1. < Transplants

To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? That is the question.

Posted by silverwoman @silverwoman, Jan 4, 2021

<p>I know I am not the only post-transplant patient who is thinking about getting the coVID vaccination. My nurse coordinator has told me that the transplant team at Jacksonville has not approved vaccination yet because of the lack of experience with it for our group. One of the Infectious Disease doctors has indicated in a Mayo communication that transplants should be getting vaccinated. The nurse coordinator has said that if we choose to get vaccinated then we should do our laboratories once a week. I'm frustrated and confused by the lack of clear guidance and seemingly conflicting opinions. Is anybody else feeling like this? Have you made any decisions about when and if you will get vaccinated?</p>

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katonline | @katonline | Apr 29, 2021

Hi. I have a vaccine-hesitant friend who asked this question I'd love help answering: Is there any difference between the antibody response built from the virus verses the vaccine?

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2 replies
ess77 - Elizabeth | @ess77 | Apr 29, 2021
In reply to @estrada53 "I am right there with you - both with multiple illnesses including sarcoid and a new..." + (show)
@estrada53

I am right there with you - both with multiple illnesses including sarcoid and a new heart and the need to know that I have some level of protection. I did experience significant muscle and joint pain after my second dose, but my desire not to be a long hauler outweighed any hesitancy and will also keep me social distancing, masking up and taking care of myself even after the vaccine. This is not over yet! Thanks for your post! 🙂

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You are very welcome! Glad it made some sense and blessing to you, elizabeth

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Moderator
Amanda Roe | @amandajro | Apr 29, 2021
In reply to @katonline "Hi. I have a vaccine-hesitant friend who asked this question I'd love help answering: Is there..." + (show)
@katonline

Hi. I have a vaccine-hesitant friend who asked this question I'd love help answering: Is there any difference between the antibody response built from the virus verses the vaccine?

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Hello @katonline and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You will notice that I have moved your post into an existing discussion with members who are connecting on the very topic of vaccine hesitancy and why to or not to vaccinate. I thought this would be a good match given your introduction so that you could more easily connect with members such as @sueinmn @estrada53 and @loribmt who have all been active contributors.

The following resources do a good job of explaining how antibodies and the different vaccines work.
-Antibody Testing:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/covid-19-antibody-testing/about/pac-20489696

-Comparing Vaccines:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccine/comparing-vaccines\

The biggest difference between the antibodies versus the vaccine is that in order to have the antibodies, a person must be infected with COVID-19. With that, come the varying degrees of how sick they may get and the complications that may arise down the road from potential "long-haul" symptoms as a result.

Has your friend tested positive for COVID? What is his/her greatest concern/hesitancy with the vaccine?

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Apr 29, 2021
In reply to @katonline "Hi. I have a vaccine-hesitant friend who asked this question I'd love help answering: Is there..." + (show)
@katonline

Hi. I have a vaccine-hesitant friend who asked this question I'd love help answering: Is there any difference between the antibody response built from the virus verses the vaccine?

Jump to this post

Her is the answer, direct from CDC. The shortmanswer is that the vaccine teaches your body how to react to the virus, in a more general way than the after-virus antibodies, which confer immunity to the specific strain you had for an unknown period of time. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/vaccine-benefits.html
Sue

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katonline | @katonline | Apr 30, 2021

Thank you SO much for taking the time to share this information with me.

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karen1945 | @karen1945 | May 20, 2021
In reply to @johnymac "I am a 69 year old double lobectomy cancer survivor and am unsure about getting the..." + (show)
@johnymac

I am a 69 year old double lobectomy cancer survivor and am unsure about getting the vaccine. I live in a rural setting on a lake with little or no contact with others. I have registered for the vaccine with my wife, but am having second thoughts.
I might wait a while as I do not believe we need to rush into this. What is wrong for letting some time pass and gaining a better perspective on the situation ?

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I agree about letting time pass. I have been hearing a lot about severe adverse side effects from the vaccine, even in young people. I’m 75, am a cancer survivor (2001), liver transplant recipient (2018), have Stage 3 CKD, and am now dealing with severe aortic stenosis. Do I take the risk of taking this experimental vaccine? Right now I’m in wait and see mode, and taking reasonable precautions to avoid exposure as I do every flu season. I believe everyone has to make their own decision based on the best information available. For me, that’s taking a cautious approach.

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1 reply
johnymac | @johnymac | May 21, 2021
In reply to @karen1945 "I agree about letting time pass. I have been hearing a lot about severe adverse side..." + (show)
@karen1945

I agree about letting time pass. I have been hearing a lot about severe adverse side effects from the vaccine, even in young people. I’m 75, am a cancer survivor (2001), liver transplant recipient (2018), have Stage 3 CKD, and am now dealing with severe aortic stenosis. Do I take the risk of taking this experimental vaccine? Right now I’m in wait and see mode, and taking reasonable precautions to avoid exposure as I do every flu season. I believe everyone has to make their own decision based on the best information available. For me, that’s taking a cautious approach.

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Well I received my first shot yesterday. I weighed the pros and cons and the pros made more sense for me. Like I was previously advised by a lung cancer survivor....if I do not get the vaccine and get Covid I probably would not survive with two lobes missing. If I do get it the vaccine I will have a fighting chance. And it is better for everyone else as well.

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3 replies
karen1945 | @karen1945 | May 21, 2021
In reply to @johnymac "Well I received my first shot yesterday. I weighed the pros and cons and the pros..." + (show)
@johnymac

Well I received my first shot yesterday. I weighed the pros and cons and the pros made more sense for me. Like I was previously advised by a lung cancer survivor....if I do not get the vaccine and get Covid I probably would not survive with two lobes missing. If I do get it the vaccine I will have a fighting chance. And it is better for everyone else as well.

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All the best to you!

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2 replies
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | May 21, 2021
In reply to @johnymac "Well I received my first shot yesterday. I weighed the pros and cons and the pros..." + (show)
@johnymac

Well I received my first shot yesterday. I weighed the pros and cons and the pros made more sense for me. Like I was previously advised by a lung cancer survivor....if I do not get the vaccine and get Covid I probably would not survive with two lobes missing. If I do get it the vaccine I will have a fighting chance. And it is better for everyone else as well.

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Congratulations johnymac. I have two lobes missing too plus 2 SBRT and knew that I probably wouldn't survive COVID either. Plus this will reassure my family and my community that I don't want to spread it! I hope that your side effects if any are minimal.

Merry

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johnymac | @johnymac | May 21, 2021
In reply to @karen1945 "All the best to you!" + (show)
@karen1945

All the best to you!

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Thanks very much

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