Many people have had COVID-19, have it right now or will get it, health experts say. So, new questions around the virus and when vaccines are appropriate after becoming sick are now at the forefront. Dr. Vanessa Walker, a pulmonary and critical care physician with the Pulmonary Medicine Associates in Sacramento, California, spoke to sister station KCRA 3 to answer those questions.Q: If you catch the virus after you have had your original vaccines, but before a booster, do you have to wait to get the booster?Dr. Walker: "If you’re feeling better, your symptoms have resolved, and you’re outside your isolation window, go get that booster."Q: How long do people have to wait between their last original dose of the vaccine and the booster?Dr. Walker: "Five months for people who received both doses of either Pfizer or Moderna, and two months for those who received Johnson and Johnson."Q: If you catch COVID-19 after having your original vaccine(s) do you need a booster?Dr. Walker: "You may not be as protected after getting sick as you think you are and could get it again."Q: Do you think COVID-19 is something that will ever ‘go away’?Dr. Walker: "I will be shocked if this is stopped, I don’t see this as going away."Dr. Walker went on to explain she sees the coronavirus as something that will be with the population indefinitely but not on a pandemic level, and will be more like the flu with ebbs and flows over time.Oregon Health and Science University found recent data proving those with the strongest immunity against COVID-19 are people who have 'hybrid immunity,' according to Dr. Walker.Hybrid immunity is when a person is vaccinated and becomes ill with the virus, or when a person becomes ill with the virus and then becomes vaccinated. Those with hybrid immunity have shown great promise according to Dr. Walker; noting it does not matter in which order a person becomes 'hybrid immune.'She does say, super-spreader events are still possible, vaccinated or not."The question is are we trying to stop all COVID, or are we just trying to stop COVID that’s killing people and I feel like that’s ultimately going to be what we need to do," Dr. Walker asked.She followed that question by concluding, "we’re not going to be able to stop people from getting sick, we just need to make sure if they get sick it’s a cold and it’s not that big of a deal and they’re not filling up hospitals and dying."
Many people have had COVID-19, have it right now or will get it, health experts say. So, new questions around the virus and when vaccines are appropriate after becoming sick are now at the forefront.
Dr. Vanessa Walker, a pulmonary and critical care physician with the Pulmonary Medicine Associates in Sacramento, California, spoke to sister station KCRA 3 to answer those questions.
Q: If you catch the virus after you have had your original vaccines, but before a booster, do you have to wait to get the booster?
Dr. Walker: "If you’re feeling better, your symptoms have resolved, and you’re outside your isolation window, go get that booster."
Q: How long do people have to wait between their last original dose of the vaccine and the booster?
Dr. Walker: "Five months for people who received both doses of either Pfizer or Moderna, and two months for those who received Johnson and Johnson."
Q: If you catch COVID-19 after having your original vaccine(s) do you need a booster?
Dr. Walker: "You may not be as protected after getting sick as you think you are and could get it again."
Q: Do you think COVID-19 is something that will ever ‘go away’?
Dr. Walker: "I will be shocked if this is stopped, I don’t see this as going away."
Dr. Walker went on to explain she sees the coronavirus as something that will be with the population indefinitely but not on a pandemic level, and will be more like the flu with ebbs and flows over time.
Oregon Health and Science University found recent data proving those with the strongest immunity against COVID-19 are people who have 'hybrid immunity,' according to Dr. Walker.
Hybrid immunity is when a person is vaccinated and becomes ill with the virus, or when a person becomes ill with the virus and then becomes vaccinated. Those with hybrid immunity have shown great promise according to Dr. Walker; noting it does not matter in which order a person becomes 'hybrid immune.'
She does say, super-spreader events are still possible, vaccinated or not.
"The question is are we trying to stop all COVID, or are we just trying to stop COVID that’s killing people and I feel like that’s ultimately going to be what we need to do," Dr. Walker asked.
She followed that question by concluding, "we’re not going to be able to stop people from getting sick, we just need to make sure if they get sick it’s a cold and it’s not that big of a deal and they’re not filling up hospitals and dying."
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