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Ending Covid-19 Isolation
A friend messaged me the other day to inquire about a positive rapid antigen test (RAT). She tested positive for Covid nine days prior and had diligently isolated herself in a bedroom, away from her family. She re-tested on day 5, day 6, and day 7: still positive. And now, again, the ‘test’ line on her RAT test was positive on day 8. “Does the positive test mean I should keep isolating? And why is the isolation period five days if people really stay infectious longer?”, she asked.
The CDC revised its isolation guidelines in December 2021, stating that most people who test positive for Covid but have been fever-free for at least 24 hours can stop isolating after five days (with day 0 being the start of symptoms or, if asymptomatic, the date of the positive test) and did not need a negative coronavirus test to leave isolation. They do still recommend, though, that people continue taking precautions such as mask-wearing and refraining from travel on days 6 - 10.
A CDC study showed that up to half of people infected with Covid will continue to be infectious on days 6 - 9. Thus, although it is not mandatory, many people who have the option to are continuing to isolate until they receive a negative rapid antigen test (RAT). RAT tests correlate well with the amount of virus in the body and how likely you are to spread the virus to others.
It is important to remember that - in contrast to RATs - while polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are considered the gold standard for the initial diagnosis of Covid, they are not helpful in determining when to end isolation because they can remain positive for weeks to months after an infection, well after a person has fully recovered and is no longer contagious.
Although it may have been more in line with the viral timeline to continue recommending ten days of isolation, it is likely that the CDC recognized the burden the longer isolation period carried, with the greatest toll falling on the most vulnerable sectors. In fact, despite current CDC recommendations, Amazon just recently announced it would be ending its Covid-19 paid leave policy; it’s likely other large employers will soon follow suit.
If you have been looking forward to a new kind of COVID-19 test, one which doesn’t involve any sort of implement being scrubbed around inside your nasal passages, you can stop holding your breath. In mid-April, the Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to the InspectIR COVID-19 breathalyzer test. But don’t toss those rapid antigen tests (RATs) just yet.
The initial utility of the breath test is limited. The breathalyzer machine itself is about the size of a piece of carry-on luggage and requires trained personnel to supervise its operation. Therefore, while it will be a welcome addition to the existing rapid diagnostic tests in health care settings and mobile test sites, it won’t be for home use.
Now that they have received FDA authorization, InspectIR Systems is expected to bring their COVID-19 breathalyzers to market in ~ 10-12 weeks and will produce 100 devices per week. Each device can run approximately 160 samples per day. In the company’s study of ~ 2,400 asymptomatic people, the breathalyzer correctly identified 91% of positive infections and 99% of negative infections (PCR was used as the gold standard).
The sample—a breath of air—is blown into a straw attached to an analyzer called a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Within 3 minutes, the GC-MS can identify whether the breath contains a mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. It’s important to note that certain foods and substances can affect the breath test; the testing instructions specify to avoid eating, drinking, and tobacco products in the 15 minutes prior to taking the test. The FDA recommends positive breath tests be confirmed with a molecular test.
No doubt more breath tests are on the way to development and approval. It remains to be seen how they will change the COVID-19 testing landscape.
The other day I went online to order an at-home COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT). The number of options was mind-boggling! How are people supposed to choose? Are they just picking the cheapest test? Or the one at the top of the list?
Unfortunately, not all rapid antigen tests (RATs) are created equal. Although the FDA has not yet granted full approval to any at-home RATs, many have undergone an expedited review and subsequently received emergency use authorization (EUA).
The key takeaway as you scroll through the myriad options is to simply verify that the test which makes it into your shopping cart has also made it onto the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) updated list of authorized diagnostic tests: In Vitro Diagnostics EUAs - Antigen Diagnostic Tests for SARS-CoV-2 | FDA.
The FDA’s list currently has seventeen antigen tests that have received EUA, listed in alphabetical order by manufacturer. If you click on the highlighted link for a test (on the left side of the screen) you will be linked to home use instructions for that test. Other information on the list includes the test type (antigen or molecular), when to use the test (for example, if you’ve experienced symptoms within the last 7 days), eligible age range, whether or not a smartphone is required to view the results, the type of sample (eg nasal swab), and how long it takes for test results to be available.
Reassuringly, the top three at-home rapid antigen COVID-19 tests at both Amazon (BinaxNOW, iHealth COVID-19 Rapid Test and BD Veritor) and CVS (iHealth, BinaxNOW, and FlowFlex) are all FDA authorized.
A test's accuracy can wane as new SARS-CoV-2 variants emerge. Therefore, it is important to continue to check the FDA’s updated site to make sure that the test you are ordering has received authorization or approval.
Amazon at-home COVID-19 tests (screenshot; not inclusive) FDA's list of authorized at-Home over-the-counter COVID-19 diagnostic tests (screenshot; not inclusive)
First off, a disclaimer; anyone reading this will surely know that our understanding of long COVID is in its nascency. Many of these answers are a ‘best guess’ based on today’s data and will doubtless change over time as more information becomes available.
What is long covid and how is it diagnosed?:
While there is widespread agreement that Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), or ‘long covid’, consists of ongoing symptoms beyond what would typically be expected after recovering from Covid, experts vary in the duration that qualifies as long covid, with a range between ~2-3 months of from the onset of COVID-19. There are no specific tests to determine whether a person has long covid, thus the diagnosis is clinical.
What are the three most common symptoms of long covid?
Less common:
Chest pain, anxiety, depression, difficulty speaking, muscle aches, loss of smell and/or taste
Duration:
Variable, typically ~ several weeks - 6 months (up to 9 months and longer reported)
How likely is it that a person will develop long covid after an initial infection?
Debatable; percentages vary from single digits up to ~ 50%.
Does anything increase the risk of long covid?
Studies suggest that older people, those with a more serious initial Covid-19 infection and/or those with certain underlying comorbid conditions (such as chronic lung disease, diabetes, and heart disease) may be at greater risk of developing long covid. There is also some evidence that women may be more prone to long covid, and that vaccination may confer a degree of protection against long covid, but this data is still emerging.
How is long covid treated?
Because long covid can involve many different body systems, a multidisciplinary approach and a range of treatments directed toward the specific body systems affected are key. Although it can be tempting to rush back to normal activities, post-exertional malaise–meaning profound fatigue with overexertion–is common. Rehabilitation can help direct a gradual return to activity and promote recovery.
You’ve had a cough and sniffles for over a week. COVID-19 rapid antigen and PCR tests were negative. What else might be causing your symptoms?
Although we’ve all become acutely aware of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus which causes COVID-19, other coronaviruses have been with us throughout human history, often presenting as common colds. Symptoms of COVID-19 overlap with colds, the flu, and even seasonal allergies, and differentiating between the myriad causes of a respiratory illness can be challenging. Shared symptoms include runny nose, fatigue, cough, headache, and sore throat. Loss of taste or smell, however, is unique to COVID-19 and is atypical of other respiratory illnesses.
Respiratory viruses such as the flu tend to be seasonal, peaking in the winter in the northern hemisphere (September to April). In people who are ill enough to require hospitalization, respiratory panels are run which include multiple pathogens, such as influenza, adenovirus, parainfluenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus, and rhinovirus. However, in adults not sick enough to require hospitalization, the main viruses of concern are influenza and SARS-CoV-2.
Influenza, ‘the flu’, usually presents with a rapid onset of fever, cough, and body aches and should be suspected when there is an outbreak in the community. Similar to COVID-19, the preferred test is a molecular assay (nucleic acid amplification test), which can detect very small amounts of virus and is highly sensitive and specific, meaning it has a low percentage of incorrect test results. The conventional reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay takes ~ 1-8 hours and can distinguish between influenza A and B and subtypes of A. Rapid molecular tests can distinguish between influenza A and B but cannot differentiate subtypes of A. Rapid molecular influenza tests are more practical in an urgent care or emergency setting as results are back in ~ 15-30 minutes. Finally, multiplex RT-PCR are tests that can simultaneously check for many respiratory influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and bacterial pneumonia, among others.
Below is a table outlining common differences between allergies, a cold, the flu, and the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. As new variants emerge, symptoms of COVID-19 will continue to evolve. If your symptoms are worsening and you have concerns, please contact your healthcare provider for advice.
Rapid Antigen COVID-19 Tests: Update on Authorized and Unauthorized Tests
Rapid antigen tests (RATs) provide a cost-effective and convenient way to screen for COVID-19 in the comfort of your own home. A simple kit, complete with a nasal swab, solution, and easy-to-read result tray, can provide a quick ‘yes’ or ‘no’ when you are wondering if your sniffles are due to seasonal allergies or the latest variant of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus which causes COVID-19). As such, RATs have proved a valuable tool for managing our new so-called pandemic life.
In addition to the eight free rapid antigen tests (RATs) available from the government, RATs can be purchased over the counter at local or online pharmacies or retailers such as Walgreens, CVS, Target, Amazon, or Wal-Mart.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has continued to grant emergency use authorization of rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 as new data emerges. Recently, several RATs have been authorized; conversely, several have had their letters of emergency use authorization revoked.
FDA list of currently approved RATs:
FDA list of RATs that have had their emergency use authorizations revoked (no longer authorized):
Recall that rapid antigen tests may be negative very early on in an infection. In the case of exposure to COVID-19, it is recommended to check a RAT 2-3 days after the exposure (if you remain asymptomatic) and then continue to test every day or every other day for six days hence. If you have been exposed to COVID-19 and are experiencing symptoms, a negative RAT test may be a false negative and should be followed by a PCR (if available).
The Cost of COVID-19 Testing:
To date, the U.S. government has funded a huge COVID-19 relief effort, including covering the cost of medically indicated COVID-19 testing for Americans with and without health insurance under the CARES Act and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, respectively. In March 2022, however, the House passed a federal spending bill that omitted ongoing funding for the program which pays for uninsured individuals to obtain COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccinations. The White House is working to secure additional funding, but if the program ends it will mean the end of free testing and treatments for millions of Americans.
The burden of COVID-19 testing costs, however, isn’t limited to the uninsured. Individuals with insurance may need to self-pay for COVID-19 testing if it is needed for a non-medical indication, such as travel or a return-work program, neither of which are included in the insurance coverage mandate.
So exactly what is the cost of a COVID-19 test?
The answer is that the cost varies hugely, even for the exact same type of test.
Consumer Reports recently investigated the out-of-pocket cost of COVID-19 tests. One of the issues they found is that testing manufacturers and labs are allowed to set their own prices and insurance providers are required to cover testing costs at the price set by the company. In addition, the number of FDA-approved tests is fairly limited, meaning that demand has consistently outstripped supply during COVID-19 surges. This combination has allowed companies to engage in price gouging, preying on desperate consumers.
A study by America’s Health Insurance Plans in July 2021 found that “On average, a COVID-19 test in the commercial market costs $130. In contrast, out-of-network test providers charged significantly higher (more than $185) prices for more than half (54%) of COVID-19 tests in March 2021—a 12% increase since the beginning of the pandemic. ”
More recently, in December 2021, Mira (a low-cost health care coverage provider) reported on a survey they conducted of the top twenty-three urgent care facilities in the United States to determine the out-of-pocket cost of COVID-19 diagnostic tests. They found that “the average reported cost of a PCR test is $137, and the average cost of a rapid antigen test is $189. Overall, most urgent care clinics offer diagnostic testing at a price between $100-$200.”
In addition to the above, the availability of at-home tests has increased and may provide a lower-cost option if paying out of pocket. Rapid antigen tests (RATS) typically run ~$10 per test. Three at-home molecular tests are currently FDA approved for emergency use and do not require a prescription. These are more sensitive for detecting early COVID-19 infection but are considerably more expensive, ~$75-100 on average.
Bottom line: When purchasing a COVID-19 test, consider what type of test is best suited to your needs and then do a brief cost comparison before paying top dollar.
Non-oral COVID-19 Treatment Options in the Outpatient Setting
The proliferation of treatment options for SARS-CoV-2 can be seen as one of the success stories of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are at high risk of hospitalization may be eligible for treatment with non-oral medications which have received FDA approval or emergency use authorization (EUA). These medications are administered intravenously (IV), typically in an infusion center. They can be divided into two categories: 1) monoclonal antibodies and 2) antiviral drugs.
Antibody Therapy:
Monoclonal antibodies are synthetic versions of antibodies made by the immune system against SARS-CoV-2. The body’s immune system typically takes a couple of weeks to build up antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 after an exposure (either via infection with the virus or via vaccination), therefore the administration of synthetic antibodies can effectively fast-track this targeted immune defense. Antibody treatments work by binding to certain key parts of the virus, blocking the virus from binding to and entering cells.
Antibody treatments with EUA for outpatient use include sotrovimab and bebtelovimab.
Antiviral Therapy:
Remdesivir is an antiviral drug that was previously authorized for use in hospital patients, but just recently (end of January 2022) received FDA authorization for outpatient use. Remdesivir works by incorporating into the viral RNA (ribonucleic acid), inhibiting the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to replicate.
What Are the Treatment Criteria?:
All three of the above medications are approved for use in adult or pediatric (age 12 yo and older, weighing ≥ 40 kg) patients who have mild-to-moderate symptomatic COVID-19 and who are at high risk of progression to hospitalization. In order to be efficacious, they should be started as soon as possible, no later than 7 days after symptoms began.
How Well Do The Treatments Work?
Studies have demonstrated > 80% efficacy of both remdesivir and sotrovimab for preventing hospitalization or death due to COVID-19 (if started with 7 days of symptom onset). Data are still emerging for bebtelovimab; preliminary studies have also shown a reduction in hospitalization or death in high-risk patients.
What Are the Common Side Effects?:
Monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID-19 are generally well tolerated. The most commonly reported side effects are injection site reactions and infusion-related reactions (1% of patients who received sotrovimab experienced infusion-related reactions).
The most common side effects following administration of Remdesivir were nausea, headaches, and rash. Elevated liver enzymes (a laboratory finding) are common in patients who receive Remdesivir, and caution is advised in those individuals with liver or kidney disease.
The new year found Americans mired in the peak of yet another SARS-CoV-2 wave, with the preceding holiday season scarred by overstretched health care systems and testing capacity. In response, the Biden administration has increased the accessibility of at-home COVID-19 tests on multiple fronts.
In January 2022, all US households became eligible to request four free rapid COVID-19 tests either via the website, COVIDTests.gov, or by calling 800-232-0233.
At the same time, the government also mandated that private health insurers cover up to eight at-home antigen tests per month, per covered individual, with reimbursement capped at $12 per testing kit (two tests per kit). Out of pocket costs vary between ~$10-25 per kit. Typically, the insurance provider will cover the upfront cost for in-network pharmacies and retroactively reimburse members who buy test kits from out-of-network pharmacies.
Although Medicare was not initially included in the coverage mandate, at the beginning of February the Biden administration announced that Medicare beneficiaries, including Medicare Advantage, would also become eligible for eight free at-home COVID-19 antigen tests per month, beginning in the early spring.
The expanded coverage will include over 60 million Americans, many of whom fall into the higher risk health category.
Medicaid recipients already have full coverage of at-home COVID-19 tests (8 per month).
At the most basic level, there are two categories of COVID-19 tests; a diagnostic test and an antibody test. A diagnostic test can diagnose a current infection, whereas an antibody test can tell you whether your immune system has been exposed to COVID-19 (either via infection or vaccine) in the past. An antibody test cannot be used to diagnose a current infection.
Diagnostic tests include PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and antigen tests.
PCR is considered the “gold standard” for diagnosing infection with COVID-19. It is a molecular test that looks for COVID-19’s genetic material (RNA). PCR is very sensitive, meaning that almost everyone who actually has a COVID-19 infection will have a positive test. PCR tests are analyzed in a lab and are most often performed in a health care setting, such as a clinic, doctors’ office, pharmacy, or designated testing center. If performed at home, the sample kit will need to be mailed to a lab for analysis. The samples are most commonly collected via a nasopharyngeal swab (the swab is inserted into the nostril and up toward the back of the nose) or a salivary sample. Result turnaround can vary from ~ 1-7 days. Due to the labor of the processing, they are fairly expensive, around $150 (without insurance coverage). During COVID-19 peaks, PCR results have often been quite delayed when testing capacity has not been able to meet high demand.
Antigen tests have the advantage of speed, with results available in ~ 15 minutes. Instead of genetic material, antigen tests search for protein pieces from the COVID-19 virus. They can be purchased over the counter, are performed at home via a nasal swab, and are less expensive than PCR tests, with prices running around $20-24 per kit (two tests per kit). Antigen tests are similar in design and appearance to a home pregnancy test, with a colored line designating ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ showing in the box at the top once the sample is finished processing. Antigen tests are less sensitive than PCR tests and may be negative early on in an infection.
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and have a negative antigen test, it is recommended to obtain a PCR test and continue to isolate until the result of the PCR test is known (if results are delayed, then continue to isolate for 5 days at minimum, with symptoms resolving and 24 hours free of fever prior to ending isolation; continue wearing a well-fitting mask for an additional five more days after the isolation period has ended).
Because PCR tests are so sensitive, they can remain positive for up to twelve weeks after a person has recovered from COVID-19 and is no longer contagious. If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and subsequently recovered, an antigen test is the best test to determine if you are still shedding enough virus to transmit COVID-19 to other people.
Many labs are experiencing long delays –5 days or more– in processing COVID-19 PCR tests.
If this is the case for you, and you are wondering what to do while awaiting your test, you can utilize serial at-home tests (typically rapid antigen tests), if you have access to them. These tests come back in ~ 15 minutes, but they are less sensitive for testing small amounts of the virus and will be negative very early on in the infection. One approach might be to begin testing with antigen tests on day 3 (day 0 is your exposure), then test daily while awaiting the PCR result.
If you are asymptomatic, never develop symptoms, and antigen tests remain negative 5 days apart (eg day 3 and day 8), it is unlikely you have COVID-19.
If you have or develop symptoms of COVID-19, and you are not able to obtain antigen tests OR even if the initial antigen test was negative, assume you likely have COVID-19 and isolate accordingly.
The table below is a basic outline of recommendations regarding what to do while awaiting your PCR test (for a more detailed explanation, including definitions of quarantine vs isolation: https://myvirtualphysician.com/2022/01/22/ive-been-exposed-to-covid-19-what-now/)
*Continue isolating as long as you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and while awaiting test results. You can end isolation after 5 full days if your symptoms are improving AND you are fever-free for 24 hours (without taking any fever-reducing medications), provided your other symptoms have improved.
* Please contact your medical provider if you test positive for COVID-19 and/or if you are experiencing any severe symptoms of COVID-19.
If you haven't yet been in the situation where you've received 'the call', the one in which someone you were recently in close contact with rings you a day or two later to let you know they tested positive for COVID-19 (these days, this means positive for the highly transmissible Omicron variant), it’s highly likely that you may be in the coming weeks. Both Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting head of the FDA, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden's chief medical adviser, stated recently that they expect the majority of Americans will eventually be infected with COVID-19. Mercifully, Omicron infection appears to cause less severe disease than previous variants and a large swath of the population has a degree of protective immunity, either through vaccination and/or a previous infection.
The CDC has recently updated its recommendations for quarantine following COVID-19 exposure. To briefly summarize, if you've just found out you had an exposure and you are not experiencing any symptoms (asymptomatic):
- Stay calm. It takes time for the virus to reach detectable levels. The CDC recommends testing on Day 5 (Day 0 is the day of exposure). Testing experts have noted that Omicron tends to replicate more quickly, though, and suggest that–if possible–at-home testing can begin on day three, and continue daily through day seven.
- If you are fully vaccinated and boosted, then you do not need to quarantine (again, if asymptomatic). However, it is recommended to wear a well-fitting mask, such as an N95 or KN95, for 10 days when you are around other people.
- If you are unvaccinated or vaccinated but did not receive a booster, quarantine for 5 days. If you are asymptomatic, you can stop quarantining but should continue to wear a well-fitting mask such as an N95 or KN95 around others for 5 more days.
If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 AND/OR receive a positive test, isolate for at least 5 days if you have confirmed or suspected COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status. Day 0 is counted as either the first day of symptoms or, for those without symptoms, the date of an initial positive COVID-19 test. Isolation means you stay home, separate yourself from others in your household, and – if necessary to be around them -- wear a well-fitting mask at all times. If you had COVID-19 and had symptoms, you can end isolation after 5 full days if you are fever-free for 24 hours (without taking any fever-reducing medications), provided your other symptoms have improved. If you tested positive for COVID-19 but never developed symptoms, you can end isolation after 5 full days. In all cases, you should continue wearing a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days (days 6 - 10).
Serial Testing: If you want to take a test at the end of the 5-day isolation period, it is best to use an antigen test (the more sensitive PCR test can detect very low levels of virus and will often stay positive for weeks after infection). If the test result is negative, as above, end isolation and continue mask-wearing through day 10. If the test result is positive, you should continue isolating until day 10. If you continue to test positive on an antigen test after day 10, the safest route is to continue isolation until you have a negative test result. For many people, this may not be feasible; if this is the case, experts recommend continuing to wear a highly effective mask, such as an N95 or KN95, around others, and being mindful of your contacts (eg avoid public transportation and situations where immunocompromised persons may be present).
* Please check in with your health care provider for concerning symptoms or test results
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With much focus on the coronavirus this year, don't forget about another viral infection that threatens your health. Each year the Influenza virus affects 5-20% of Americans. This illness puts millions at risk of lost work and sick days, medical expenses, and possible health problems. A flu shot lowers that risk. You may be wondering, should you get a flu shot?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone over the age of six months should be vaccinated against the flu virus this year. With a few exceptions, Americans need their shots around October or in early fall.
Many people worry about just how the flu shot will affect them. If you're one of these, keep on reading to find out what you should know about getting vaccinated this year.
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommends a yearly flu shot for everyone over six months old. This is because the flu vaccine can safely and effectively prevent severe illness.
Flu vaccines contain dead or weakened forms of the Influenza virus. Your cells begin to build up a natural defense system when they receive these parts of the virus. Then, your body creates antibodies. These proteins help your body fight infection. Antibodies work to keep you healthy later on if you are exposed to the flu virus.
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) recently looked at the best time to get your flu shot. In their study, researchers found that the U.S. flu season usually starts in December. After a flu shot, your body takes about two weeks to build up a response to the vaccine. Therefore, flu shots give the most protection when given in the fall, around October.
Vaccination is safe. Doctors have recommended flu vaccines for over 50 years. Over this time, a lot of research has evaluated the effectiveness and safety of immunizations. Certainly, the risk of serious reactions is low. Furthermore, manufacturers demonstrate the safety of their drugs before the FDA gives their approval.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) warns some individuals to talk to their doctor about the flu shot if they have certain contraindications. This means a specific situation, condition, or factor that could make a treatment unsafe or even harmful.
For instance, egg allergy prevents some from getting a flu shot. This is a contraindication because manufacturers use eggs to make the vaccine. Therefore, the flu shot may contain trace amounts of ovalbumin (egg protein).
In addition to contraindications, there are precautions for some individuals. For example, those with a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome or who have an illness with fever may want to discuss vaccination with their doctor.
The flu shot may cause reactions. These are typically mild and go away within 48 – 72 hours. They may include:
In some cases, more severe reactions occur. These could be signs of a rare allergic reaction to the vaccine. If these signs or symptoms arise, you must seek medical attention right away:
The risk of not getting vaccinated is getting sick. You could miss work or school, incur medical costs, or suffer mild to moderate health complications.
Most healthy adults deal with a minor case of the flu virus by staying home and taking over the counter medication to ease symptoms. The infection generally lasts 7-14 days.
On the other hand, those considered "high-risk" could suffer much more serious cases. Some possible complications include hospitalization and even death. Here are some factors that put you in the high-risk category:
In conclusion, you and your healthcare provider will decide if a flu shot is right for you. You must talk with your physician about your past history and risk factors to decide whether or not to be vaccinated.
Talk to your physician if you still have questions about the influenza vaccine. They can help you with additional information.
If you still have questions or you would like to discuss your medical condition with a specialist, click below to schedule an appointment. MyVirtualPhysician treats conditions like the common cold, flu-like illness, and more. If you have any suggestions for additional topics you want to read about, please let us know! Don't forget to follow us on social media.
Rubin R. Is It Possible to Get a Flu Shot Too Early? JAMA. 2018;320(22):2299–2301. DOI:10.1001/jama.2018.18373
MedPage Today published an article about the rise of telemedicine services in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and why more people are favoring virtual doctor's visits. To read the rest of the article, click here.
