Will I test positive for COVID after being vaccinated? Do we need the vaccine every year?

DETROIT – Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Frank McGeorge has been keeping viewers up-to-date and informed on all fronts. He will answer your questions about the vaccine, the vaccination process, and more.

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As nursing homes require a rapid test before a visit, how does having a recent vaccine affect the results?

If you get the vaccine, you will not be tested positive for COVID-19 on a rapid test or a PCR test. If you test positive and it is an accurate result, you were likely exposed before you received the vaccine or before protection began.

If I get the vaccine and get sick with COVID-19, can I pass it on to others?

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Yes. If you are one of the unlucky few who are not protected by the vaccine, you can still spread the virus to others.

You cannot get COVID by getting a vaccine. None of the three authorized vaccines contains a live virus.

Two weeks after I got my first Moderna vaccine, I noticed a light pink rash on my arm where I got the injection. Is this an allergy to the shot? Do I have to take the second shot next week?

A new letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine actually describes this delayed hypersensitive skin reaction in 12 patients who all received the first injection of the Moderna vaccine. Most were treated with ice and antihistamines.

All twelve patients received the second injection and half had a similar delayed reaction. It is recommended that you still get your second dose to be fully protected.

Should we take a COVID vaccine every year?

We do not know. Because the vaccines are new, we don’t know how long the protection will last. Most experts think that at some point we’ll likely need booster shots to boost our immunity and update our protection against new variants.

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If I get one of the COVID vaccines now, can I get another vaccine in a year?

We do not know. In theory, getting a boost from the same brand as your original shot can have benefits – practically that may not be possible for everyone.

Researchers will investigate that question before it becomes a problem. The CDC will likely provide some guidance if boosters become necessary.

READ: 6 Questions and Answers on Michigan’s Expansion of the COVID-19 Vaccine Plan to 50+