Avoiding Vaccine When Sick is “Common Sense” -Leading Health Experts

SPEED TRAP PRESS , THURS. SEPT 9TH, 02.56A

“Should you get vaccinated if you have a fever with ANY illness?”

-A common concern amongst individuals who are sick.

Infectious Diseases Specialist at the University of Pittsburgh Dr Linda Nabha says no. Doing so could have adverse effects.

“If your illness is very mild, then in that case, getting the vaccine should be fine," Dr. Nabha said. "I always recommend calling your primary care physician before."

However, if your sickness is more than mild, like a fever, or chills, Dr. Nabha said “you're going to want to delay that appointment.”

Dr. Amesh Adalja states that you need to wait until you’re completely better in order to get your vaccine. Dr Amesh Adalja is an Infectious Disease Physician and Senior Scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

Dr. Almer, Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Practice at the New York Medical College and a former chief medical officer at the CDC, states that waiting is “common sense”.

"Let's face it, you're going to get some side effects from the vaccine, in all likelihood a sore arm, maybe a low-grade fever, maybe a bad headache," Amler said. "I think logically you should wait until you're better, and in general, with any vaccines, if you have a fever, you certainly should not get a vaccine at that time. Wait until the fever is gone, and you're feeling better."

In other words, don’t chance it. Not only do you risk the vaccine being less effective due to a weakened response from an already busy immune system, but you risk getting sicker than you already are.

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