BOSTON – Dr. Mallika Marshall is answering your medical questions about the coronavirus. If you have any questions, send an email or message her on Facebook or I tweet.
Dr. Mallika is giving her best advice, but as always, consult your personal physician before making any decisions about your personal health.
Lisa writes, “I’m very nervous about getting the new vaccine. I’ve had the original booster once. But because this is so new and untested in clinical trials, I’m worried about possible side effects down the road. .”
The technology used to create this booster is the same technology used to create the original vaccines and boosters for COVID-19. Therefore, it did not need to be tested in clinical trials before introduction. There is no reason for you to be more concerned about the bivalent booster than you were about previous COVID-19 boosters and shots. And the new booster provides additional protection against Omicron sub-variants, which are still in circulation. Time will tell if it’s also effective against the newer, evolving variants, but in the meantime, you should get the new, updated booster to help protect against serious diseases this winter. And don’t forget to get your flu shot too!
Carolyn writes, “I’m very afraid of long-term COVID. What is the prevalence we’re seeing in people who are full grown and have their first COVID infection?”
We are waiting for additional data on this, but we think that people who have been vaccinated and boosted are less likely to develop COVID long-term after a breakthrough infection than people who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 at all. The best way to protect yourself is to stay up to date on all recommended boosters and take good care of your health. And, of course, to avoid infection as best you can.
Keli asks, “How long after COVID can you test positive on a home test?”
Most people, assuming they are not immunocompromised, will no longer test positive after 10 days on rapid antigen tests, but some do. Maybe after 11, 12 or 13 days. But if you feel much better and have been isolated for the full 10 days, it is unlikely that you are still contagious. That said, if you are still positive and will be around anyone who may be at risk for severe COVID, like your elderly grandmother, I would still wear a mask.
Debbie says, “I’ve been hearing a lot about RSV lately and I’ve been wondering how contagious it is and if it’s mostly a children’s virus.”
RSV or respiratory syncytial virus is a respiratory virus that we usually see in the colder months, but we are seeing a large number of cases in clinics and hospitals now. It is highly contagious and is spread from person to person like any other cold virus, through contaminated respiratory droplets and close contact with someone who is infected. It usually causes nothing more than the common cold in adults and older children, but it can cause more severe illness, with wheezing and respiratory distress, in young infants and children with underlying illnesses.
Mallika Marshall, MD
