Let’s take a look at long-haul symptoms for survivors of Covid-19. Even for those who have taken the vaccine, there may be side effects. Let’s study those after effects compared to side effects and increase our ability to help patients as nurses entering the workforce.
By now, as a nurse you have most likely heard all kinds of stories about Covid-19. You already may have had it yourself or at least known some people who have had it. The National institute of Health has alerted the healthcare community to study the effects Covid has on the organs in humans post infection.
Most people who have survived Covid might not have ongoing symptoms, however, we definitely need ongoing studies to help ensure that we know the after effects of Covid-19. The symptoms of survivors listed by the National Institute of Health are severe fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and shortness of breath, as well as psychological symptoms, such as anxiety and depression. The symptoms can happen in any age group or demographic and in persons who are asymptomatic, or who have had mild, or severe symptoms from Covid. Even though it is only a small fraction of people who experience the longer-term effects of the disease, the global terms would be quite significant.
From the perspective of side effects of the vaccines we are using to hopefully create herd immunity we see some different symptoms. The side effects so far from the vaccine are overall not bad at all. However, they are constantly being monitored and last week there was a stoppage of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. If you are thinking about getting the vaccine as a nurse getting a job through a staffing agency you might be hesitant because of the possible side effects. Let’s take a closer look.
First off, all vaccines have mild to moderate severity possibilities. The side effects include swelling redness and possible bruising at the injection site in addition to fever and tiredness, said Dr. Roshi Mathew, Stanford Children’s Health. Some people experience chills, fatigue or minor headaches or swollen lymph nodes. Other effects could be muscle pain or joint pain. Be sure to check for the specific side effect from each brand of vaccine because they may be different.
As a secondary precaution, the CDC has an online tool called V-Safe on its website. This tool allows people who have been vaccinated. To report their symptoms voluntarily to provide additional information which leads to better statistics about the side effects. What you mostly want to be on the lookout for are severe allergic reactions to these mRNA vaccines for Covid-19 infections.
Most of the side effects should go away in a few days. If not, you should seek medical attention. This could be a big tell for comparing the long-term effects of a Covid-19 infection compared to the Covid-19 vaccines.
Good luck and great respect to all nurses who serve our community during this pandemic.