When does protection from covid kick in if I get vaccinated tomorrow?
September 8, 2024 4:10 PM Subscribe
If I get the new covid vaccine tomorrow, will it be active in time to protect me for my plane trip on Wednesday or Thursday (I haven’t bought the plane tickets yet)?
My last Covid booster was in April 2022. I have never had Covid, but I’m a semi-hermit and don’t do any traveling. I’m in NJ, my dad is in hospice in Florida. I’m only going down for a few days to say what are maybe last goodbyes.
My parents likely got their initial round of vaccinations in 2021 but nothing since. My concern is about *me* though, potentially getting Covid by being in airport and in the plane and in the various rideshares or car services I’ll have to use to and from the airports. Also, my partner who is not coming with me and is NOT immuno-compromised, but DOES have lots of medical issues and I don’t want him to get Covid from me when I get back.
By the way, I would and could mask the entire time, though I doubt anyone in my family will be masking and I’m not sure if anyone on planes or in airports masks anymore (do they?)
I’m not sure about whether the hospice staff will be masking, but keep in mind the Florida angle. I looked up the hospice and they don’t have a statement about it. I think my parents maybe don’t even believe in masking or Covid or vaccinations anymore.
So the key focus of my question here concerns me and my partner not getting sick. Will getting the vaccine tomorrow (Monday) protect me from covid on the plane starting Wednesday, or is that too soon to expect protection? I know you are not my doctor or epidemiologist, but I know there are some people in the know here. Thanks!
My last Covid booster was in April 2022. I have never had Covid, but I’m a semi-hermit and don’t do any traveling. I’m in NJ, my dad is in hospice in Florida. I’m only going down for a few days to say what are maybe last goodbyes.
My parents likely got their initial round of vaccinations in 2021 but nothing since. My concern is about *me* though, potentially getting Covid by being in airport and in the plane and in the various rideshares or car services I’ll have to use to and from the airports. Also, my partner who is not coming with me and is NOT immuno-compromised, but DOES have lots of medical issues and I don’t want him to get Covid from me when I get back.
By the way, I would and could mask the entire time, though I doubt anyone in my family will be masking and I’m not sure if anyone on planes or in airports masks anymore (do they?)
I’m not sure about whether the hospice staff will be masking, but keep in mind the Florida angle. I looked up the hospice and they don’t have a statement about it. I think my parents maybe don’t even believe in masking or Covid or vaccinations anymore.
So the key focus of my question here concerns me and my partner not getting sick. Will getting the vaccine tomorrow (Monday) protect me from covid on the plane starting Wednesday, or is that too soon to expect protection? I know you are not my doctor or epidemiologist, but I know there are some people in the know here. Thanks!
The consensus seems to be 1-2 weeks for substantial immune protection to be established after a booster shot. So technically no, you won’t have optimal protection.
posted by waving at 4:20 PM on September 8
posted by waving at 4:20 PM on September 8
You will not have full protection, by any means. But depending how many days you’re there you might have some decent protection for your flight home. I see few downsides and a good enough potential upside to go ahead and get that vaccine.
posted by Stacey at 4:25 PM on September 8 [16 favorites]
posted by Stacey at 4:25 PM on September 8 [16 favorites]
Regardless of whether the vaccine's had enough time to be protective, if your goal is to avoid getting infected, then you'd want to mask. (The vaccine's usefulness is because it helps keep you from getting seriously ill if infected, but it doesn't generally keep you from getting infected in the first place.) People are still masking, on planes and elsewhere.
When I visited my father in Florida when he was ill, I did take my mask off in his hospital room because it was important to me that he see my face and that seemed worth the risk to me. I masked in all other public indoor spaces.
posted by lapis at 4:26 PM on September 8 [23 favorites]
When I visited my father in Florida when he was ill, I did take my mask off in his hospital room because it was important to me that he see my face and that seemed worth the risk to me. I masked in all other public indoor spaces.
posted by lapis at 4:26 PM on September 8 [23 favorites]
I’m not sure if anyone on planes or in airports masks anymore (do they?)
I sure do; airports, planes (other than quick sips of water), rideshares. Wear one, protect yourself. N95 (with head straps) or better; i like 3M Aura a lot, and have a couple reusable elastomer ones like the Envo. I sometimes even get them with exhale valves now; they’re more comfortable and if people around me don’t care to protect themselves, why should i go out of my way?
posted by supercres at 4:27 PM on September 8 [10 favorites]
I sure do; airports, planes (other than quick sips of water), rideshares. Wear one, protect yourself. N95 (with head straps) or better; i like 3M Aura a lot, and have a couple reusable elastomer ones like the Envo. I sometimes even get them with exhale valves now; they’re more comfortable and if people around me don’t care to protect themselves, why should i go out of my way?
posted by supercres at 4:27 PM on September 8 [10 favorites]
Echoing what lapis said: It's important to recognise that vaccination is targeted to keep you out of hospital/prevent severe disease but is not likely to prevent infection.
To avoid infection, I'm still masking on planes, buses, trains, cabs etc. If you choose this route I recommended getting fit-tested with your mask. This is typically conducted by an occupational therapist at a business that fit-tests masks for health care and industrial workers. They have you move your head left and right, up and down, talk, etc while testing different masks for fit, seal, etc. They provide the masks. I found that the masks I have been using (3M Aura N95) are a great fit for me and remain sealed across all the tests - reassuring for long plane rides.
posted by lulu68 at 5:02 PM on September 8 [4 favorites]
To avoid infection, I'm still masking on planes, buses, trains, cabs etc. If you choose this route I recommended getting fit-tested with your mask. This is typically conducted by an occupational therapist at a business that fit-tests masks for health care and industrial workers. They have you move your head left and right, up and down, talk, etc while testing different masks for fit, seal, etc. They provide the masks. I found that the masks I have been using (3M Aura N95) are a great fit for me and remain sealed across all the tests - reassuring for long plane rides.
posted by lulu68 at 5:02 PM on September 8 [4 favorites]
Acknowleging the privilege in this ask, if you've got some cash to spare, get a HEPA filter for his hospice room and leave it for your mom, or pick it up if you end up driving there down the road.
posted by kate4914 at 5:19 PM on September 8 [1 favorite]
posted by kate4914 at 5:19 PM on September 8 [1 favorite]
When i was traveling by last month (California <>Indiana) I would estimate that maybe 10% of the people in the airport and on the plane were masked. So, you won't be the only person masking even though most people don't.
posted by metahawk at 6:12 PM on September 8 [1 favorite]
posted by metahawk at 6:12 PM on September 8 [1 favorite]
Best answer: A reasonable interpretation of the data is that you basically start getting a protective benefit within a day or two, which ramps up over a couple weeks. Basically you start making antibodies once you're exposed, so you get a head start on having enough antibodies if you're exposed later.
Because Covid has an incubation time, it's seldom reported this way. People who are infected the same day they went in to get the shot might show symptoms five days later, so it doesn't look protective in the raw stats. It looks like they got vaccinated then got Covid a week later. But when you graph out sickness rates in the control arm vs. the vaccinated arm for early studies, the vaccinated symptom rates start decline pretty quickly.
Basically, once you are vaccinated your body starts making antibodies, so even though you might not have "enough" two days later to be at full protection, you still have a two day head start if you are exposed to the virus at that point compared to an unvaccinated person.
I work with virologists, and this is the sort of thing that got talked about in discussions and seminars during the early trials (when all information was being eagerly shared). It doesn't go in papers because "it sure looks like some unmeasurable protective benefit starts happening right away" is a weak and speculative conclusion compared to "90% reduction after 2 weeks, and here's the p-value." There's no particular public health benefit to trying to nail this down more exactly.
So, yeah, get the shot ASAP.
posted by mark k at 7:53 PM on September 8 [15 favorites]
Because Covid has an incubation time, it's seldom reported this way. People who are infected the same day they went in to get the shot might show symptoms five days later, so it doesn't look protective in the raw stats. It looks like they got vaccinated then got Covid a week later. But when you graph out sickness rates in the control arm vs. the vaccinated arm for early studies, the vaccinated symptom rates start decline pretty quickly.
Basically, once you are vaccinated your body starts making antibodies, so even though you might not have "enough" two days later to be at full protection, you still have a two day head start if you are exposed to the virus at that point compared to an unvaccinated person.
I work with virologists, and this is the sort of thing that got talked about in discussions and seminars during the early trials (when all information was being eagerly shared). It doesn't go in papers because "it sure looks like some unmeasurable protective benefit starts happening right away" is a weak and speculative conclusion compared to "90% reduction after 2 weeks, and here's the p-value." There's no particular public health benefit to trying to nail this down more exactly.
So, yeah, get the shot ASAP.
posted by mark k at 7:53 PM on September 8 [15 favorites]
Per my therapist: "everyone I know who's flown without a mask has gotten covid right now." Do not take off the mask for anything at the airport. Don't take a sip of water if you can stand it, probably. (I note my boss masked up to go to Florida for a wedding and came back A-OK.) Get the shot anyway, but masking is probably the key thing.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:04 PM on September 8 [5 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:04 PM on September 8 [5 favorites]
Mod note: One deleted: not answering the question (against guidelines) and being insulting toward OP (will lead to time-out or account closure).
posted by taz (staff) at 9:14 PM on September 8
posted by taz (staff) at 9:14 PM on September 8
For the vaccine, sure, it’s a great idea to get it now. Some protection is better than none and in many parts of the US we’re still in a surge AFAIK. I’m getting mine today!
When I visited my dad in his last months, which meant flying through O’Hare frequently during Omicron, I masked almost continuously, in the airport, the plane, the cab, the grocery store, in his room at the nursing home, only unmasking a few times to share a meal with him when his door was closed. I also tested every morning before seeing him. He never got Covid. This is doable, and even if others are not playing along, you can avoid being a vector yourself.
posted by eirias at 4:13 AM on September 9 [5 favorites]
When I visited my dad in his last months, which meant flying through O’Hare frequently during Omicron, I masked almost continuously, in the airport, the plane, the cab, the grocery store, in his room at the nursing home, only unmasking a few times to share a meal with him when his door was closed. I also tested every morning before seeing him. He never got Covid. This is doable, and even if others are not playing along, you can avoid being a vector yourself.
posted by eirias at 4:13 AM on September 9 [5 favorites]
When I got my shot recently, I asked the vaccinator your question, and she said essentially what mark k said.
I got the shot while on a transatlantic train-and-plane trip, during which I relied on masking where possible* plus Viraleze nasal spray. I was in multiple crowded situations and haven't contracted Covid or any other illness (so far-- I finished the last leg this morning.)
*Masking where possible: train and plane journeys were long enough that I couldn't stay masked the whole time; food and drink were necessary. My intent was to have multiple layers of protection. You can never eliminate risk, but you can reduce it.
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:46 AM on September 9
I got the shot while on a transatlantic train-and-plane trip, during which I relied on masking where possible* plus Viraleze nasal spray. I was in multiple crowded situations and haven't contracted Covid or any other illness (so far-- I finished the last leg this morning.)
*Masking where possible: train and plane journeys were long enough that I couldn't stay masked the whole time; food and drink were necessary. My intent was to have multiple layers of protection. You can never eliminate risk, but you can reduce it.
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:46 AM on September 9
I’m not sure if anyone on planes or in airports masks anymore (do they?)
Just returned late last night from a trip that required plane travel and most people are not masking in airports or planes in the U.S. and I do not understand it. Aside from the Covid risk, I cannot believe that we just blithely sit on these metal tubes for hours and hours while our seatmates are hacking up lungs and generally just BREATHING all over us. LOL. Before Covid I would always, always get sick after air travel. Since Covid, I've masked religiously while in airports and on planes and I have yet to get sick afterward. I'll never do public transportation without masks again.
Anyway, my husband and I masked the entire time this weekend in airports and on the planes. I would guess we saw maybe 10-20% of the rest of the people in the airports and planes with masks? Probably lower, to be honest. But no one gave us shit for it, so *shrug*.
posted by cooker girl at 8:56 AM on September 9 [2 favorites]
Just returned late last night from a trip that required plane travel and most people are not masking in airports or planes in the U.S. and I do not understand it. Aside from the Covid risk, I cannot believe that we just blithely sit on these metal tubes for hours and hours while our seatmates are hacking up lungs and generally just BREATHING all over us. LOL. Before Covid I would always, always get sick after air travel. Since Covid, I've masked religiously while in airports and on planes and I have yet to get sick afterward. I'll never do public transportation without masks again.
Anyway, my husband and I masked the entire time this weekend in airports and on the planes. I would guess we saw maybe 10-20% of the rest of the people in the airports and planes with masks? Probably lower, to be honest. But no one gave us shit for it, so *shrug*.
posted by cooker girl at 8:56 AM on September 9 [2 favorites]
Sending love to you. I've done a lot of flying back and forth to Florida for parental care, and would get that booster before this trip as well as mask as much as you can on the plane and in rideshares. Very few people in the health care settings where my folks are seen are masking as a matter of course. The one time I got COVID was from my mother's hospital acquired infection from December of 2022. They aren't even testing patients unless asked to.
posted by advicepig at 12:45 PM on September 9 [1 favorite]
posted by advicepig at 12:45 PM on September 9 [1 favorite]
Immunocompromised here and I flew across the country in February. I was VERY nervous! I say get the booster and take precautions as it won’t yet be fully effective. I’m up to date on vaccinations but here is what kept me and Mr. Fish safe on our trip:
- we masked the whole time airport to airport with the exception of pulling the mask down for TSA. We wore N95s with surgical masks over them. I was a psycho and set the timer on my watch - from masking before walking into the terminal to ripping the darn thing off at the destination terminal was 11 hours (it was also an early flight conducive to napping). I also need to be careful though due to autoimmune health conditions so YMMV. We’ve been lone maskers for awhile but we were not the only ones masked on that trip.
- we didn’t use the bathroom but if I had to my plan was to wear a face shield in the bathroom and a pair of gloves - this is extreme, but again, autoimmune health conditions.
- I brought an air quality meter which helped me keep anxiety in check more than anything
- We used Enovid before, after and for the next few days
- We sat as far forward in the plane and got on last (the air quality is worst at tarmac and taxi)
posted by floweredfish at 7:16 PM on September 9 [1 favorite]
- we masked the whole time airport to airport with the exception of pulling the mask down for TSA. We wore N95s with surgical masks over them. I was a psycho and set the timer on my watch - from masking before walking into the terminal to ripping the darn thing off at the destination terminal was 11 hours (it was also an early flight conducive to napping). I also need to be careful though due to autoimmune health conditions so YMMV. We’ve been lone maskers for awhile but we were not the only ones masked on that trip.
- we didn’t use the bathroom but if I had to my plan was to wear a face shield in the bathroom and a pair of gloves - this is extreme, but again, autoimmune health conditions.
- I brought an air quality meter which helped me keep anxiety in check more than anything
- We used Enovid before, after and for the next few days
- We sat as far forward in the plane and got on last (the air quality is worst at tarmac and taxi)
posted by floweredfish at 7:16 PM on September 9 [1 favorite]
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posted by soelo at 4:17 PM on September 8 [2 favorites]