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1)
My daughter is considering attending Thanksgiving at her brother’s home where he and his wife will be entertaining several guests. Apparently, everyone attending except my daughter has already had covid. I am very concerned about her going, especially given that she has Sjogrens. What is the most recent data on reinfection? Can individuals still be able to transmit covid-19 even though they have already had it?
2) What is the best way to care for cloth masks? I’m sure washing them after each use is advised or can they be on rotation? When washing, is it necessary to wash them in very hot water? Can they be reused indefinitely or is effectiveness compromised after a certain length of time? I know someone who puts hers in a bowl of water and places it in the microwave to kill any virus. Thoughts?
Thank you very much for your input.
Thanks for your questions, Elizabeth!
-I responded to your first question in today’s Q&A of 11/21: https://covidqanda.org/?p=853
-As to your second question, you can find CDC guidelines on caring for your mask here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wash-cloth-face-coverings.html. Cloth masks can be used for as long as they maintain a good fit and remain undamaged.
We have been letting our daughter (age 11) go to climbing team and dance because the facilities require masks and distancing and have much reduced capacity. I understand that indoor groups with no masks=very bad but I can’t get a sense of the level of risk of indoors with masks and distancing. With numbers going up, we are wondering if we need to cancel these or if a facility taking all the best precautions can still be safe enough. I know nothing is totally safe but I’m looking for some idea of what level of risk we are taking with these so I can balance against her sanity and physical health.
Thanks for your question, Kathryn! I aimed to answer in the Q&A of 11/30: https://covidqanda.org/?p=876
There have been many posts regarding the vaccines that say the vaccines will change a persons DNA. That stem cells have been used to develop the vaccines. What should we be concerned about regarding the vaccines, the repercussions?
Thanks for asking, Gaylene! I aimed to answer your questions in today’s Q&A: https://covidqanda.org/?p=896
I have two middle schoolers. In terms of COVID vaccine, would they need to wait until pediatric tests/trials are completed? They received “adult” flu vaccine, just like me.
Thanks for you question, YJ! I aimed to answer it in today’s Q&A: https://covidqanda.org/?p=921
One question I keep getting (from my public health and non public health friends alike) is, ‘why should I trust that the vaccine is safe to take for myself and my loved ones.’ I feel that there is an urgent need for a list of consistent, concise messaging that (public health practitioners, politicians, community leaders) can use to explain to the general public why they should be the first to line up to take this vaccine.
I assume this should include the following (but not sure I have concise messaging):
– A short explanation of how the Pharm trials have been thorough and comprehensive
– FDA’s thorough vetting of the data from those trials
– Why m-RNA and viral vector vaccines are not at risk of giving someone COVID19
(examples of other vaccines that use these same methods safely?)
– The concern about long-term side effects (answer: most side effects manifest within 30-60 days?)
– Anything else?
I’d love for you to address this in one of your posts.
Agree with you on the messaging, Nan! A few recent posts have addressed some of these issues. I’ll try to pull together a more thorough response later this week!
Update: I responded in today’s Q&A: https://covidqanda.org/?p=954
A friend of mine got a Covid test after experiencing mild cold symptoms because he is 70 and has RA. His test was
positive. He took a second test a week later ( around 4-5 days ago after no longer having symptoms and his test was positive again (got results 2-3 days ago)
He is thinking he can leave quarantine because his symptoms have been gone for over 10 days. Is this correct, even though he tested positive again?
Thanks for your question, Rachel! I aimed to address it in today’s Q&A: https://covidqanda.org/?p=941
Your recent posts on how mRNA vaccines work (12/5) and whether the vaccine prevents infection (12/13) were very helpful. Now that the first of the vaccines is becoming available in the U.S., can you summarize what we know and don’t know about the vaccines’ safety? How were the clinical trials processes applied for these vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, Astra-Zaneca, others?)? What incidents occurred during these trials? What is the probability of experiencing side effects or adverse reactions? What types of side effects are associated with the vaccine at time of vaccination? Later on?
Thanks for asking, Kerry! Aimed to answer in today’s Q&A: https://covidqanda.org/?p=950
There’s been a lot of discussion and perhaps pressure to extend the vaccination period between doses or even lessen the doses for optimal coverage. I don’t see any discussion, however, about whether this might result in the drugs becoming less effective as the virus mutates, similar to our history with antibiotics or antimalarials. Is this a concern?
Aimed to answer in today’s Q&A: https://covidqanda.org/?p=984
Could you tell me how long after a positive Covid test should a person wait to get the vaccine. A physician in my town stated that the CDC recommends waiting 90 days to maximize the effectiveness of the vaccine. Thank you.
Aimed to answer in today’s Q&A: https://covidqanda.org/?p=1054
Is inserting a PM2.5 filter into a cotton or silk mask’s filter pocket as protective as double masking?
Aimed to answer in today’s Q&A: https://covidqanda.org/?p=1095
Are there any studies done on people who eat healthy, exercise, don’t smoke, rarely get sick, take the proper amount of vitamins/minerals and have no comorbidity and how this affects the person contracting Covid 19 or not?
Thanks for your question. I aimed to answer in today’s Q&A: https://covidqanda.org/?p=1112
Is it safe to have the Covid vaccine while use topical steroids ?
Aimed to respond in today’s Q&A: https://covidqanda.org/?p=1177
Are we testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus or the COVID-19 disease? Are the vaccines to provide immunity against the virus or the disease?
The testing is for the virus. Clinical trials for the vaccines were examining safety and the efficacy of the vaccines for preventing disease. Real world evidence indicates the the vaccines not only prevent disease, but also prevent infection.
What percentage of people who get the SARS-CoV-2 virus get the COVID-19 disease? 10 percent correct?
Current estimates suggest that about 30%-40% of infections are asymptomatic. For more, see Q&A of 3/13: https://covidqanda.org/?p=1220
March 6 2021 Geert Vanden Bossche a vaccine research expert who worked for GAVI and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation published a section of a speech given on the mass vaccination with mRNA will assuredly lead to” enhance adaptive immune escapement”. He further states that “the more theses vaccinations are used to immunize people in the midst of a pandemic, the more infectious the virus will become”.
Geert Vanden Bossche is an accredited virologist with much credentials behind him.
Care to comment on his stance?
Aimed to respond in today’s Q&A: https://covidqanda.org/?p=1229
There are two papers by Christopher Kagan et al on researchgate.net reporting on use of non-prescription anti-viral Lysine. Results are highly positive with coronavirus being cured in several hours. More than a thousand patients were successfully cured. Lysine prevents virus replicating regardless of virus variant; immune system is not even involved. Wouldn’t this be far superior to any vaccine? Please comment
Aimed to answer in today’s Q&A: https://covidqanda.org/?p=1250
Now that Pfizer has been approved for 12-15 year olds, I’m being asked for some talking points on how we can trust the findings, when the trial only had 2260 youth enrolled (half of which I assume received a placebo?). Can you give an overview of why we can extrapolate the risk/benefit ratio of the adult population to that of young teens?
I aimed to answer this question in yesterday and today’s Q&A: https://covidqanda.org/?p=1371
What projections do we have for covid/Delta variant surge for the DC area? How far ahead can we usefully predict covid activity for any particular area? Thanks, love the blog!
Aimed to answer in today’s Q&A: https://covidqanda.org/?p=1512
As friends see their teens getting Covid left and right, mostly with no or mild symptoms, I see few motivated to get a booster, many stating that the risk/benefit is not worth it. Can you compare the risks of myocarditis in this population with the risk of Covid being more than ‘just a cold?’ Or are we relying on people’s interest in not spreading the disease to the immuno compromised ‘for the common good.’
Great question, Nan! I aimed to answer it in today’s Q&A: https://covidqanda.org/?p=1760