Medical research reveals new information about COVID-19 daily. While scientists and medical experts focus on virus spread, new variants, improved therapeutic treatments and more, it's sometimes difficult for the public to keep up with evolving information.
In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, helps by answering a number of common questions and addressing these COVID-19 topics:
- Antibody tests after having a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Monoclonal antibodies.
- COVID-19 variants.
- Side effects, especially after the second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Vaccinating children and attending school in person.
- Whether COVID-19 vaccines an be interchanged.
- Mask-wearing recommendations.
- Appearance of long-hauler symptoms are more often in women.
- Pregnant, breastfeeding mothers and the COVID-19 vaccines.
To practice safe social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, this interview was conducted using video conferencing. The sound and video quality are representative of the technology used. For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
See full transcript.
Connect with others talking about the pandemic and supporting one another in the COVID-19 support group.
Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date.
For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.
Dr. Poland has served as a consultant for Merck & Co. Inc., Medicago Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Sanofi Pasteur, Emergent BioSolutions Inc., Dynavax Technologies Corp., Genentech Inc., Eli Lilly and Co., Kentucky BioProcessing Inc. and Genevant Sciences Corp., and Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. He is a paid scientific adviser for Johnson & Johnson. Honoraria: Elsevier.
Question for Dr Poland:
Once someone has received the 2nd dose of vaccine, is there any concern
about giving blood. Also, does it in any way weaken the immunity we get
from the vaccine?
Thank you so much for the continued communication regarding CoVID.
Please see this week's podcast from Dr. Poland where he answers many of your questions.
- COVID-19 variants and the evolving science https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/podcasts/newsfeed-post/covid-19-variants-and-the-evolving-science/
Newer questions have been submitted for the next podcast.
@jude07, Dr. Poland covered the topic of your question in the March 3, 2021 podcast here:
– Don’t let down your guard during the COVID-19 pandemic https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/podcasts/newsfeed-post/dont-let-down-your-guard-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/
I had the johnson and johnson vaccine and became very I'll 10 hours later. I was s very sick for 3 days and then it started dwindling. I've had some fever spikes periodically and joint pain. Now, for the last 4 days, I've had high blood pressure and feel like I can't breathe. The only time I left the house was to go to my oncology appt. I may have picked something up there? Do you think I should go get tested for covid?
Pinkfish66, I suggest you contact your doctor.
Can you add website? You say here it is, but it's not there. Or include it as a reply so I get sent it. I'm interested in reading about this. And, I'm not too surprised. There is a link between death and flouroquinolones amongh the elderly. It appears the Pfizer vaccine has a hydroxycholoroquin which is in the quniolone family. I want to be vaccinated, I just can't have another quinolone after being floxed. I don't want neuropathy which I got a little of when I got floxed but it mostly went away after a few months. I was floxed with Cipro for a minor ear ache when it's recommended by the FDA not to give these drugs(the flouroquinolone family) unless it's last resort and other real antibiotics fail.
Mangamaker, Fluoroquinolones are a class of antibiotics approved to treat or prevent certain bacterial infections. COVID-19 is a virus, not a bacteria. The Pfizer mRNA vaccine does not hydroxychloroquine or any fluoroquinolone. The mRNA vaccine is not an antibiotic.
Here is a list of the ingredients for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine:
Medicinal ingredient
- mRNA
Non-medicinal ingredients
- ALC-0315 = ((4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate)
- ALC-0159 = 2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide
- 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine
- cholesterol
- dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate
- monobasic potassium phosphate
- potassium chloride
- sodium chloride
- sucrose
- water for injection
See page 2 of this document https://www.fda.gov/media/144414/download
@mangamaker, I see you tried to post 2 links. There is a brief period where new members can't post links. We do this to deter spammers and keep the community safe. Allow me to post the 2 links and to help clarify.
The first article from the FDA was published in April 2020.
- Hydroxychloroquine or Chloroquine for COVID-19: Drug Safety Communication - FDA Cautions Against Use Outside of the Hospital Setting or a Clinical Trial Due to Risk of Heart Rhythm Problems https://www.fda.gov/safety/medical-product-safety-information/hydroxychloroquine-or-chloroquine-covid-19-drug-safety-communication-fda-cautions-against-use
The second article discusses Hydroxychloroquine Side Effects https://www.drugs.com/sfx/hydroxychloroquine-side-effects.html
You're quite right that concerns were being raised about the use of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19 infection.
I understand you are very concerned about taking any fluoroquinolone antibiotic because you experienced adverse effects to these drugs in the past.
It is important to note that these articles are not about the COVID vaccine. There are no quinolones or fluoroquinolones in any COVID vaccine approved for use in the US.
My whole post disappeared this time.
Lovely.
I came back to post at the end of the post that disappeared that hydroxychloroquie is being interchanged with chloroquine phosphate in this article:
https: at this site //www. drugs. com/ medical-answers/ hydroxychloroquine-effective-covid-19-3536024 /
"I took hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19. Is it dangerous?"
There are no known residual side effects for patients who received chloroquine phosphate or hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 treatment under the emergency use authorization, as stated by the FDA.
This is not a true statement, above as you could see the several links I listed stating it is dangerous.
How long until I can post links? I have links now.