You Should Still Get The Flu Vaccine
The findings, Pulendran says, imply that when next seasons flu strain comes along, you want your gut-resident microbes to be in full bloom in order for your immune system to rise to the occasion. Pulendran offers some advice. Get your annual flu shot, he says. The greater your inventory of immune memory to influenza strains bearing any resemblance to the one thats coming over the hill, the more likely youll be able to deal with it, even if your gut microbes are in short supply.
Other investigators at Emory University, as well as researchers at the Ragon Institute, the University of Chicago, Georgia State University, and the Food and Drug Administration contributed to the work. The study appears in Cell.
Funding came from the National Institutes of Health, the Soffer Endowment, and the Violetta Horton Endowment. Stanfords departments of Pathology and of Microbiology and Immunology also supported the work.
Q: Is An Approval Different From An Emergency Use Authorization Does It Change The Availability Of Covid
A: Emergency use authorizations can be used by the FDA during public health emergencies to provide access to medical products that may be effective in preventing or treating a disease. In determining whether to issue an EUA for a product, after the FDA receives an application, it evaluates the data submitted, conducts its own analyses and assesses any known or potential risks and any known or potential benefits. For COVID-19 vaccines that received emergency use authorization from the FDA, the agency evaluated data submitted by the manufacturers about the COVID-19 vaccines safety and effectiveness, and conducted its own analyses, before reaching each decision and found it to be clear and compelling to support its use for the prevention of COVID-19. Emergency use authorization is a tool that the FDA can use in a declared public health emergency, like the pandemic that we are in now, in order to more rapidly make potentially life-saving products available under very specific conditions.
An application for approval for a COVID-19 vaccine provides FDA with a wealth of data and information, such as information about safety and effectiveness in the population who will receive the vaccine.
Ingredients Are Used During The Production Of Vaccines
Some ingredients that are needed to produce the vaccine are no longer needed for the vaccine to work in a person.
These ingredients are taken out after production so only tiny amounts are left in the final product. The very small amounts of these ingredients that remain in the final product arent harmful.
Examples of ingredients used in some vaccines include:
- Cell culture material , like eggs, to help grow the vaccine antigens.
- Inactivating ingredients , like formaldehyde, to weaken or kill viruses, bacteria, or toxins in the vaccine.
- Antibiotics , like neomycin, to help keep outside germs and bacteria from growing in the vaccine.
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Anaphylactic Reaction To A Vaccine Or A Component Of A Vaccine
A vaccine is contraindicated in a person with a history of anaphylaxis after previous administration of the same vaccine and in a person with proven immediate or anaphylactic hypersensitivity to any component of the vaccine or its container. In situations of suspected hypersensitivity or non-anaphylactic allergy to a vaccine or its components, investigation is indicated which may involve immunization in a controlled setting. Consultation with an allergist is advised.
Antibiotics Vaccines And Covid
Lets say its time for your vaccine, but youre already on antibiotics for a different infection. Its reasonable to wonder whether your immune system is up to the challenge of building vaccine-related immune defenses while youre fighting an infection with antibiotics. But dont worry: Youve got this.
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What Is An Mrna Vaccine
The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines against COVID-19 are not just exciting for the speed at which they have been produced. They are examples of mRNA vaccines an entirely new type of vaccine.
Traditional vaccines give our body a dead or weakened sample of the virus that we want it to learn to identify. mRNA vaccines give our body a lab-created copy of the virus mRNA, which tells our own immune cells how to make the spike protein that appears on the surface of the virus. This teaches our immune system what to look out for, giving a similar although much stronger outcome to traditional vaccines.
The science to create such vaccines had been in the works for 30 years. Scientists knew that technically it could be used to create an immune defence against any virus that they had mRNA from. This allowed them to start testing the COVID-19 vaccine within weeks of the start of the outbreak.
Do you have a question about COVID-19, antibiotics and antibiotic resistant infections? Ask ANTRUK for expert answers to your questions.
More information
There is limited clinical information about each of the different types of COVID-19 vaccine at present. If you have any concerns, your GP, community pharmacist or the health professional who will be administering the vaccine are all able to answer your questions.
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/13people With Comorbidities Need To Be Vaccinated At The Earliest
Coronavirus can make a beeline for someone with frail immunity, which is a crucial reason why those with comorbidities should be inoculated at once.
Even with research and studies underway, taking a jab may do more harm than good.
According to Dr Rahul Pandit, Director-Critical Care, Fortis Hospitals Mumbai & Member-Maharashtras COVID Taskforce, prioritized, fast vaccination is the key right now to slowing the COVID mortality rate. “The high-risk vulnerable population – above 60 years and above 45 years with co-morbidities will bring down the mortality rate to very low, as currently, this group forms almost 90% of patients who succumb to the disease.”
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Q: How Does Fda Ensure The Quality Of Covid
A: The FDA takes its responsibility for helping to ensure the quality of manufacturing of vaccines and other medical products for use during this pandemic very seriously. The agency is using a variety of inspectional tools to help ensure that products being produced in different facilities meet the high-quality standards that Americans have come to expect. It is important to note that even when companies use contract manufacturing organizations, it is ultimately the responsibility of the company that holds the emergency use authorization to ensure that the quality standards of the FDA are met. No product can be distributed by manufacturers until the FDA authorizes its distribution from the facility that is manufacturing it. The FDA will continue to work with companies to ensure that the quality standards that it expects for products distributed under an emergency use authorization are met, and will continue to work diligently to help bring needed medical products in a timely manner to Americans during this public health emergency.
Q: If I Vape Tobacco Or Nicotine Am I At Risk For Complications From Covid
A: E-cigarette use can expose the lungs to toxic chemicals, but whether those exposures increase the risk of COVID-19 or the severity of COVID-19 outcomes is not known. However, many e-cigarette users are current or former smokers, and cigarette smoking increases the risk of respiratory infections, including pneumonia.
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Can You Take Antibiotics After Getting The Covid
This is a question many people have right now: can I take antibiotics after getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases , âThere is no influence or interaction between antibiotics and COVID-19 vaccines, so when indicated, antibiotics may be taken at any time relative to COVID-19 vaccine administration.â
This means that getting the COVID-19 vaccine will not interfere with any antibiotics you may be taking and vice versa. Itâs important to note this as Childrenâs Minnesota encourages everyone who is able to get the vaccine to do so when eligible to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Children Can Still Get Vaccines Even With A Fever Or Mild Illness
Because a mild illness does not affect how well the body responds to a vaccine, your child can still be vaccinated if he or she has:
- A low grade fever
- A cold, runny nose, or cough
- An ear infection
- Mild diarrhea
Doctors at leading health organizations, like the American Academy of Pediatricsexternal icon and the American Academy of Family Physiciansexternal icon, recommend that children with mild illnesses receive vaccinations on schedule.
There is no health benefit to waiting to vaccinate your child if he or she has a mild illness. Its important that children get their vaccines on time so theyre protected against serious diseases.
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Q: Why Is The Fda Providing Flexibility To Food Manufacturers Under Limited Circumstances During The Covid
A: Due to limited shortages of specific ingredients and foods, or unexpected supply chain disruptions in some industries, food manufacturers may need to make small changes to some ingredients during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Manufacturers may not be able to relabel their products to reflect these minor changes on the food label without slowing down the processing or distribution of the food.
To avoid slowing down food processing or distribution during the coronavirus pandemic, the FDA issued a guidance titled “Temporary Policy Regarding Certain Food Labeling Requirements During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: Minor Formulation Changes and Vending Machines.” The temporary policy provides food manufacturers with flexibility to make minor formulation changes in certain, limited circumstances without making conforming label changes on packages as long as any substitutions or omissions of ingredients do not pose a health or safety issue , and do not cause significant changes in the finished product.
Vaccines Do Not Make A Mild Illness Worse
Vaccines only have a tiny fraction of the bacteria and viruses that children encounter naturally. Because of this, the immune system can handle getting vaccines and fighting minor illnesses at the same time.
Vaccines do not make symptoms of illness worse. Like any medication, vaccines may cause mild side effects, like a low fever or soreness or swelling where the shot was given. To help with discomfort from these side effects, put a cool, wet washcloth on the sore area or ask your childs doctor about using pain- or fever-reducing medicine. These side effects are very minor and soon go away.
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Vaccine For Patients With A History Of Anaphylaxis Or Multiple Allergies
Patients with a history of anaphylaxis or multiple allergies donot need to be vaccinated in a hospital.
However, there are specific considerations for patients with a history of anaphylaxis or multiple allergies.
The Australian Government strongly recommends that people who are immunocompromised receive the COVID-19 vaccination.
ATAGI have produced guides to help providers:
- .
Should I Delay My Covid
There is no need to delay getting vaccinated against COVID-19 until after surgery. Fever is a potential side effect of COVID-19 vaccines, and having a fever after surgery raises concerns about a possible surgical wound infection. For that reason, it is a good idea to allow at least one week between getting vaccinated and having surgery.
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/13the Medicines You Can And Cannot Take Along With Your Covid Vaccine
Coronavirus vaccines are being prioritized for elderlies and the ones over 45, with comorbidities.
From statins, anticoagulants, immunosuppressants to blood sugar pills, most people with comorbidities rely on maintenance medications to regulate vital functioning and thus, need to be used regularly.
However, with the arrival of COVID vaccines, there also have been some unfortunate discoveries. The usage of blood-thinning medications and strangely enough, derma fillers have been brought to question since they have been found to trigger some unique immune responses. Predisposition to some conditions or routine medicines may also make some develop unusual rashes and swellings.
Can I Take Over
Because of some of the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine such as injection site soreness, arm soreness and body achesâ people often wonder, can I take over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help relieve these side effects?
The answer is: yes. While side effects of the vaccine are normal as your body is building immunity, itâs OK to use these over-the-counter medications to help relieve your pain or discomfort. It is discouraged to take these types of anti-inflammatory before the COVID vaccine as a pre-medication if possible as it may slightly lower the immune response to the vaccine. However anyone routinely on these medications for medical reasons should talk with their provider on whether to hold the doses for the day prior to vaccination.
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The big Covid topic on everyones minds is boosters.
On Friday morning, the FDA Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna booster shots for all adults ages 18 and up.And later in the day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention followed suit.
The CDC said that every adult who is at least six months removed from their second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine can get a third shot. And it recommended that people over the age of 50 or in long-term care settings make sure they do so.
The long-awaited decision comes after months in which the boundaries of who can get a booster have been widening. The Biden administration first announced its plans to make boosters widely available in August. Since then, weve seen the rollout of boosters to Pfizer and Moderna recipients over age 65, and those who are 18 or older who are immunocompromised or at high risk of infection. All adult Johnson & Johnson one-dose recipients have also been approved for booster shots, two months after their first.
The fact is, the federal government has been lagging on this front. Several states have already gotten ahead of the federal government by approving boosters for adults: Colorado, California, New Mexico, and Arkansas, among others, have all moved in the last few weeks to declare nearly all adults eligible. And based on anecdotal accounts, even adults not eligible yet have been able to get a booster shot.
Q: Can My Pet Get Covid
The virus that causes COVID-19 can spread from people to animals including pets in some situations, mostly during close contact. If a person inside the household becomes sick, isolate that person from everyone else, including pets and other animals.
We know that most pets that get infected do so after close contact with their owner or other household member with COVID-19. Consult CDCs website for the latest recommendations about how to protect pets from the virus.
If you are sick with COVID-19 , you should avoid contact with your pets and other animals, just like you would with people.
- When possible, have another member of your household care for your pets while you are sick.
- Avoid contact with your pet including petting snuggling, being kissed or licked, sharing food, and sleeping in the same bed.
- If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you have COVID-19, wear a mask and wash your hands before and after you interact with them.
Talk to your veterinarian if your pet gets sick or if you have any concerns about your pets health.
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Im Healthy And Not At Higher Risk For Serious Disease Should I Get A Booster
Personally, this describes my situation and Im getting one.
If you got two shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, as I did, youre already fairly well-protected from severe Covid-19 outcomes. The main thing a booster does is make you less likely to get infected and sick but thats still good to have.
We have a lot more data on these vaccines than we did when they were first approved. We know that they generally remain very effective against severe illness and death even a year after someone gets two shots. But they do wane in effectiveness against infection. Six months after your second dose, the vaccine is less protective against catching Covid-19 and, perhaps, virus spread.
Thats because antibody levels in the blood decline over time. Experts disagree on how much peopleshould worry about that. Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, told me that a healthy, functioning immune system gradually prunes blood antibodies for infections the body hasnt encountered, and it doesnt mean you wont fight off Covid-19 just fine .
This lukewarm recommendation becomes a much stronger one for older adults and others at elevated risk from Covid-19 due to their health or setting. If your immune system functions less well, then at least one additional shot might be needed just to get your immune system to the level of readiness that other people were at after two shots. Thats well worth it.
Should I Be Worried About Myocarditis Or Pericarditis Following Covid
There have been rare reports of inflammation of the heart following vaccination with the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in the US. Most of the reported cases have been among male adolescents and young adults and have occurred within several days following the second dose of the vaccine. Most patients with myocarditis and pericarditis who received care responded well to medicine and rest and quickly recovered.
If you have any of these symptoms within a week after COVID-19 vaccination, seek medical care:
Chest pain
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