# How protected from Covid-19 am I after getting round 1 of the Pfizer vaccine? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [January 23, 2021, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323 "2021-01-23T23:14:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323/1 "2021-01-23T23:14:38Z")
Unless the simple answer is “we don’t know”. I do realize they rushed these babies out to the public and we may not know the answer. I am getting round 1 of the vaccine on Monday(hallelujah). I get round 2 a few weeks later. How protected does round 1 make you? Pretty protected? Not much at all? We have no idea? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323/2 "2021-01-23T23:35:42Z")
Take a look at Tweets 17 & 18 in this thread by the Chief of Medicine at UCSF. > **[Thread by @Bob\_Wachter on Thread Reader App](https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1351384674141044737.html)** > > Thread by @Bob\_Wachter: 1/ Covid Chronicles, Day 307 One of the most challenging parts of Covid has been grappling with decision-making under uncertainty. It’s natural for MDs to weigh risks & benefits; med school ...… ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2021, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323/3 "2021-01-23T23:52:31Z")
[![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/UZwIzqAACuu3o6E-kh0gAk86GIchJK2m2vMrVq9PW6sKpkNr8Z3IK7EofToUf7OdHZzmalIaq-sJ73afewNbNz2FkBnQlmW6ieolFZnF_P-iQZO4GvmAHhOeo7rSqXYm68ywkezVeI4=w600-h315-p-k "New item by David Metsky") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/4P9C5PBXrUfDf2vs5) ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323/4 "2021-01-24T00:22:01Z")
There is still a big open question about these vaccines. They have demonstrated effects of boosting circulating antibodies, IgG & IgM which will protect you against disease and death. The effect of secreted (mucosal) antibodies, IgA & IgE are still being evaluated. This means that you might still be able to get infected and spread the virus to others. So, until we know more and/or vaccinate enough to hit herd immunity - masks and isolation behaviors should still be maintained. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323/5 "2021-01-24T00:54:20Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Take a look at Tweets 17 & 18 in this thread by the Chief of Medicine at UCSF. Thanks. If we are looking a couple years down the road, will everyone end up getting two or more vaccines? I mean if you get Pfizer, Moderna, and others, will it help build immunity up to 99% or so? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323/6 "2021-01-24T01:16:19Z")
The Johnson and Johnson vaccine, expected to be approved soon, only requires one dose. Or by “two vaccines”, do you mean again a year or more later? For that, we simply can’t have enough data yet. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323/7 "2021-01-24T01:29:27Z")
MaineHealth’s Chief Health Improvement Officer Dora Mills, M.D. said two weeks after receiving the first dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, people have about “50 percent immunity,” meaning they are 50 percent less likely to catch the virus if they come in contact with an infected person. > **[People have 50% immunity two weeks after getting first dose of COVID-19...](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/people-have-50-percent-immunity-two-weeks-after-getting-first-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-doctors-say/97-2c8262ef-1df9-4530-914c-09c49493191e)** > > MaineHealth's Dr. Dora Mills said that even after receiving the second dose, people should continue to mask and social distance. For Moderna after 1 dose by day 28 you are about 85%. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323/8 "2021-01-24T01:31:09Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > MaineHealth’s Chief Health Improvement Officer Dora Mills, M.D. said two weeks after receiving the first dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, people have about “50 percent immunity,” meaning they are 50 percent less likely to catch the virus if they come in contact with an infected person. Thanks, again. I’m getting the second does at whatever time they schedule my appointment when I get round 1. I figure I’ll take a day off work if it comes down to it. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323/9 "2021-01-24T01:47:07Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > If we are looking a couple years down the road, will everyone end up getting two or more vaccines? I mean if you get Pfizer, Moderna, and others, will it help build immunity up to 99% or so? I can’t speak to the 99% question but I expect to be getting a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 every year for the rest of my life, just as I do for influenza. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323/10 "2021-01-24T02:27:33Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > I can’t speak to the 99% question but I expect to be getting a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 every year for the rest of my life, just as I do for influenza Is that where we are headed? I do get my flu shot every year. Maybe an annual boost of this is also wise. Huh. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323/11 "2021-01-24T13:40:44Z")
It might be something that needs a booster shot after a year (or five years, or ten years, or whatever). But we won’t know that until after they’ve been in trials for at least that long. Or it might be something that lasts a lifetime, and we won’t know that until a lifetime later. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323/12 "2021-01-25T22:10:25Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > The effect of secreted (mucosal) antibodies, IgA & IgE are still being evaluated. > > This means that you might still be able to get infected and spread the virus to others. > > So, until we know more and/or vaccinate enough to hit herd immunity - masks and isolation behaviors should still be maintained. Correct me if I’m wrong, but if vaccinated people can still catch and spread COVID, but not suffer any kind of symptoms, there really isn’t a such thing as herd immunity as classically thought, right? I mean, at that point we would have 100% asymptomatic spread among vaccinated people. So we’d all get it and transmit it around, but we wouldn’t get sick. This wouldn’t help people who aren’t able to get the vaccine for some reason- the spread isn’t checked at all, just the symptoms when you catch it. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323/13 "2021-01-25T22:12:26Z")
I got the vaccine(first shot) today, by the way. I notice no side effects 3 hours later other than fatigue, which is probably from the shot…but could just be how I feel right now. I go back February 15 to get round 2. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323/14 "2021-01-25T22:31:14Z")
[Moderating] We have a whole forum for this sort of thing. Moving to Quarantine. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2021, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323/15 "2021-01-26T00:57:10Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > We have a whole forum for this sort of thing. Moving to Quarantine. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323/16 "2021-01-27T04:11:50Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I go back February 15 to get round 2. Lucky you. Must be the Pfizer jab & 3 week interval. I got Moderna on the same day but they will give me the 2nd jab on 5 March. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-protected-from-covid-19-am-i-after-getting-round-1-of-the-pfizer-vaccine/931323/17 "2021-01-27T16:08:11Z")
Yes, it’s 3 weeks for Pfizer. I can’t wait.