Pfizer Vaccine on 31st Dec - just tested positive for COVID

[Jenasaurus]

My DS is in the CEV group and works for the NHS so was given the Pfizer vaccine in December, he is waiting for his second dose, he called me today to tell me him and his GF have just tested positive. His GF had her vaccine a week ago and is an Occupational Therapist and works with patients in their homes.

My DS said he has a sore throat and feels tired but his GF has also lost her sense of taste and feels much worse. I was just suprised that a month after the 1st does he wasnt protected from catching it.

He isnt worried though as assumes he will only get it mild as have some protection from the vaccine.

Unfortunately it's still possible to catch its but it's very likely to prevent serious illness for him.

I thought that the vaccine didn't necessarily guarantee immunity, just a milder version of the illness if caught?

90% protection means 10% non-protection, OP. But yes, will almost certainly be mild. His GF will not have any benefit from her vaccine, it’s too soon. But hers will probably be mild too - most people’s is.

A vaccine won’t stop you catching a virus. What it does is prime your immune system so it knows how to fight it more effectively.

People who have had a vaccine will mostly get a milder case than someone who hasn’t.

None of the vaccines offer 100% protection but it should mean that he has a mild infection

Not unusal at all, vaccine doesn't stop you getting it, just should stop most people getting seriously ill or dying

Thanks for the responses, I am glad it is likely to be mild for them both

Does make you question the 12 week gap though, doesn't it? From a public health point of view it makes sense to vaccinate more people, but in individual circumstances it must be hard to swallow if you are one of the people effected.

I found out how she caught it, his GF visited a patient who is now also positive. My DS has asked me to get him inhalers as his are at his pharmacy and he isnt allowed to collect them. I dont drive, surely they can post them to him.

It’s not correct to say “vaccine doesn’t stop you getting it”, if by “getting it” you mean having the virus in your nose and throat. It doesn’t stop everyone getting it, but it does reduce the proportion who do substantially.

A more accurate summary would be “the vaccine prevents the majority of people from becoming infected, and means that in those who do, the disease will almost certainly be mild.”

The AZ vaccine:

• reduces the risk of asymptomatic infection by 67%
• reduces the risk of symptomatic infection by 82% with a 12 week dose interval
• reduced the risk of hospitalisation and death by 100% in the trial group

(May not be quite that good in the real world, with larger numbers and a more diverse population.... but will still be very substantial)

@Randomschoolworker19

Does make you question the 12 week gap though, doesn't it? From a public health point of view it makes sense to vaccinate more people, but in individual circumstances it must be hard to swallow if you are one of the people effected.

I couldn't agree more. However, posting that on many sites will earn you a pasting, as that flies against the narrative; along with admitting the first dose (having not yet had the second)!made one quite ill for 48 hours!

Not the propaganda you're supposed to spout.

@Jenasaurus

I found out how she caught it, his GF visited a patient who is now also positive. My DS has asked me to get him inhalers as his are at his pharmacy and he isnt allowed to collect them. I dont drive, surely they can post them to him.

It will cost them more in postage than the NHS pays as a dispensing fee! NHS volunteers will be able to help nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/

@Randomschoolworker19

Does make you question the 12 week gap though, doesn't it? From a public health point of view it makes sense to vaccinate more people, but in individual circumstances it must be hard to swallow if you are one of the people effected.

You can’t possibly know on an individual basis whether person X who tests positive 4 weeks after their first dose would have been protected if they had had their second dose at 3 weeks.

Whereas you can be sure that the the 5 or 6 million people who have now had a first dose because of delaying the second doses would have been a hell of a lot more vulnerable.

Like others have said you still get covid. It's just you've got the antibodies to fight it off without getting really ill.

I had the MMR jab, still caught measles as a child but apart from being spotty I wasn't unwell at all. I think you can still catch the virus, just not be very poorly with it.

She was wearing full PPE when she visited the patient too, its made me realise how transmissable it is

The vaccine, even after the second one, doesn’t stop you getting covid, you just get it milder so hopefully no hospital, and doesn’t stop you spreading it

That’s been very clearly said on numerous occasions at press conference's

As he is shielding he is entitled to pharmacy deliveries and there are instructions on how to arrange this in his shielding letter.

@Randomschoolworker19

Does make you question the 12 week gap though, doesn't it? From a public health point of view it makes sense to vaccinate more people, but in individual circumstances it must be hard to swallow if you are one of the people effected.

My cousin had her 2nd dose after a 3 week gap. She was Covid positive 34 days later.

Me too! NHS staff, had my first vaccine 30th dec and 2nd which should have been on 20 jan cancelled, tested positive on 28 Jan. thankfully only mild symptoms though and back to work today. Fingers crossed they are the same

Did she get it midly?

@Marmite27

A vaccine won’t stop you catching a virus. What it does is prime your immune system so it knows how to fight it more effectively.

People who have had a vaccine will mostly get a milder case than someone who hasn’t.

Actually, it is looking more and more likely that most of the vaccines do reduce the likelihood that you will catch the virus in the first place. it isn't 100% though and there are also the new variants which most of the vaccines work less well against..So all in all some.who are vaccinated will still get Covid but the chances of it being anything more than mild symptoms are even smaller than if you are not vaccinated.

I couldn't agree more. However, posting that on many sites will earn you a pasting, as that flies against the narrative; along with admitting the first dose (having not yet had the second)!made one quite ill for 48 hours!

Not the propaganda you're supposed to spout.

Oh give it a rest. The 12 week gap is evidence based. Even the WHO agrees it’s the right thing to do.

And why would saying you had a reaction get you a pasting? I’ve had the Pfizer vaccine and felt terrible for 36 hours. What’s wrong with telling the truth that’s entirely consistent with the vaccine characteristics?

@Chloemol

The vaccine, even after the second one, doesn’t stop you getting covid, you just get it milder so hopefully no hospital, and doesn’t stop you spreading it

That’s been very clearly said on numerous occasions at press conference's

I really don’t think that’s accurate.

My Auntie and BIL had their vaccines two days apart. My Uncle wasn't well enough at the time. Both him and my Auntie caught it household mixing at Xmas - he was far worse, three weeks in hospital and now being rehabilitated in care home. My BIL struggled with his breathing a bit as he's asthmatic, but his wife and 23 year old DD were far worse - all feeling better but his wife needs an x-ray as she has ongoing chest pain. So in both of these cases the ones who were vaccinated caught it (admittedly within 21 days) but weren't as bad as other family members.

Hope your family are ok.