or cleaning your pet, talk to your veterinarian. If your pet gets hand sanitizer on their skin or fur, rinse or wipe down your pet with water immediately. If your pet ingests hand sanitizer or is showing signs of illness after use, contact your veterinarian or pet poison control immediately.
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Our Response To Flu Vaccine May Be Weakened By Antibiotics
Planning on getting an influenza vaccination this year? A new study led by immunologist Bali Pulendran, PhD, and his Stanford colleagues, in collaboration with researchers at several other institutions, suggests you get that shot when you’re not just coming off a course of antibiotics, right in the middle of such a regimen or just about to begin one.
Planning on not getting a seasonal flu shot this year? The same study hints that you’re better off getting one, in case the real bad bug comes along just when when your gut-bacterial population happens to be depleted — due, say, to your recent use of antibiotics.
The study, published in Cell, showed that decimating healthy adults’ trillions-strong population of gut-resident bacteria by subjecting them to a round of antibiotic treatment reduced a standard measure of their immune systems’ responsiveness to influenza vaccination. From my release:
The depletion of gut bacteria by antibiotics appears to leave the immune system less able to respond to new challenges, such as exposure to previously unencountered germs or vaccines… “To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the effects of broad-spectrum antibiotics on the immune response in humans — in this case, our response to vaccination — directly induced through the disturbance of our gut bacteria,” said.
Photo by Heather Hazzan/ American Academy of Pediatrics and SELF Magazine
Q: I Built A Diy Ventilator Using Instructions I Found On The Internet May I Sell It
A: DIY ventilator makers may request that their product be added to the Emergency Use Authorization that the FDA issued on March 24, 2020, to legally market the product in the U.S. Instructions on how to do so, and the criteria for ventilator safety, performance and labeling, may be found in the Letter of Authorization and Appendix A for the EUA related to ventilators, anesthesia gas machines modified for use as ventilators, positive pressure breathing devices modified for use as ventilators, ventilator tubing connectors, and ventilator accessories.
Q: Now That The Pfizer
A: Yes, it is still important to continue to practice public health measures. The CDC recommends the following preventive actions:
- Wash your hands often with plain soap and water. The CDC recommends washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, the CDC recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Learn more about safely using hand sanitizer.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering or non-surgical mask when around others.
- Avoid crowds and practice social distancing .
Q: Are There Any Approved Products That Can Prevent Or Treat Covid
A: No. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in man or other animals are drugs. The FDA has not approved any drugs for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of COVID-19 in animals. The U.S. Department of Agricultures Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Center for Veterinary Biologics regulates veterinary biologics, including vaccines, diagnostic kits, and other products of biological origin. Similarly, APHIS CVB has not licensed any products to treat or prevent COVID-19 in animals.
The FDA has taken action against unapproved products claiming to prevent or cure COVID-19. The public can help safeguard human and animal health by reporting any products claiming to do so to or 1-888-INFO-FDA .
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What Drugs Can Suppress The Immune System
Lead author Dr. Beth Wallace, a rheumatologist at Michigan Medicine, said that immunosuppressive drugs are usually used to treat conditions where there is an inappropriate immune response that has the potential to damage certain parts of the patients own body.
Examples of these types of conditions include autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, she said, where the immune system comes to see certain parts of the patients own body, like the joints, as a threat.
When the patients immune system begins to attack these body parts, it can cause damage.
Immunosuppressive drugs can be used to curtail this assault on the patients own tissues.
Wallace said that another case where people might be using immunosuppressive drugs would be upon receiving an organ transplant. In this case, the drugs are used to prevent the immune system from seeing the transplanted organ as an invader and attacking it.
Additionally, certain types of chemotherapy used to kill cancer cells can have a side effect of suppressing the immune system.
Wallace said that most of these immunosuppressive drugs are not used outside of people with these chronic conditions. However, one type of immunosuppressive drug that is very commonly used is steroids.
Steroids include medications such as prednisone and dexamethasone.
These medications may be given in the short-term for conditions such as allergic rashes, bronchitis, and sinus infections.
Q: How Are People Tested For Covid
A: Most tests to diagnose COVID-19 require a swab of your nose, or the part of the throat behind the nose, by a health care provider. Some tests use saliva or other types of samples. For most FDA-authorized tests, the swab or sample must be sent to a lab for analysis. Some tests allow the patient to collect the sample at home and then send it to a lab for analysis. Some tests can be analyzed at the point-of-care, such as in a doctors office or health clinic. The FDA has also authorized some at-home tests that allow a person to collect their sample and run the test completely at home without sending anything to a lab. Some tests can be purchased online or in a store without a prescription, but they may not be available everywhere. Learn more about Coronavirus Disease 2019 Testing Basics.
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Q: What Should I Do If I Think My Pet Has The Virus That Causes Covid
Pets infected with this virus may or may not get ill. Of the pets that have gotten sick, most only had mild illness and fully recovered. Serious illness in pets appears to be extremely rare.
Pets that do have symptoms usually have mild illness that can be taken care of at home. If you think your pet is sick with the virus or if you have concerns about your pets health, talk to your veterinarian. Most pets that have gotten sick from the virus that causes COVID-19 were infected after close contact with a person with COVID-19.
If your pet is sick and you think it might be from the virus that causes COVID-19, talk to your veterinarian.
If you are sick with COVID-19 and your pet becomes sick, do not take your pet to the veterinary clinic yourself. Call your veterinarian and let them know you have been sick with COVID-19. Some veterinarians may offer telemedicine consultations or other plans for seeing sick pets. Your veterinarian can evaluate your pet and determine the next steps for your pets treatment and care.
Q: What Is An Emergency Use Authorization And How Is It Being Used To Respond To Covid
A: In certain types of emergencies, the FDA can issue an emergency use authorization, or EUA, to provide more timely access to critical medical products that may help during the emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternative options.
The EUA process is different than FDA approval, clearance, or licensing because the EUA standard may permit authorization based on significantly less data than would be required for approval, clearance, or licensing by the FDA. This enables the FDA to authorize the emergency use of medical products that meet the criteria within weeks rather than months to years.
EUAs are in effect until the emergency declaration ends but can be revised or revoked as we evaluate the needs during the emergency and new data on the products safety and effectiveness, or as products meet the criteria to become approved, cleared, or licensed by the FDA.
- Learn more about EUAs in this video
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