FAQs - BHF - Page 2

Q: 11. Can the vaccine cause a positive test for COVID-19?

No, the vaccine will not cause a positive COVID-19 PCR or antigen laboratory test result. This is because the tests check for active disease and not whether an individual is immune or not. However, because the COVID-19 vaccine prompts an immune response, it may be possible to test positive in an antibody (serology) test that measures COVID-19 immunity. [7]

Q: 10. Should I eat or drink differently a day or two after being vaccinated?

The effectiveness of the vaccine is not dependent on any food or drink before or after taking the vaccine. [6]

Q: 9. Should I get the vaccine even after having COVID-19?

Even if you have already had COVID-19, you should be vaccinated when it is offered to you. The vaccine should be taken 30-35 days after the COVID-19 Infection period is over. Please discuss with your health service practitioner. The protection that someone gains from having COVID-19 will vary from person to person, and at this stage we also don’t know how long natural immunity might last. [5]

Q: 7. Can I still get infected after taking the vaccine?

Yes, but the risk is much, much lower than for persons who have not received the vaccine. There are two scenarios where a person could get COVID-19 after receiving a vaccine: A person may have been exposed to COVID-19 within 10-14 days before receiving the vaccine. When the vaccine is given, they are in the ‘incubation period’ (similar to a ‘window’ period). At the time that the vaccine is given, the person does not have symptoms, but symptoms such as cough, fever, headache and body aches and pains develop with 7-10 days of receiving the vaccine. If COVID-like symptoms occur and persist (i.e. they stay or get worse) during the 7-10 days after getting the vaccine, a person should see a medical practitioner immediately. A person may develop a ‘breakthrough infection’ at any time (weeks, months or years) after the vaccine. The vaccine trials have shown us that there are ‘breakthrough’ infections after all types of vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2. But breakthrough infections occur much less frequently in persons who have been vaccinated, and these infections are usually mild-to-moderate and don’t require admission. Trials published to date show that vaccine effectiveness ranges from 65% to 95%. An excellent summary of current evidence showing how effective COVID-19 vaccines are may be found on the CDC website. [3]

Q: 6. Should I take a blood thinner a few days after taking the vaccine?

No, you should not take a blood thinner unless your healthcare provider has prescribed that medication to treat an existing health condition. COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people taking blood thinners, but you should let the person giving you the vaccine know about any medication you are taking beforehand. [2]