A California nurse has reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus after receiving a vaccine developed by Pfizer.
The nurse, identified as Matthew W., received the vaccine on December 18. After receiving the vaccine, the 45-year-old experienced chills, muscle pain and fatigue. Muscle pain and chills are typically associated with the coronavirus, so the nurse was prompted to take a COVID-19 test. One week after receiving the vaccine, it was reportedly confirmed that Matthew W. had contracted coronavirus.
Dr. Christian Ramers of Family Health Centers in San Diego has said that it is not uncommon for people to contract the virus after receiving the vaccine. Ramers explained that it takes nearly two weeks for the vaccine to protect the body from COVID-19.
"We know from the vaccine clinical trials that it’s going to take about 10 to 14 days for you to start to develop protection from the vaccine," Ramers said.
Adding on, coronavirus symptoms can take up to 14 days to appear, so Matthew W. may have had the virus before taking the vaccine. Ramers added that patients may have to receive a second dose of the vaccine for full protection.
"That first dose we think gives you somewhere around 50 percent, and you need that second dose to get up to 95 percent," Ramers said.
"You hear health practitioners being very optimistic about it being the beginning of the end, but it’s going to be a slow roll, weeks to months as we roll out the vaccine."
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