(Newser)
– Six days after an emergency nurse in San Diego was vaccinated against COVID-19, she became ill and tested positive for coronavirus. But while the story may sound alarming, health authorities say cases like this are expected and are not a cause for panic. The 45-year-old received the Pfizer vaccine, which requires two separate doses between three weeks, on Dec. 18 and began to feel unwell on Christmas Eve. There is more than one possible explanation, reports ABC News: It may have already become infected when vaccinated, as the incubation period can last up to two weeks or it could have become infected after having received the shot.
An infectious disease specialist says, “We know from clinical trials of vaccines that it will take about ten to ten days to begin developing protection against the vaccine.” And after the first dose, it is believed that this protection will reach about 50%, as it could reach 95% after the second dose. The specialist adds that he knows other health workers who have become infected during the time they were vaccinated. As for the nurse in question, 10 news reports that her symptoms peaked at Christmas and that the next day she tested positive at a test site; he says he has felt better since then, but is still experiencing fatigue. (Read more coronavirus stories.)