Sick with COVID-19 symptoms? Here's how long to wait before getting a booster shot
More and more British Columbians are getting their invitations to get their third dose of COVID-19 vaccine, competing with the rate of Omicron spread.
What happens if someone begins to develop COVID-19 symptoms right before they’re supposed to get their booster shot?
Dr. Yanet Valdez, an immunologist and the B.C. lead for COVID-19 Resources Canada, gave CTV News Vancouver some insight.
Whether someone has a suspected case or a confirmed case of COVID-19, Dr. Valdez said the answer is clear: get the booster.
“We know how infectious Omicron is and it's important for us to not give up … continue to build on these layers of protection,” she said.
But when someone should get the booster depends on whether they have a suspected case or a confirmed case.
IF YOU THINK YOU ARE EXPERIENCING COVID-19 SYMPTOMS
British Columbians with mild COVID-19 symptoms who are fully vaccinated are told a test is not needed and instead told to stay home until they feel better.
Without confirmation that the illness was triggered by the coronavirus, Dr. Valdez said the safest best is to get the booster as soon as possible.
“I will advise you to wait until you're feeling better and then get your booster,” she said, adding there is no harm in getting the vaccine if you did have COVID-19. “You're reinforcing your immune system. So you are just giving an extra push for your immune system to continue making more antibodies and T-cell responses.”
IF YOU HAVE A CONFIRMED CASE OF COVID-19
Dr. Valdez said if you tested positive for the disease to wait a few weeks before getting your third dose.
“Your immune system has already been offering you protection, so I would wait a little a little bit – a month or six weeks,” she said.
She said this is not a hard-and-fast rule and there is no harm in getting the booster sooner, adding this timeline was more relevant for those who were infected by the Delta variant and had a larger immune response.
Overall, she said not to hesitate in getting the booster, but to wait until you are fully recovered from your illness.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.