You have just been vaccinated against Corona and I am sure you now feel very relieved because you can no longer get sick. But you must also have many questions about what is safe and what is not. Maybe you want to know if you can visit your loved ones or go on a trip. Would you also like to know something about the side effects of the vaccination? We help you! We’ve collected a few questions and answers from trusted sources to help you make your vaccination decisions with confidence.
Table of Contents
- Should I wear a mask and practice social distancing after vaccination?
- Can I visit friends and relatives after the vaccination?
- Can I go to the restaurant after the second vaccination?
- Can I travel after vaccination?
- Can Corona still be spread despite vaccination?
- What does “fully vaccinated” against Corona mean?
- How long am I protected against Corona?
- Can your corona test be positive after the vaccination?
- Do I need a corona test after the vaccination?
- Does the vaccination also work against new mutations of the virus?
- What are the most common side effects of the corona vaccination?
- How can I reduce the side effects of the corona vaccination?
- Should I get the second vaccination if I have an allergic reaction?
Yes, at least in public at the moment.
Experts are still researching exactly how vaccination protects people. I’m sure you’d like to get your normal life back, but you should still take precautions in public now. Wear your mask, keep at least 1.5 meters away and wash your hands often. Avoid crowded and poorly ventilated places where you are more exposed to the virus. It is also best to avoid large crowds. It sure feels frustrating that you have to act like this despite being vaccinated. But by vaccinating you have already done something to stop the transmission of Corona so that we can all get our normal lives back soon. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a U.S. Department of Health agency, a fully vaccinated person can meet indoors without a mask and without distancing. However, this person must be fully vaccinated and the other person must not have any previous illnesses. In public, those who have been vaccinated should also comply with all regulations for combating pandemics, i.e. also wear masks.
Can I visit friends and relatives after the vaccination?
Yes, if they are also vaccinated or live alone, that’s for sure.
If you are vaccinated, it is safe to meet other vaccinated people indoors without a mask. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even meeting unvaccinated people is safe as long as you only meet people from another household and no one is at high risk of contracting the virus. Don’t forget to stick to the contact restrictions. Find out in advance whether only one meeting with one person from outside the household is currently allowed or whether two households and a maximum of five people are allowed to meet. These are the current contact restrictions in Germany. If you are meeting with more than one household, to be on the safe side, you should wear a mask. The risk of infection is greater with more people and it is not yet known exactly whether a vaccinated person can still be a carrier. Also, wear a mask if someone is particularly at risk of contracting the virus, such as if they have cancer, heart disease, COPD, or are pregnant. Take other precautions as well. Wash your hands often, avoid touching your mouth and nose, and clean high-touch surfaces more often.
Can I go to the restaurant after the second vaccination?
If restaurants are open in your area, you should avoid them and wear a mask if you do.
The risk of contagion in the restaurant is lower if you are fully vaccinated. There’s still a risk of transmission, especially in crowded public places, and experts aren’t entirely sure you can still be a carrier. If you go to restaurants or other public places, wear a mask and wash your hands often. Keep a distance of 1.5 meters from others. At the moment, gastronomy in Germany is only open outside, if at all. It’s still better not to go to the restaurant until the numbers go down, so as not to infect others.
Can I travel after vaccination?
Better not to travel for now.
When you travel it is more difficult to control your surroundings, so the risk of infecting others and spreading Corona is still there, even for those who have been vaccinated. If you can, you’d better stay at home until the pandemic is better under control. When you travel, you should protect others by getting tested 1 to 3 days before and 5 to 7 days after travel, wearing a mask in public, and staying in quarantine for 7 to 10 days after travel.
Can Corona still be spread despite vaccination?
We don’t know for sure yet, but the risk of transmission is probably lower.
It may well be that you were exposed to Corona after the vaccination and can still transmit it to others, even if your immune system protects you from infection. The early studies are very promising. Vaccination reduces your risk of infection, including the risk of infecting others. Some studies show that vaccinated people carry a lower viral load when they are infected, which means that the risk of transmission also decreases. There are indications that vaccinated people are less likely to be asymptomatic carriers of the virus.
What does “fully vaccinated” against Corona mean?
You are fully vaccinated two weeks after the last shot.
After vaccination, your body mounts an immune response to the virus. You are completely immune two weeks after the second shot of Pfizer or Moderna or two weeks after the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. In the meantime, you should rest while your immune system works hard, protecting you and those around you.
How long am I protected against Corona?
We don’t know that yet, but at least for a few months.
It is not yet known how long-term the vaccine will work. Some experts suspect that, like the flu, you have to be vaccinated annually. So far we know that vaccinated people are protected against corona, at least in the short term, but since the vaccines have only been developed within the last few months, researchers do not yet know exactly how long they protect.
Can your corona test be positive after the vaccination?
All vaccines currently available teach your body to fight the protein that coats the outside of the coronavirus. Your body copies this protein and becomes immune to it. However, no copies of the virus itself are created. Therefore, your corona test will not be positive after the vaccination. Since you develop antibodies against corona, your corona antibody test can be positive.
Do I need a corona test after the vaccination?
In most cases, you only need to get tested if you are showing symptoms.
Even if you are a contact, you don’t have to quarantine or take a test if you don’t feel sick. If you develop symptoms, you should quarantine and get tested as if you were unvaccinated. An exception is if you live with several people, for example in group quarters or in the correctional facility. If you have had contact with Corona here, you should get tested and go into quarantine for 14 days.
Does the vaccination also work against new mutations of the virus?
The vaccination probably works against most mutations.
It’s too early to know for sure, but early studies show that the currently approved vaccines are likely to protect people against many variants of the coronavirus. However, vaccination does not protect against every mutation. Some mutations, such as B.1.351 from South Africa, are resistant to antibodies and vaccines.
What are the most common side effects of the corona vaccination?
You may have flu symptoms or arm pain.
When you get vaccinated, your immune system ramps up. You may have mild flu symptoms. You feel tired, have a headache, muscle aches, fever, or chills. You may also have pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site. Some have a red, itchy, or painful rash at the injection site. This can occur a few days or even a week after the vaccination but usually disappears after a few days. Very rarely do people have an allergic reaction to the vaccine. Most providers will have you supervised for the first 15 to 30 minutes after vaccination to prevent this from happening.
How can I reduce the side effects of the corona vaccination?
Ask your doctor if you can take over-the-counter medications.
Most of the side effects of the vaccination are mild and disappear after a few days. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen, can help. If you get a fever, drink plenty of water and dress lightly until your body temperature drops. If you get an itchy or painful rash at the injection site, you can take antihistamines or a pain reliever. You can also place a clean, damp washcloth over the area to relieve pain. See a doctor if the side effects get worse after a few days. If you think you’re having a bad allergic reaction, call 911 right away.
Should I get the second vaccination if I have an allergic reaction?
No, not if the reaction was sudden or bad.
If you have a severe allergic reaction or hives, wheezing, or swelling within four hours of the first shot, do not get a second shot of this vaccine. If you are allergic to an mRNA vaccine – i.e. Moderna or Pfizer – you should not be vaccinated a second time with an mRNA vaccine. A bad reaction is one that has been treated with epinephrine in the hospital. If you respond to the first dose of an mRNA vaccine and are therefore unable to get a second one, you can talk to your doctor about getting a non-mRNA vaccine (Johnson&Johnson) to be fully protected.
The second shot is okay if you have a rash.
If the injection site is itchy or swollen, you may be afraid of the second vaccination. However, there is no evidence that the second vaccination leads to a serious reaction. Tell that to the person who vaccinates you. He may advise giving the vaccine to the other arm just to be safe.