How could it be Covid??

[Tehmina23]

I work as an HCA in a hospital ward with elective surgical patients who have isolated prior to their operations, at work I have to wear a surgical mask all shift.
Out of work I live alone and just have 2 people in my support bubble.

I wear a mask in all shops and maintain good hand hygiene.

I've had the 2 Pfizer vaccines with no ill effects.

I had an Antibody blood test that showed I hadn't had Covid over the past year.
I do lateral flow tests as required by work twice a week.

Yesterday I woke up with a very sore throat & developed a temperature, so I phoned in sick for today's shift.

I've felt poorly & wiped out all day & had developed a cough so phoned the Clinical Leader at 230pm to say I won't be in tomorrow either.

The CL made me go for a Covid swab!! Even though the lateral flow test I did today was negative. She says they are not reliable so why are we doing them??
And as I've been vaccinated twice how could I be ill with Covid?

Anyway I will get my result by 1pm tomorrow... fingers crossed it's just a heavy cold & not Covid...

It’s unlikely due to your vaccine but masks don’t stop you getting covid, It might reduce transmission but it doesn’t eliminate it.

They aren't reliable once you have symptoms. The rule is you must have a PCR test if you get symptoms and this isn't any different if you've had the vaccine because as you must know it isn't 100% effective.

Its unlikely, but not impossible, and definitely sensible to do the test just in case.

It's not impossible by any stretch. Hope you're ok.

But you know that neither the mask, nor the vaccine will 100% stop you getting Covid. And that the lateral flow tests are for testing of people without symptoms . I can understand you would feel very fed up if you have caught it, given your circumstances, but given your position in the NHS you can surely see why your manager has asked you to take the PCR test?

If you've caught a cold then it's possible to have caught covid. The lateral flow tests are to try and pick up asymptomatic cases. If it is covid then just be glad you've found out straight away and not infected anyone about to have surgery.

The Pfizer vaccine is 95% effective. Someone has to be in the 5%. Hopefully though it wont be you.

But you know that neither the mask, nor the vaccine will 100% stop you getting Covid. And that the lateral flow tests are for testing of people without symptoms

Right, but with all of those things together would be pretty unlucky to get it.

Vaccines aren't 100% protective. Have you washed sanitized your hands after handling any recent purchases? Have you been distanced from your support bubble, don't forget anyone you mix with can be asymptomatic. Other option, are you sure all patients have isolated before surgery. DD has been waiting a year for an operation, had three days notice while she was at work, then needed to catch bus home.

Hope you're ok, OP. It could well be a cold, a touch of hayfever or you're rundown.

Colds haven't gone away, if you've been accurate in your OP then it's very unlikely that you have covid especially with reducing numbers in the population but there's no 100% prevention

Is the vaccine not just protecting against severe disease and hospitalisation ? If you get COVID having the vaccine just means that your body can recognise it and fight off the infection as I understand.

The lateral flow tests are mainly just to pick up asymptomatic cases.

Did you not get the lecture at the vaccination appointment about how you can still get it? I wouldn’t worry too much if you’ve had both jabs though

Hope your ok, just rest up and wait for results.

@Covidwedding123

Is the vaccine not just protecting against severe disease and hospitalisation ? If you get COVID having the vaccine just means that your body can recognise it and fight off the infection as I understand.

That’s how every vaccine works!

Oh no. I hope its not covid! Fingers crossed for you.

@Tehmina23

I work as an HCA in a hospital ward with elective surgical patients who have isolated prior to their operations, at work I have to wear a surgical mask all shift. Out of work I live alone and just have 2 people in my support bubble. I wear a mask in all shops and maintain good hand hygiene.

I've had the 2 Pfizer vaccines with no ill effects.

I had an Antibody blood test that showed I hadn't had Covid over the past year.
I do lateral flow tests as required by work twice a week.

Yesterday I woke up with a very sore throat & developed a temperature, so I phoned in sick for today's shift.

I've felt poorly & wiped out all day & had developed a cough so phoned the Clinical Leader at 230pm to say I won't be in tomorrow either.

The CL made me go for a Covid swab!! Even though the lateral flow test I did today was negative. She says they are not reliable so why are we doing them??
And as I've been vaccinated twice how could I be ill with Covid?

Anyway I will get my result by 1pm tomorrow... fingers crossed it's just a heavy cold & not Covid...

You could have a mutant virus. I read that some people are catching covid because of different strains. Not sure if that was in America though.

I expect it’s not covid but if it is then you are unlikely to seriously ill. Hope you feel better soon.

It sounds like it's unlikely it is. But I guess they want to be 100% sure so you can go back to work confident that you're not contagious once you're feeling better. Hope you feel better soon! X

You can get unlucky and get Covid when you're vaccinated. The good news is you should not get it as severely as you could have.

You are assuming that all patients have done the right thing pre surgery and have in fact isolated, not everyone does the right thing. Sorry you are feeling poorly

I dont think there is anything to do with covid that is 100% reliable.
Having said that, not convinced you have covid.
But of course you need a test.

It could just be the flu or some other virus. Those haven't gone away!

Just take the test to set their mind at ease. I can’t believe you are even questioning it tbh.

@TheDuchessOfBeddington
OP has taken a test. The result will be back by 1pm. Given her circumstances, she is just wondering how on earth it could be Covid, that's all.

Well I feel really rough today with a cough, & sore throat still but also have developed a blocked nose so could just be a bad cold..
will see when I get my test result.