MADISON, Wis.– One dose just isn’t enough. So, the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are only completed after a two-dose series, but some people aren’t showing up for the second shot.
One in every ten people who get the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at SSM Health, didn’t come back for the second shot.
“This seems to be in line with the state’s average,” SSM Health Vice President of Pharmacy Services Mo Kharbat said. “About 10 percent of patients never come back for their second dose.”
Kharbat said there are a few reasons why people might be skipping the second dose. The first, a rare, but severe allergic reaction, which he said would be a good reason to not come back. The second, fear of common side effects, which he said can easily be treated.
“If the first dose bothered you, then you may take an acetaminophen or another medication to help with symptoms, such as, fever, headache or pain,” Kharbat said.
At UW Health, Dr. Matt Anderson couldn’t be specific, but said there’s a “very small” number of people not returning for their second appointment.
“Do we know if they’re getting their second dose somewhere else? No, that’s not really transparent and visible to us,” Anderson said.
Anderson said no matter where you go to get it, it’s important that you do.
“The first dose gives you some level of protection. We don’t know the duration of that protection, and we also don’t know that the top level of protection comes after the second one,” Anderson said.
If someone missed the second appointment simply because of timing, Anderson said it might not be too late to reschedule.
“Ideally, you’d get it within that six week timeframe, but if it goes beyond that, there’s no recommendation right now to start this series over,” Anderson said.
A spokesperson for Public Health Madison Dane County said the department isn’t keeping track of this data, but said there are very few people who don’t show up for their second appointments.
COPYRIGHT 2021 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
