What do doctors say about combining vaccines?
We tell you 3:48
(CNN Spanish) -
This week in our question and answer episode, Dr. Elmer Huerta answers various questions about the covid-19 vaccine.
Among them, how to complete various vaccination schedules, questions about post-vaccination infection, and the interaction of the vaccine with some medications.
You can listen to this episode on Spotify or your favorite podcast platform or read the transcript below.
Hello, I am Dr. Elmer Huerta and this is your dose of information about the new coronavirus, information that we hope will be useful to take care of your health and that of your family.
Today we will answer some questions that we have been asked on our Twitter account @DrHuerta.
What about booster doses?
1:22
Questions about the combination of vaccines and booster doses
@drhuerta me another concern.
I am vaccinated with the 1st dose of Sputnik V, more than 3 months ago, if I get vaccinated with a 2nd dose of Modern mRNA vaccine, how did my vaccination schedule end?
- Horacio HPCA (@HORATIOHC) August 21, 2021
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Hello, Horacio.
Good question.
Moderna's vaccine acts as the second dose, and with that you have completed your vaccination schedule.
@drhuerta can a person take the two doses of Aztrazeneca and then at 5 months a dose of Pfizer or the only dose of Johnson & J ??
- SuperAcion-G.Vilella (@RTSuperAcion) August 20, 2021
Hello, Vilella.
So far, there are already several countries that have announced the administration of a booster dose of vaccines to their inhabitants, including:
Chili,
Uruguay,
Dominican Republic,
France,
United Kingdom,
Bahrain,
United Arab Emirates,
Germany,
Russia,
and Israel.
You don't tell me which country you live in, but if you are in any of them, you should check with the health authorities.
@drhuerta Good morning.
You can indicate in a brief summary which vaccines against covid19 are combinable with each other.
There is little information in general and it is more difficult to access it
- Oscar Sierra (@oesegarcia) August 20, 2021
Hello Oscar.
So far, these are the vaccine combinations that have been scientifically studied: AstraZeneca and Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna, Pfizer and Moderna, and Sputnik V with Moderna or AstraZeneca.
@drhuerta would like to know what time interval should mediate between a second vaccine (2nd from Pfizer) and an eventual 3rd booster (from Pfizer).
Thanks.
Sandro Sartorelli
- Sandro Sartorelli (@sansartbar) August 20, 2021
Hi Sandro.
As we heard in the August 20 episode, the US government has proposed that the Pfizer booster dose be administered eight months after the first.
But the final interval will be defined by the Committee of Experts on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States (CDC, for its acronym in English).
And who were vaccinated with Cansino?
Can we after 8 months be vaccinated with a different vaccine?
- Mireya Carbajal (@yeya_carbajal) August 18, 2021
Hi, Mireya.
It is possible that yes, but that decision is at the discretion of the regulatory entities of each country.
I beg you to be attentive to the news, I am sure that soon you will hear something.
If I get vaccinated, is protection lost?
0:52
Questions about post-vaccination infection
@drhuerta Dr a query, I had to give myself the second dose of SINOPHARM on 7/28 but a day before I started with symptoms, and I was Positive, the question is how protected am I with one dose and after going through the virus?
Can I get the second one now or should I wait?
Thanks
- Martin Ruarte (@ tincho4076) August 22, 2021
Hello Martin.
One dose of vaccine gives incomplete protection, possibly that is why you got sick with covid-19.
You should now complete your second dose 90 days after discharge.
@drhuerta Good evening: I was diagnosed with Covid in January and I was seriously ill.
I gave negative in March.
I got the 1st dose in April and the 2nd in July.
Question: if I get infected again, even if the vaccine does not have serious consequences, do I generate new antibodies with the new infection?
- David Lanz (@ DavidLa83324840) August 21, 2021
Excellent question, David.
Yes, every time a person is exposed to the virus or a vaccine, the person increases the production of antibodies.
What is not well known is the duration of these antibodies.
My family came out of covid a week ago.
Then they put us on the 2nd dose of Astra.
In our city there is the delta variant.
Having had the virus recently and having the 2 doses is it possible to get the delta now?
- graciela rojas (@grarojasdf) August 19, 2021
Hello Graciela.
Infection is still possible in the situation you describe.
It is unknown why some people are more susceptible to infection in this extreme situation.
@drhuerta
Very good day Dr.,
Ricardo from Argentina age 74 and asked:
Vaccinated 1st dose Sputnik April 15, July 9, positive isolate without fever but rest known symptoms, 10 days isolated, now without smell and little resistance: 2nd is convenient for me dose? Thank you very much!
- Ricardo đŠđ· MdP (@ Simkin112) August 19, 2021
Hi Ricardo.
Yes of course.
Current recommendations are that a person who becomes infected after the first dose of vaccine completes their vaccination with the missing dose 90 days after discharge.
Can the vaccine against covid-19 be substituted?
1:24
Questions about the vaccine and other conditions
Dr my sister has a thrombosis in her left leg could she get the covid-19 vaccine
- Rosimar Manrique (@ManriqueRosimar) August 21, 2021
Hello, Rosimar.
You don't tell me what type and condition your sister's thrombosis is in.
In general, the presence of a resolved thrombosis is not an impediment for you to be vaccinated, but you should understand that only your personal physician can decide on vaccination.
@drhuerta for low back pain this week they prescribed diclofenac, dexamethasone and prednisolone, I get the second dose of Astra the following week.
Are these medicines not opposed to the vaccine?
- Fernando Macias LeĂłn (@ Fernand48962808) August 20, 2021
Of course, Fernando, there is no problem with you getting vaccinated by taking those medicines.
Remember that people should continue to take their medicines before and after vaccination.
Perhaps the exception is the drug methotrexate, which has been shown to decrease the production of antibodies from the vaccine, in which case you should check with your doctor before getting vaccinated.
@drhuerta greetings from Mexico.
On Saturday I received the first dose of the Astrazeneca vaccine.
Is it possible to deworm me or do I have to wait some time?
Thank you, good day
- Mish Salmeron (@miishso) August 18, 2021
Hi, Mish.
If deworming is indicated by your doctor, please follow his instructions, you can do it without problems.
Doctor, I have a question.
If I was vaccinated with the first dose of sinovac yesterday August 16 and I am taking the antidepressant Sertraline.
It will not have any contraindication or side effect?
Please help me to resolve this questionđđœđ„ș
- Sofia (@ Sofa92366630) August 18, 2021
Good question, Sofia.
I don't think there is a problem with your depression medicine and the vaccine.
Remember that the vaccinated person must continue taking their medicines before and after vaccination.
Who will get the booster shot in the US?
0:29
Other questions about vaccination
Good morning Dr, I am a medical student and I would like to know if 7 days after the application of the 1st Pfizer dose, the immunization may be canceled if there was contact with a positive COVID patient
- Irving Cortes (@ Cortes_1011) August 20, 2021
Hi Irving, good question.
The production of antibodies by the vaccine does not have to be affected by exposing yourself to an infected person.
However, I tell you that it is if you get infected it is possible that you develop covid-19, because after seven days the production of antibodies does not yet reach a protective level.
@drhuerta, I was vaccinated with sinovac, 123 days ago I received the second dose, but I am not sure if I am protected, they say that this sinovac vaccine only protects 50%, while other vaccines 90%, and why rich countries no, they do not apply it, https://t.co/b3mhndDAph
- hugo_azuero@yahoo.co (@azuero_hugo) August 19, 2021
Hello Hugo.
Remember that the effectiveness of a vaccine is measured as its ability to reduce the likelihood of mild illness, severe illness, or death.
In this regard, a Chilean study, done on 10.5 million people vaccinated with Sinovac, found that it was 67 percent effective against mild symptomatic covid-19, and 85 percent protection against hospitalization.
@drhuerta good evening Dr. Some have to be vaccinated every year as you do with the influenza vaccine?
If so, would you have to get the same vaccine as the previous year?
Thank you very much and greetings from Guatemala
- Rafael Gomez RPG (@rfpgomez) August 20, 2021
Hello Rafael.
Your questions are very interesting, but we still don't know what will happen in the future.
Some experts believe that covid-19 has come to stay and will be one of the viral diseases that affect humans, and we may need periodic booster doses of the vaccine.
@drhuerta what is the recommendation in terms of vaccination for those infected?
By having antibodies, are there more side effects?
Is the vaccine considered a second dose?
Natural immunity is limited, does it work for contagion too?
The vaccine + soon better?
- FernĂĄndez (@alejofernandezr) August 19, 2021
Hi, Fernandez.
Infected people must complete the vaccination schedule in force in their country.
Only in Panama is a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine given to the person who has already passed the disease.
@drhuerta, does the sinovac vaccine protect against disease, hospitalization and death?
- hugo_azuero@yahoo.co (@azuero_hugo) August 19, 2021
Hello Hugo.
That's true.
A Chilean study, done on 10.5 million people vaccinated with Sinovac, found that this vaccine was 67 percent effective against mild symptomatic covid-19, and 85 percent protection against hospitalization.
Also the effectiveness against death is very high.
@drhuerta good morning, I hope you are well.
If a person is vaccinated against covid19 and has a reaction to the vaccine: can that person spread the virus to other people?
Thanks
- Ăngela Itriago (@angela_itriago) August 18, 2021
That's a very good question, Angela.
No, that is not possible, because remember that no vaccine injects the infectious virus, so the side effects or reactions that the vaccinated person develops do not indicate that they are infected.
Therefore, it is impossible for it to be contagious.
Does the vaccine modify our DNA?
Dr. Huerta responds 5:25
Other questions about the coronavirus
Hello Dr Huerta, is it possible for a person to still test positive after almost 3 months?
When can you stop being quarantined?
- Nata (@Natadelalech) August 20, 2021
Hi, Nata.
You don't tell me what kind of test that person is taking.
If it is a molecular PCR test, it is extraordinarily rare for that to happen.
If it's a serologic antibody test, that's normal.
@drhuerta Good afternoon doctor: my daughter tested positive in a molecular test on Tuesday the 10th, and today (18) the antigen test came out negative.
Can you leave the isolation?
I would ask the doctor who saw her at the beginning, but he prescribed ivermectin !!!
No confidence!
Thanks in advance!
- Daniel Davis (@danieldavisd) August 18, 2021
Hello Daniel.
If she does not have symptoms, consider as day one of the day that she had the positive test and, from that day, count 10 days until she is no longer contagious.
If you have had symptoms, the day they appeared is day one, and then you add 10 days to calculate the period of contagion.
@drhuerta good night .. have you talked about vaccinating pregnant and lactating women up to 40 days old .. but infants for a longer time can be vaccinated?
What should the vaccine be?
Thanks..
- CATALINA HURTADO (@Khata_HM) August 18, 2021
Hi Catalina.
Of course, there is no problem for a nursing woman to be vaccinated after 40 days.
Good morning, what do you think about spacing the second dose of Pfizer to 8-12 weeks to have better effectiveness against the Delta variant?
- zzzmmm (@agticie) August 17, 2021
Hello, ZZZ.
That is precisely what the UK government had decided when it approved the vaccines in late December 2020.
Unfortunately, when the delta variant appeared in that country, it was found that a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine gave only 33 percent protection against that variant, so they had to change the rule and advance the second dose to 28 days , as recommended by the manufacturer.
Do you have questions about the coronavirus?
Send me your questions on Twitter, we will try to answer them in our next episodes.
You can find me at @DrHuerta.
If you think this podcast is helpful, be sure to subscribe to get the latest episode on your account and help others find it;
rating and reviewing it on your favorite podcast app.
And for the most up-to-date information, you can always head to CNNEspanol.com.
Thank you for your time.
If you have any questions you can send them to Dr. Elmer Huerta through Twitter. You can also head over to CNNE.com/coronaviruspodcast for all episodes of our "Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction" podcast.
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