COVID Refresher Series: Community Questions

ALPENA, Mich.– In this week’s installment of our COVID refresher series, we asked some of your questions to a doctor on MidMichigan’s vaccination team.

Please keep in mind we only have the time for a few answers.

In late December, we asked our viewers what questions they had about the COVID–19 vaccine. Dr. Dan Maxwell— part of the vaccination team at MidMichigan Health— has some answers.

One viewer asked “should people first be tested to see if they have COVID–19 antibodies in their blood? And if so, then is the vaccine even necessary?”

Dr. Maxwell says yes.

“It makes no difference if you have the antibodies or not. We want you to get the vaccine. The reason for that seems to be that the levels of antibody are higher in patients that have received the vaccine than those who have had the disease.”

In other words, even if you already had antibodies, the vaccine would strengthen the count.

Another viewer asked if Michigan residents can get vaccines in other states.

Maxwell says yes, but with a caveat.

“Other states are using different priority levels, so it’s not clear where you’re going, what your priority is going to be, and how you’re going to be able to get into the system to get it.”

He adds that travelers or vacationers should check with their destination’s health department to learn more about their vaccine rollouts.

Finally, one viewer asked if they can take the vaccine despite their various allergies. Maxwell says to speak to your doctor.

“If you have allergies to medications, there doesn’t seem to be a significantly increased risk of reactions. If you have reactions to vaccines, that’s going to need to be discussed with the people who are potentially administering the vaccine at the time.”

More information about the vaccine and COVID–19 can be found at DHD4.org/covid 19.