Vaccine side effects not signs of contagion

Reporter: Dannielle Garcia Writer: Joey Pellegrino
Published:
Outdoor vaccination line. Credit: WINK News

Some people experiencing short-lived symptoms from the COVID-19 vaccine—fever, chills, nausea, headache—have wondered if the shot has left them contagious. The answer is: no, it has not.

Doctors say it is normal to have side effects after the vaccine, with stronger ones more likely after the second dose; in fact, it is a sign the vaccine is working. But if you have a fever or other side effects which continue for longer than 24 hours, you should call your doctor, as it likely means you were exposed to the virus before getting vaccinated, or sick from something else entirely.

Another thing to consider: If you’ve had COVID-19 before, your side effects might be worse.

“If you’ve had COVID[-19] before, then your body, for the most part, should have some type of immunity to COVID[-19],” said Dr. Joseph Pepe, administrator of the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County. “If you get vaccinated, what ends up happening is it’s like you’ve been vaccinated once already by having it naturally. And so what ends up happening is when you get that first shot, your body will more likely react to it as if it were the second shot, just because of the fact that you’ve already demonstrated immunity to it, and your body identifies the vaccine and reacts to it, which is a good thing.”

Pepe says if you’re feeling symptoms, you’re not contagious and there is no need to get a test unless the symptoms have exceeded that 24-hour period.

“Remember, you don’t have [an] active virus, it’s your body learning and assimilating how to react to the COVID[-19] virus,” Pepe said. “The vaccine itself is not an active virus, it’s not in way possible for you to get COVID[-19] from the shot.”

If you are not feeling well, the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control says to wait until you are feeling strongest to get the vaccine.

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