If you didn’t respond to the vaccine, was it still effective?

DETROIT – People still have a lot of questions about the COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. Frank McGeorge from Local 4 is working to provide as many answers as possible.

READ: More Answers to COVID-19 Questions

I recently read a post that if you have a reaction to the second dose, that means it is working as it should. If you don’t respond to the second dose, will the vaccine still be effective?

Yes. Regardless of whether you have a response to your first or second dose, it is equally effective. The studies conducted in support of emergency use included people with and without responses to the vaccine. Overall efficacy was 94 to 95 percent for the vaccinated group as a whole.

READCOVID-19 Response Team Urges More Variant Tracking in US, Discusses Senior Vaccination

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What is the data on the seasonal flu? How common is it this year? If the incident fails, could it be due to coronavirus precautions?

Influenza activity is well behind previous years. It’s historically low for February. There are several possible reasons. Firstly, more people have been vaccinated against the flu this season than the average year. The second reason is that all steps to stop the spread of COVID-19 are also extremely effective against influenza.

After we discontinue aggressive coronavirus precautions, chances are the flu will come back and be even more problematic. The seasonal flu vaccine was developed from strains that have recently spread in other parts of the world. Flu activity has declined everywhere, so the best target for next year’s vaccine isn’t clear yet.

I know someone who, when she got her second vaccination, was sick with flu-like symptoms for four days. Was this really from the vaccine, or did she really have the flu?

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It was most likely a response to the vaccine. Especially since we have virtually no circulating flu.

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