Introduction to COVID-19 Concerns

In the first days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was full of questions. Dr. Jeffrey Hsu recalls the fear of the unknown as he and other health professionals confronted a virus they didn’t understand, much less know how to treat. Five years after the World Health Organization declared a pandemic, the questions have waned, at least among patients, said Dr. Won Lee, medical director of Boston Medical Center’s Home Care Program.

Common Questions About COVID-19

COVID-19 and the virus that causes it, SARS-CoV-2, might not be as headline-grabbing as they once were. But even though deaths from the virus are far below their early 2021 peak of more than 25,000 a week in the United States, COVID-19, which is directly blamed for more than 1.2 million U.S. deaths since 2020, hasn’t gone away. Here are answers to what doctors say are some of the most common questions they still get about COVID-19 – and a few questions they wish they were hearing more often.

Do I Really Need Another Vaccination?

It’s the most common question Lee gets from patients and families, and one Dr. Susan Fuchs, an attending physician in the emergency department at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, hears variations of. Some people ask her, “Is a vaccine worth it?” The answer is yes, said Fuchs, who also is a professor of pediatrics at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago. Fuchs acknowledged that the vaccines don’t stop every case – she’s been vaccinated and had COVID-19 twice herself. But vaccines protect against severe illness, hospitalization and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends vaccination for everybody 6 months or older.

Are COVID-19 Vaccines Safe?

Fuchs wishes more people would come to her with their worries about vaccine safety and side effects. Most people, she said, endure little more than a sore arm or a low-grade fever. Other common side effects include muscle pain, joint pain, fatigue, headache or chills. “There are minor side effects with most vaccines,” Fuchs said. “But it’s better than getting the actual illness.” The approved vaccines are still being monitored, she said. And “right now, we’re saying it’s a safe vaccine – no matter which one you get from whichever company.”

Who Has the Answers About Boosters or Other Concerns?

Fuchs said that while people don’t ask about the emergence of different COVID-19 variants the way they once did, people can easily become confused about how often they need their vaccination updated. Her advice: “Go to your family doctor.” Lee said it’s easy for people to feel overwhelmed when there are “so many different sources coming at you all at once.” She regularly hears from patients or family members who have a concern they’ve heard from friends or at church or read online that they want to check with her. “I absolutely love and welcome those conversations,” she said.

Will I Ever Get Better?

Most of the patients Hsu interacts with have long COVID, an assortment of symptoms that continue four weeks or more after the initial infection. People who have it ask him, “Is this going to shorten my life? Do people get better?” Researchers don’t have all the answers to that, Hsu said. But large numbers of people – many of them previously young, active and healthy – “are now effectively disabled because of long COVID.” Some people with long COVID – maybe a third – have gotten better, he said, but “I think the majority of people are still dealing with ongoing symptoms and are nowhere near back toward their baseline.”

How Can I Protect Myself and the People Around Me?

Like Hsu, Lee said she wished she heard this question more often. “Even before COVID, this would come up with the flu shot,” Lee said. “Young, healthy people would say, ‘Well, you know, I don’t really get too sick from the flu. I don’t really have to worry about it.’ And my plea was always, ‘Well, think about your grandmother or your neighbor, or the person who you work with,’” or someone who cares for a child with a disability at home. According to the CDC, age is the strongest risk factor for severe COVID-19, and the risk grows higher the older someone gets. Other high-risk groups include people with underlying conditions such as heart disease, people on dialysis and those with suppressed immune systems.

Conclusion

COVID-19 hasn’t gone away, and while the number of deaths has decreased significantly since its peak, it still poses a threat, especially to vulnerable populations. Staying informed, getting vaccinated, and taking precautions to limit the spread of the virus are crucial steps in protecting oneself and others. Doctors emphasize the importance of asking questions and seeking guidance from healthcare professionals to navigate the complexities of COVID-19.

FAQs

• Q: Do I need to get vaccinated against COVID-19?
  A: Yes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccination for everybody 6 months or older.
• Q: Are COVID-19 vaccines safe?
  A: Yes, the approved vaccines are safe, with minor side effects such as a sore arm, low-grade fever, muscle pain, joint pain, fatigue, headache, or chills.
• Q: How can I protect myself and others from COVID-19?
  A: Stay up to date with vaccinations, stay home if you’re sick, avoid close contact with someone who is sick, and consider wearing a mask in public when cases are rising.
• Q: What is long COVID, and can I get better?
  A: Long COVID refers to symptoms that continue four weeks or more after the initial infection. While some people recover, many are still dealing with ongoing symptoms, and researchers are working to understand and treat long COVID.
• Q: Where can I get reliable information about COVID-19?
  A: Consult your family doctor, healthcare professionals, or reputable sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for accurate and up-to-date information.