COVID-19 vaccine: Your questions answered

With a vaccine rollout on the horizon, the questions are rolling in.

With so many people emailing and messaging us on social media, we worked to get those questions answered.

Channel 9′s Alexa Lorenzo sat down with Dr. Kartik Cherabuddi, epidemiologist at UF Health, and Dr. Aftab Khan, internal medicine specialist, to answer some of the most burning questions.

READ: Central Florida teachers push to be among first vaccinated

Q: Should you get the vaccine if you already had COVID-19?

“That’s a tough one,” Cherabuddi said. “And that’s definitely coming up a lot. You ask the question for two reasons. One, vaccine is in limited supply. If you didn’t vaccinate the people who already got it, could you give the same to someone who did not get the disease? Then how does the natural infection and the vaccine interact with each other?”

Research shows the vast majority of people can keep off a second COVID-19 infection because of the antibodies their bodies build.

However, Khan said, “We don’t know how long this immunity is going to last. The immunity to vaccines tends to be stronger than natural infections.”

READ: About a third of Florida’s nearly 8,000 new COVID-19 cases reported in Central Florida

So because of that, the answer is yes.

“They should still get vaccinated from this coming vaccine,” Khan said.

Q: There’s a common misconception that if you have the first dose you no longer have to wear a mask or stay six feet apart.

“That is incorrect,” Cherabuddi said.

READ: New data supports findings of 95% effectiveness for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine

“First shot is a primer, but it is not enough to cause optimal immunity,” Khan said. “The second booster shot will boost optimal immunity in seven to 10 days.”

Doctors say continue all the pandemic precautions after the first shot.

“We know that you won’t get sick with COVID,” Cherabuddi said. “If you get the vaccine. We haven’t heard the last word and does it completely prevent transmission of the disease.”

READ: As Florida remains open, area businesses seek legal protection from potential COVID-19 lawsuits

Q: Should I get the vaccine?

“I have no doubt in my mind, about the safety and efficacy of these vaccines, so people should go and get vaccinated,” Khan said.

“I think you have to walk the talk, right?” Cherabuddi said. “I would stand in line there and get it myself.”

Video: As Florida remains open, area businesses seek legal protection from potential COVID-19 lawsuits Throughout the summer and into the fall, lawsuits have been a leading concern for area businesses. (WFTV)

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