Can a person become infected with coronavirus after vaccination?
Most experts agree that the vaccine does not provide 100% protection against infection.
If a large dose of the pathogen enters the body of a vaccinated person, this can cause a so-called immune breakthrough. “A person who has been vaccinated may think that they can no longer be infectious and cannot become infected themselves. But this is not true. After vaccination, there is still a small risk of infection, although if it occurs, the disease will not be severe,” explained infectious disease specialist and vaccinologist Evgeniy Timakov. The company that developed the EpiVacCorona vaccine warned that a person with developed immunity in contact with a coronavirus patient may become ill within a month after vaccination, but in this case the virus will not cause complications or death. Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova stated that the immune response to the vaccine against coronavirus infection is formed within 42 days after the first injection. Therefore, all this time it is important to follow preventive measures in order not to become infected with COVID-19: refrain from visiting crowded places, observe the mask regime and hygiene rules, minimize contacts, maintain social distance, limit the intake of alcohol and medications that suppress the immune system.
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Today, Russians can be vaccinated with two domestic vaccines - Gam-Covid-Vac (Sputnik V). The third vaccine, CoviVac, developed by the Chumakov Center, is in the final stage of testing and will go into public circulation by the end of March.
- "EpiVacCorona": effectiveness is 100%; immune protection is expected to last for at least a year.
- "Gam-Covid-Vac": effectiveness is 91.4%, against severe disease - 100%; immune protection is expected to last for two years (nine months has already been proven).
- "CoviVac": effectiveness is 85%; The duration of immunity will be announced after the completion of clinical trials.
What rules must be followed after vaccination?
For a proper immune response after vaccination, you need to follow a few simple recommendations. Usually citizens have no idea what and why can be done and what is undesirable
Photo: Tatyana Makeeva/Reuters
Vaccination against COVID-19 does not affect reproductive function. There was also no negative effect of Sputnik V on pregnancy. This was stated by the head of the Ministry of Health Mikhail Murashko in an interview with RIA Novosti. He added that there are currently no clinical data on the use of the vaccine in women who are breastfeeding. In this regard, there are currently no indications for the use of the vaccine during breastfeeding. At the same time, many Russians do not understand at all what can be done after vaccination and what absolutely cannot be done, despite the fact that mass vaccination in Russia has been going on for several months. Business FM tried to understand this issue.
Let's start with a quote: “Our medical staff is already tired of answering this question. You can drink vodka after vaccination!” Either this is a fake, or such an advertisement actually hung on the door of one of the vaccination points. But the fact is that the corresponding
was widely circulated on the Internet. And it aroused great interest.
Apparently, many people still don’t understand whether it’s possible or not. Officials are partly to blame for this. Last December, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said that it is necessary to give up alcohol for 42 days after vaccination. At the same time, the developer of the Sputnik V vaccine, director of the Gamaleya Center, Alexander Ginzburg, answered her. According to him, it is enough to abstain from libations for three days after each vaccination. At the same time, the scientist added that a glass of champagne on New Year’s Day will not harm even vaccinated people.
As for other restrictions, regional authorities contributed to the general confusion. Thus, the Saratov Ministry of Health recently called for abstaining from sex after vaccination. But then the minister corrected his deputy’s statement: “It’s possible, but carefully.”
At the same time, it is not always possible to obtain comprehensive explanations at vaccination points. Of course, everyone who comes there is given brochures with recommendations, but, as they say, who reads them? And there is not much useful information in them.
The chief cardiologist of the Russian Railways Medicine network of clinics, the head of the temporary Covid hospital, Doctor of Medical Sciences Zaur Shugushev, told Business FM about what is possible and what is not:
Zaur Shugushev, chief cardiologist of the Russian Railways Medicine network of clinics, head of the temporary Covid hospital, Doctor of Medical Sciences “It is important to understand what kind of vaccine it is. If we are talking about the most common vaccine, Sputnik-V, given that it contains an adenovirus that is not able to reproduce, in fact, a so-called influenza-like condition develops. In principle, the contraindications are the same as in the presence of a common acute respiratory viral disease: abstain from alcohol, from playing sports, intimate intimacy should be perceived as physical activity - if this is accompanied by intense physical activity, then this can be equated to playing sports. Accordingly, it is advisable to rest for the next one to three days after vaccination.”
It appears that not all young men are following the recommendation to avoid strenuous exercise after vaccination. How else can we explain the cases of myocarditis and pericarditis, that is, inflammation of the heart muscles, after vaccination? These side effects occurred most often in young people vaccinated with Pfizer and Moderna. Honored Doctor of Russia, leading scientific editor of the Vrachu.ru portal Mikhail Kagan continues:
Mikhail Kagan, Honored Doctor of Russia, leading scientific editor of the portal Vrachu.ru “When a vaccine is administered, it is necessary that the virus is localized only in the place where it was introduced, that is, in the deltoid muscle, and does not enter other organs. Therefore, one of the recommendations after vaccination, which is very important, is not to visit gyms; some kind of physical rest should still be observed. Apparently this is difficult to do with young men. It seems that they are not following this recommendation; it seems to be important at least for the first week. In general, I know that it is not a serious complication in the vast majority of those who develop it, and it resolves within a short time with just anti-inflammatory drugs and leaves no consequences.”
Another recommendation, especially relevant now: in the first days after the injection, you should avoid overheating and definitely avoid sunbathing. You can sunbathe later. Again, there is no categorical ban on alcohol; there are recommendations not to drink in the first days after vaccination. The reason is that any influences that weaken the body also weaken the immune system. This means that the effect of vaccination is reduced.
Well, if a person feels really bad after vaccination, they should consult a doctor. Or even call an ambulance. This is what the head of the Ministry of Health Mikhail Murashko reminded the Russians of.
In the interview, Murashko also said that after vaccination against coronavirus, no more than 2.5% of Russians fell ill. Most of those who fell ill after vaccination caught the virus “during the formation of immunity.” It, as Murashko recalled, lasts from two to three weeks “after the second vaccination.”
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Is a person contagious after vaccination?
According to the chief freelance therapist of the Ministry of Health, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Oksana Drapkina, during vaccination a person cannot infect others. However, according to Timakov, there is a small risk of infection, but it is not associated with the coronavirus vaccine. The doctor explains this by the fact that when vaccinated against COVID-19, people do not develop local immunity of the mucous membranes. This means that once SARS-CoV-2 gets on, for example, the nasal mucosa, it can multiply and can be transmitted to other people by sneezing. “Vaccination prevents the virus from entering the body so that the infection does not reach the organ that it can infect. Vaccination will most likely not increase the local immunity of the mucous membranes, so the coronavirus will be able to catch on and begin to multiply in the nasopharynx. Thus, the person will become a source of infection,” the expert explained.
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Allergist-immunologist Vladimir Bolibok shares a similar opinion. In his opinion, those who have been vaccinated may not get sick with COVID-19 themselves, but they can infect others with the coronavirus. “Vaccination protects against infection - that is, if the virus gets into the nose, the person will not get sick, but he will be a virus carrier,” he said.
Health Minister Mikhail Murashko explained the importance of wearing masks, including to those who have been vaccinated: “Vaccination reliably protects against severe illness and, in the vast majority of cases, against the disease, but a vaccinated person can nevertheless transmit the infection to those who are not protected ", said Murashko.
Doctors assessed the need for a flu shot after vaccination against COVID-19
On the issue of the need for vaccination against seasonal flu for those who have been vaccinated against coronavirus infection, doctors have different positions. Experts presented their points of view in a conversation with the Zvezda TV channel on August 31.
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Thus, general practitioner Lyudmila Lapa explained that after vaccination against COVID-19, the body’s immune system is already prepared for contact with viruses, so it makes no sense to get vaccinated against the flu after that.
“In this case, a viral vaccination, I believe, is no longer necessary. We prepared the immune system for viruses with the vaccine, and interferon status is already increasing during this period. All this is quite enough to protect against the simple flu virus,” Lapa said.
After immunization with drugs against coronavirus, the therapist advised not to put unnecessary stress on the body with anti-influenza vaccinations. Only in this case will the immune system work as expected and provide protection against both bacteria and viruses, the doctor noted.
Therapist and immunologist Irina Yartseva has a different opinion. She believes that vaccines have specific properties, and each individual vaccine works against a specific virus. For this reason, you still need to get vaccinated against the flu.
“If a person gets vaccinated against the flu every year, then if I were him, I would continue to do it, and [you should] just separate them at different periods,” Yartseva pointed out, recommending that after the anti-Covid vaccination you wait about two weeks before going for immunization against flu
Allergist-immunologist Vladimir Bolibok, in turn, expressed confidence that a flu shot is necessary this season. However, first of all, he called for resolving the issue of vaccination or revaccination against coronavirus, since it is the most severe and dangerous infection among those existing at the moment. At the same time, like Yartseva, the specialist advised dividing flu and COVID-19 vaccinations at different time periods.
“The difference between the coronavirus vaccine and the flu shot should be about a month,” Bolibok stated.
In addition, speaking about the benefits of the flu shot, the doctor added that human immunity is maintained primarily through contact with infections, and the safest such contact is the vaccine.
Earlier, on August 30, the head of the Influenza Research Institute, Dmitry Lioznov, warned that the risks of developing influenza remain, despite the increase in the number of citizens vaccinated against coronavirus and those who have recovered from it.
On August 24, it became known that new strains had been added to the flu vaccine. Vaccination against influenza in Russia may begin as early as September this year - supplies of drugs have already begun, Rospotrebnadzor told Izvestia.
Large-scale vaccination is currently ongoing in Russia. Vaccination is given free of charge to everyone. Previously, five drugs against coronavirus were registered in the country: Sputnik V, which became the first vaccine against COVID-19 in the Russian Federation and the world, Sputnik Light, EpiVacCorona, CoviVac and EpiVacCorona-N.
All current information on the situation with coronavirus is available on the websites stopcoronavirus.rf and accessvsem.rf, as well as using the hashtag #WeAreTogether. Coronavirus hotline number: 8 (800) 2000-112.
What not to do immediately after vaccination
You cannot hide from doctors the presence of any symptoms after vaccination. Allergic reactions, high fever, severe headaches or muscle pain, shortness of breath, cough, runny nose, sore throat, especially if these reactions last for more than three to five days, are a reason to see a doctor, warns vaccinologist Evgeny Timakov. This may no longer be a reaction to the vaccine, but signs of the disease.
After vaccination with Sputnik V, the Ministry of Health recommends not getting the injection site wet for three days, not visiting the sauna or bathhouse, not drinking alcohol and avoiding excessive physical activity. In turn, Rospotrebnadzor after vaccination recommended not to overcool, not overheat and avoid stress to the body, as well as avoid foods that can provoke an allergic reaction.
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How to help your immune system after vaccination
The chief freelance nutritionist of the Russian Ministry of Health, Viktor Tutelyan, recommends that everyone who has been vaccinated against coronavirus “pay attention to vitamins, primarily vitamin D,” and, if necessary, eliminate its deficiency. You also need to consume foods high in protein. “Why a vaccine is administered is to stimulate the production of specific antibodies, and antibodies are protein structures. For this, there is a great need for protein. What is this - meat, fish, eggs. We need to make sure that this is included in the diet,” Tutelyan explained.
Is it true
You cannot go to the bathhouse, sauna or swimming pool after vaccination.
One day after vaccination, there is no need to wet the injection site at all - according to Alexander Kharitonov, this rule applies to all vaccinations. Also, for three days after vaccination, it is not recommended to visit the bathhouse, sauna or swimming pool, so as not to overload the body. Excessive abstinence from water procedures is already unnecessary.
You should avoid excessive physical activity after vaccination.
“On the day of vaccination, it’s better to just rest and not overload,” says Alexander Kharitonov. — If you feel good the next day, then you can go to the gym or to the garden, but do not lift weights and do not dig up the entire garden.
Alexander Kharitonov believes that there are now many more people who really want to get vaccinated against coronavirus. Photo: Alexey Kunilov
Should those who have already had the disease be vaccinated?
Those who have recovered from COVID-19 and have IgG antibodies, which are responsible for stable immunity to infection, do not need vaccination, says Oksana Drapkina. “Patients who have had the disease and have immunoglobulin G antibodies are not currently vaccinated,” she said.
Before vaccination, it is advisable to get tested for antibodies. If the IgG level is above 10, then immunity has already formed and vaccination is not necessary.
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According to the head of the department of general virology of the Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immunobiological Preparations named after. M.P. Chumakov RAS, Professor Georgy Ignatiev, the presence of antibodies to coronavirus in the blood is a contraindication for participation in vaccine trials. In other words, if a person has recently had COVID-19, he cannot be vaccinated. “Since the current criteria for medical eligibility for participation in clinical trials is a previous infection, it turns out that people who have had COVID-19 do not need to be vaccinated. But how long does post-infectious immunity last? The level of antibodies is constantly falling over time, and the antibodies should be expected to go away. And then the person will need to be vaccinated,” Ignatiev explained.
Why children are not vaccinated against COVID-19
There is no need to vaccinate children against coronavirus en masse, said the head of Rospotrebnadzor, Anna Popova. “We don’t vaccinate children yet, there is no need for mass immunization of children, children tolerate [the disease] very easily, immunity is developed quickly even in the absence of symptoms,” she explained.
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Infectious disease doctor Evgeniy Timakov shares a similar opinion: “Children do not get sick so seriously and severely, so getting vaccinated is not a priority for them now.”
Recently, clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine in the form of nasal drops for young children - up to 3-4 years old - began in Russia. As the director of the center, Alexander Gintsburg, said, “this is, of course, a very gentle and convenient form of vaccination for children.” In addition, it is “completely devoid of any side effects.” The tests are planned to be completed this year, Gunzburg said. Adults can also use the spray vaccine, but this procedure will not replace traditional vaccination.
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When and who can get vaccinated?
Vaccination against coronavirus is allowed 30 days after any other vaccinations, according to the Moscow mayor’s website. However, it does not protect against the flu, so it is recommended to get both vaccinations. Coronavirus vaccination recommendations also state that the vaccine should not be given to those who have suffered acute coronary syndrome or stroke in the past year. Contraindications also include chronic systemic infections, tuberculosis, neoplasms, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and HIV.
Those who do not have a high temperature (37 °C or more) will be able to get vaccinated. Before the procedure, the patient must be examined by a health care worker, who must be informed about existing chronic diseases, other vaccinations, and previous acute respiratory viral infections. Based on these data, the decision on vaccination will be made.
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“In addition, both women and men should not take part in the study if they plan to conceive a child in the next three months,” the mayor’s website states.
According to the chief freelance specialist in obstetrics and gynecology of the Russian Ministry of Health, Professor Leila Adamyan, it is better to start planning a pregnancy or undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) two to three months after vaccination against coronavirus. “Even a couple who does not want to have a child today, but has one in the project, must be vaccinated [against coronavirus], and in the near future - [in] two, maximum three months, can switch to IVF and planning pregnancy directly.” , said Adamyan.
The doctor assures that the risk of complications after vaccination is “a thousand times lower” than harm to the body from COVID-19, especially if it is severe. It is worth considering the influence of special medications that are used to treat the disease.
Is the coronavirus vaccine safe for older people?
According to the chief physician of the hospital in Kommunarka, Denis Protsenko, vaccination against coronavirus will help reduce mortality among elderly patients with confirmed COVID-19. The level of antibodies in older people after vaccination against coronavirus is usually lower than in young people, said Deputy Head of Rospotrebnadzor Tatyana Nepomnyashchikh. “If the antibody level is zero, something must have gone wrong. Maybe the person had health problems or was simply overworked at the time of vaccination. Or he has an acquired or permanent immunodeficiency. “In older people, the immune response takes longer to form than in young people, and their antibody levels tend to be lower,” she noted.
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Vaccination for elderly patients will be safe if the patients do not have exacerbations of chronic diseases, they have not had ARVI for two weeks before vaccination and have not received other vaccinations for 30 days, said Andrei Tyazhelnikov, chief freelance specialist in primary health care for adults. “I would like to say that the oldest Muscovite vaccinated against coronavirus is 104 years old <...> In total, more than 700,000 people in Moscow have been vaccinated against coronavirus, of which 50% are over 60 years old,” he noted. The expert recalls that citizens over 60 years of age are in the highest risk group and are more susceptible to coronavirus. “In fact, vaccination is the only way to protect older patients <...> We must intensify the vaccination process more than ever,” he added.
How to prepare a child for vaccination?
Before vaccination, you must undergo a medical examination and obtain permission from doctors for vaccination.
If a child is prone to allergic reactions, antihistamines should be taken for two days before vaccination and two days after it.
Just in case, stock up on antipyretics in advance, preferably in the form of suppositories and tablets, and not in the form of syrups.
On the day of vaccination, do not introduce a new type of food into the child’s menu.
Before going to the clinic, be sure to take the temperature and make sure that the baby is healthy.
Don't forget to bring your vaccination certificate with you.
Feel free to ask about anything that concerns you about vaccination.
After vaccination, stay in the medical facility for about half an hour. This will allow the child to calm down. In addition, if allergic reactions or other complications occur, you can immediately seek help.
You can bathe your child on the same day, but if the Mantoux test was done, make sure that water does not get on your hand.
How often will you need to be vaccinated against COVID-19?
Georgy Ignatiev, head of the general virology department at the Chumakov Center, believes that vaccination against coronavirus will most likely have to be done annually. “According to studies, those who have recovered from coronavirus infection demonstrate a decrease in the level of specific antibodies, therefore, perhaps, as in the case of influenza, people will have to be vaccinated annually, including those who previously had COVID-19 with a critical decrease in the level of antibodies,” - he explained.
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said the same thing in an interview with TASS. According to her, the coronavirus is gradually turning into a seasonal virus, so it is highly likely that you will have to be vaccinated against the infection regularly. “Of course, when we take off our masks is connected with 60% of the vaccinated population, and with our citizens’ compliance with restrictive measures during this period, and with the fact that the coronavirus turns into a seasonal virus, which means, with a high degree of probability, that we We will be vaccinated regularly,” she said.
Golikova noted that neither the world nor Russia have yet accumulated sufficient experience in terms of understanding how long immune protection lasts. “Of course, now everyone is “relaxed” and believes that Covid is going away, the situation is better now, but while the virus is not going anywhere yet, we must take care of ourselves and our loved ones,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
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