By Dr. Stuart Weiss, Intelligent Crowd Solutions – Rapid Test Center of NY

Rapid Test Center of New York
Dr. Stuart Weiss, FACEP, FAAP, CBCP

February 5, 2021

CoViD-19 News and Information you can trust.Welcome new readers from the Rapid Test Center.

Topics: My vaccine experience

New Testing Centers coming soon: We are close to opening testing centers in Chelsea in Manhattan and Westchester County.

So yesterday, I felt well enough to get my second Moderna CoViD-19 vaccination. I had been sick all week with a GI bug (yes there are still other things to catch besides CoViD-19) but it had been hard to get a vaccination appointment and I didn’t want to miss it. I was a little apprehensive as many of my physician friends had told me that the second shot produced a stronger reaction. I understood and that is what we actually want. We want our immune system which had seen the viral spike protein produced by the first shot to respond again and produce even more antibodies so we have more circulating antibodies that remember what SARS-CoV-2 virus looks like and can attack it quickly should it ever enter our bodies. So I put on my N-95 mask and jumped onto the New York City subway for the trip downtown to the Health Department clinic where I was to get my shot. They seemed to have worked out many of the delays that I wrote about after my first shot. This time, I was moved through the system very quickly and was in and out within about 25 minutes. The shot was painless given to me by an amazing nurse. I really didn’t feel anything when she gave it to me in my right shoulder. I was observed for 15 minutes and sent on my way. It was a great experience. And then I waited. I had been told that about 8 hours later, the effects would start. Sure enough, almost exactly 8 hours later, my arm started hurting a bit. It was mild so I ignored it. Two to three hours later, I felt a little achy so I took some Motrin and went to bed. I thought “piece of cake”. I woke up 8 hours later and Oh Boy. It was like I had been hit by a virus truck. As far as my immune system was concerned, a war against an invading virus was being waged in my body. It didn’t know that only the spike proteins were being produced and not the entire virus. I had chills and developed a low grade fever (about 100 degrees F). My arm hurt much more and I had muscle aches in both legs. I also had a slight headache and “brain fog” which is commonly described as a fogginess and inability to focus on tasks. It felt like a really bad viral illness. I kept thinking that this would be over quickly and that kept my spirits high. I had cleared my schedule for today so I could stay home. All day, I felt like sh….ah, awful. I slept on and off and kept myself hydrated even though I wasn’t hungry. And then, at 7PM today, about 28 hours after my shot, as quickly as this came on, it left. All of a sudden I noticed that my arm didn’t hurt and the brain fog cleared. The lightheaded feeling also began to clear and now at 9:30, I can write this column. I am not 100% better but I will be by the morning. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the most common side effects of the Moderna and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are: Injection site pain and swelling Fatigue Headache Chills Fever The following side effects have also been reported: Muscle and joint pain Delayed swelling, redness or a rash at the injection site Swollen lymph nodes (typically manifests as a lump in your armpit or above your collarbone)  This is not scientific but among friends, if you had CoViD-19 and you get the first shot, that’s when you have the reaction because your immune system has already seen the virus. If you haven’t had CoViD-19 previously, you get the worse reaction at the second shot. I had most of the listed side effects so here are my recommendations: 1. Plan on taking the following day off after you get either the first vaccination or the second depending on when your reaction most likely will be 2. Keep yourself well hydrated 3. Take tylenol or motrin once you feel the viral syndrome coming 4. Remember that even though you feel sick, it will be over quickly. Overall, this was a small price to pay to protect me and the people in my life and community. We must all get vaccinated to prevent further widespread infections with variants. The more people that have an active infection, the more chance the virus as to mutate into something worse. When you are eligible, get yourself vaccinated. Take care of yourself and get yourself vaccinated, if your eligible, so we can get through this together. Dr. Stu Weiss

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COVID-19 HEADLINES FOR TODAY

Coronavirus update for February 5, 2021 World Wide Updates Belgium extends lockdown to April 1 Greece tightens Covid-19 restrictions in parts of the country following case increase Madrid detects first case of Brazilian coronavirus variant WHO will release its recommendation for two AstraZeneca vaccines on Feb. 15  UK will vaccinate all adults 50 and over “by May,” PA Media reports Hong Kong will now require returning air and sea crew members to quarantine US secretary of state congratulates Russia on Sputnik V vaccine, Russian official says Nearly 80% of German care home residents have received at least one vaccine shot Poland to ease leisure restrictions in mid-February, PM says Sweden is also planning to launch a “vaccine passport” this summer Western countries have “hoarded” vaccines. Africa is being left behind Western Australia ends five-day lockdown EU top diplomat hopes European Medicines Agency will authorize Russian vaccine to help ease supply shortage Liverpool banned from traveling to Germany for UEFA Champions League clash with RB Leipzig UK “confident epidemic is shrinking” as R number reduces  Mexico’s President tests negative for Covid-19 after contracting the virus in January Saudi Arabia imposes new restrictions to contain spread of Covid-19 Covid-19 safety will be a factor for next 2 tournaments, says Australian Open organizer Australia to increase incoming passenger caps Vaccine makers pursuing profit are endangering the world’s poorest, says watchdog group How a 30,000-member Facebook group is helping Hong Kong navigate quarantine San Quentin prison, linked to Covid-19 outbreak, fined more than $400,000 for violations AstraZeneca vaccine effective against UK variant, University of Oxford statement says UK to introduce hotel quarantine for travelers from mid-February Australian Open warm-up matches resume after no new Covid-19 cases found Mexico’s near-record COVID death toll comes amid vaccine shortage Beer sales tanking in Germany amid COVID crisis Coronavirus kills second Alaska cruise season as Canada extends ship ban for one year Lebanon to begin easing lockdown Greece limits AstraZeneca jab to under-65s Total Cases Worldwide: 105,819,740 Total Deaths Worldwide: 2,305,206 Total Recovered: 77,540,363 US Updates US manufacturers support Biden’s use of the Defense Production Act to fight Covid-19 NFL says it will use every team stadium as a Covid-19 vaccination site Congress passes key step to allow Democrats to pass Covid-19 relief without threat of GOP filibuster One million Moderna Covid-19 doses will be allocated to US pharmacies next week House majority leader hopes to bring Covid relief bill for floor vote the week of Feb. 22 Ahead of Super Bowl, NY restaurants and bars want exception to Cuomo curfew Biden slams GOP on Covid-19 relief: “What Republicans have proposed is either to do nothing, or not enough” Pelosi predicts House will send Covid-19 relief package to Senate in approximately two weeks CDC director says guidance on reopening US schools will be released in the coming week White House announces about 1,000 troops will be deployed to assist with vaccinations Pelosi says Democrats will work toward final passage of Biden’s Covid relief package by end of month The US Senate passed a budget resolution to fast-track Biden’s Covid-19 relief People who violate US transportation mask mandate face a $250 fine and up to $1,500 for repeat offenders America’s unemployment rate fell last month — but jobs recovery is still dragging during the pandemic Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the US this week outnumbered new cases 10 to 1 US Senate approves budget resolution as Democrats try to pass Covid-19 relief bill A Seattle Hospital cancels Covid-19 vaccine appointments in bid for equity White House hopes to revive Trump plan to mail masks to Americans, chief of staff says US reports nearly 120,000 new Covid-19 cases FDA schedules meeting to consider Johnson & Johnson vaccine Influential model forecasts more than 630,000 US Covid-19 deaths by June 1 More than 600 coronavirus variant cases have been identified in the US, CDC says Johnson & Johnson asks FDA to authorize its Covid-19 vaccine De Blasio calls on NY to give the city more power to step up to inmate vaccinations New Orleans bars ordered shut for Mardi Gras due to COVID Cuomo and Murphy make joint plea for federal COVID relief and SALT repeal Wisconsin governor issues new COVID mask mandate hours after GOP repeal Radical anti-vaccine faction that shut down Dodger Stadium says it is not done Florida grocery store acting like COVID doesn’t exist with no masks or distancing Houston is prioritizing Covid-19 vaccine for underserved communities Total US cases: 27,363,056 Total US deaths: 469,371 Total Recovered: 17,094,819 Total Tested in US: 315,266,894 Total cases in CA: 3,373,927 Total deaths in CA: 43,263 Total cases in TX: 2,468,913 Total deaths in TX: 38,697 Total cases in FL: 1,763,873 Total deaths in FL: 27,460 Total cases in NY: 1,495,419 Total deaths in NY: 44,584 Total cases in IL: 1,141,219 Total deaths in IL: 21,603 Contact us

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