Jessica writes:
Hi Dr. Griffin,
I’m currently 5 weeks pregnant, expecting in October. I got my flu shot and Novavax booster last November. Since it’s been a few months, should I get an extra flu or COVID vaccine now that I’m pregnant? As I understand, I should also get these vaccines during the third trimester, to protect the baby during their first 6 months of life. What is the best timing to optimize protection for me and baby both during and after pregnancy?
Thanks,
Jessica
P.S. Regarding my question a couple weeks ago about Benzalkonium Chloride hand sanitizer, there exist commercial Benzalkonium Chloride hand sanitizers and wipes (sold by companies like Babyganics) that claim to be gentle on the skin and even safe for use on babies and children.
Carmen writes:
https://www.vet.cornell.edu/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-bird-flu-resource-center
Long time listener. Thought this looked useful.
Best,
Carmen
Portugal
Ginger writes:
My 80 year old friend had a prescription of paxlovid on hand when he tested positive for COVID.
He initiated treatment then informed his doc.
He got chewed out, as she stated she would not necessarily have prescribed it for him. When questioned, she sent this thoughtful response:
“Thanks for your message. It’s not that I don’t write for it, but I don’t routinely have people start it just with a positive covid test. Certainly if the symptoms are severe, then we start it but I’m not as keen to start if the covid symptoms are mild and you are recovering well on your own. Often if people take the paxlovid with mild symptoms, they end up feeling worse from the side effects of paxlovid. I am still providing it for international travel but review those caveats with patients.
Also we do not have enough evidence that using paxlovid prevents long COVID symptoms so that is the new data that has influenced my practice. (Last year we didn’t have any data but now we have enough to show it does not benefit or prevent long COVID).”
Thoughts???
Many thanks for all of your wonderful work and your tireless commitment to best practice!
Ginger
Lisa writes:
Hi Daniel and Vincent –
I have a question for you about measles.
I’m a layperson so this will seem elementary, but I recently learned that if you survive measles, your immune memory is wiped out. It’s called “immunity amnesia”. I’ve shared this little factoid with several of my friends and no one has heard about it.
I suppose this means that if you survive measles, all the diseases you’ve acquired immunity to throughout your life are now a threat to you again. Is this correct?
Does being vaccinated against measles as a child protect you from immune amnesia as an adult, or should adults get vaccinated again just to be safe?
If immunity amnesia is a real possibility, parents who are on the fence about vaccinating their kids should know about it!
I’m so sad that the current times make these worries salient. Love the show, you both are doing great work to keep us healthy in these difficult times.
Lisa
Matthew writes:
Dr. Griffin:
Thank you for all the information you share. Can you explain why two annual COVID vaccines are recommended for high risk groups, but just one flu shot? I would think that both would enhance short term antibodies and be helpful if taken twice a year. Thank you.
Matthew
Kristin writes:
Hi Dr. Griffin,
My husband and oldest kid are sick with Covid this week. It stinks, but since they’ve each had vaccines, including one in the fall, they will be ok. However, this bout has really taken my husband out. So far, he has been really sick for four full days and started Paxlovid the same day he woke up feeling terrible and tested positive. He went back to the doctor today for a chest Xray (his cough is just nonstop). The Xray was clear and the doctor told him that since he received his Covid vaccine in November the Paxlovid wasn’t doing anything and he is just experiencing a normal course of Covid.
I just wanted to hear your thoughts on this. Is this true? I can understand that it might have less of an effect if you are already vaccinated, but does it really do nothing if you have been vaccinated recently?
Thanks for your continued information on infectious diseases. Given current circumstances, it is needed now more than ever.
Kristin