COVID-19 Vaccine Q&A
COVID-19 has occupied the thoughts and actions of all of us over the last year. Many say hope is on the horizon in the form of a vaccine. I get asked on a daily basis many questions about the COVID-19 vaccine: Is it safe? How can I prepare my body? Will it work? I wanted to take this opportunity to answer all of these questions and more so you can feel informed and positive about receiving the vaccine.
“How confident are you in the COVID-19 vaccine?”
Good news: I feel confident in these vaccines for healthy people. There were tens of thousands of healthy people in vaccine trials and across multiple studies performed by Pfizer and Moderna. Those patients were monitored closely, so we know quite a lot about how healthy people will react.
However, these studies were limited to healthy people with no allergies or known conditions (e.g. people with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, those who are immunocompromised, etc.), which doesn’t necessarily reflect the population as a whole. A very small percentage of people will have an issue, but the benefits and pros of this vaccine far outweigh the cons.
“What should I do if I’ve had a bad reaction to a vaccine in the past?”
If you are someone who has historically had a very bad reaction to a vaccine (like needing to use an EpiPen, etc.), it’s important that we monitor you and consider the risk of a severe reaction. These cases are extremely rare, but be sure to discuss this potential problem with me during our next appointment or speak with your primary care physician before moving forward with the vaccination process.
“Could I have side effects after the vaccine?”
Some may see side effects, and it does not mean you are sick with COVID-19. It just means your body’s immune system is working to mount an immune response. We’re finding many of the same side effects can occur with both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, but there are a few unique differences to note:
For the Pfizer vaccine:
The most commonly reported side effects, which typically lasted several days, were:
- Pain at the injection site
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Chills
- Joint pain
- Fever
For the Moderna vaccine:
The most commonly reported side effects, which typically lasted several days, were:
- Pain at the injection site
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Chills
- Joint pain
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes in the same arm as the injection
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Since the side effect of swollen lymph nodes is unique to Moderna’s vaccine, I would consider choosing Pfizer’s vaccine if you have a detox issue. Also, keep in mind that more people experience these side effects after the second dose than after the first.
A goal that we have at KanodiaMD is to help our patients avoid or decrease the severity of the most common side effects to this vaccine. The following are some recommendations to help relieve each symptom:
| If you … | Then try … |
| Have pain at the injection site | Hemp seed oil cream |
| Feel tired and fatigued | Energy Vite |
| Have a headache | A neurotrophic supplement & hemp seed oil cream |
| Feel pain in your body | Power Fuel with Ribose-D |
| Have joint pain | SPM Active (high dose) |
| Have swollen lymph nodes | Lymph Tone II & III |
*Please find supplement ordering information at the end of this article.
“What should people consider about their health before they elect to take the vaccine?”
For some people, there are specific elements of their health that should be addressed in order to mitigate against having a bad reaction to the vaccine (and to get their systems running optimally for general health).
Here at KanodiaMD, we spend a lot of time listening to our patients and running tests to get to the root cause of an existing issue. Some of these include a Wheat Zoomer test to measure immunoglobulins, methylation test, micronutrient test and a stool study to determine immunity level. In addition, we can perform testing to measure your immune system for the most common cause of allergic reaction (igE reaction to PEG).
Once we have more information we can then find ways to correct it with a variety of supplements, oxygen therapy, nutritional IV therapies and other modalities.
Take a look at this chart, where I share some of the typical things I see with my patients:
| If you have … | Then the Root Cause could be … | And I like to recommend … |
| Busy thoughts at bedtime | High stress = high cortisol | PS 150 |
| A lot of stress | Low GABA | Relax Max |
| Been getting sick often (colds, flu, sinus infections, etc.) … | Immune system imbalance |
Immune Shield & Snooze Power (melatonin) |
| Pain in your body | Inflammation |
SPM Active (a refined marine oil with specialized pro-resolving mediators) |
| Sensitivity to smells or strong side effects to medications | Issues with detoxing |
Advaclear & Lymph Tone II & III |
| Heartburn, bloating, diarrhea or constipation | GI tract dysregulation |
GI Complete & Digestive enzymes |
| Chronic fatigue | Mitochondrial issues | Energy Vite |
| A tendency to drink alcohol | Decreased immune system | Activated charcoal after drinking |
Please note that the Root Causes and Treatments listed in this chart are generalized and based on what I commonly see. For an assessment personalized for you, please contact the KanodiaMD office. *Please find supplement ordering information at the end of this article.
“If I am in good health, what are some things I can do to get my body ready for the vaccine?”
The best thing you can do is work on boosting your immunity. That would include:
- Taking a vitamin D with K supplement
- Taking melatonin and considering a calming bedtime routine. Getting a restful night of sleep has been advantageous to preventing COVID-19 (read more in this Cleveland Clinic study)
- Eating more whole foods and less processed foods
- Taking time to de-stress with exercise outside, breathing exercises and meditation
“Anything special I should do on the day I get vaccinated?”
Be grateful! Be thankful and appreciative because many people aren’t able to get the vaccine yet. Your mind is a powerful tool. Research shows that your body detects positivity and will accept the vaccine much easier. And remember, you need two injections 3-4 weeks apart to be fully immune. So keep that in mind and continue to socially distance, wash your hands and wear your mask.
“While I wait for my turn to get the vaccine, what’s the best way to combat COVID-19?”
For quite some time, I’ve been advising my family, friends and patients on the top three ways to combat COVID-19, and I’ve just recently added a fourth:
- Social Distancing
- Masks
- Take Steps toward a Healthy Lifestyle
- Get the Vaccine!
I hope this information has been helpful to you. Please feel free to share it with your family members and friends. If you’d like to learn more about a personalized treatment plan to ready your body for the vaccine, reach out to my office. We would be happy to help you. My ultimate purpose is to help as many people as possible feel as good as they can!