Five tips for accessing the COVID-19 vaccine if you have Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s access to the vaccine
Drs Okun and Subramanian edit the blog parkinsonsecrets.com
Most medical practices around the country are being inundated with calls and questions asking how to access the COVID-19 vaccination. We recommend, in general, that all persons with Parkinson’s disease strongly consider receiving the COVID-19 vaccinations (2 shots).
Here are five tips for accessing the vaccine, and
staying safe in the United States:
Tip 1: Vaccines are shipped to states and each state has a different distribution plan. These plans are frequently not easily accessible and can change quickly. The best source of information is to google or web-search the Department of Health website for your specific county or region. For example, I would search, “Florida Department of Health and COVID-19 Vaccination and then look for the county I live in.” It is important that everyone receives two shots of the vaccine separated by several weeks. This two shot strategy has, in studies of tens of thousands of people, revealed a superior effectiveness.
Tip 2: Essential health care workers, front line workers and nursing home occupants have been prioritized nationwide. If you fall into one of these groups, your Department of Health should have information as to where you can receive the vaccination. Most health care workers are receiving the vaccination from their employers (e.g. hospital systems). For nursing home residents, who gives the vaccine varies state to state-- and websites will usually indicate who will administer and where (e.g. could be a specific pharmacy). You should stay in constant contact your local hospital system, as sometimes they have extra vaccine dosages and most states will allow the local providers to make a decision as to whether someone should or should not receive the shot(s).
Tip 3: Get on the “list” if your local health department (in your county) has a list (of people who will get the vaccine when it is delivered). Some local health departments have lists available online. Others are taking names by phone. You will generally need a permanent address within a county to be eligible for the vaccine from a specific health department-- though this scenario may also vary. Some primary care providers may in the near future be tapped as sites to distribute the vaccine.
Tip 4: Make sure you understand if your particular state has a different set of rules or if the governor of your state has issued a proclamation. One example has been in Florida and Texas where older people (e.g. 65 years and older) may have access to the vaccine at an earlier date.
Tip 5: Beware of long lines waiting for the vaccine. It may be safer to wait until the supply of the vaccine improves, then to stand in long lines for hours and hours and increase your risk of contracting COVID from the crowds; or worsening your Parkinson’s symptoms while waiting in a long often outdoor line (e.g. falls, fractures).
Bonus Tip: Vaccines do not prevent infection with the COVID-19 virus. It is important to continue to mask and socially distance even after receiving the vaccine. Do not get too comfortable as you can spread COVID-19 to your family and friends-- despite vaccination. In the studies people who received the vaccine did not, in general, develop a severe form of COVID-19-- and no one died in the vaccine group (which was refreshing to know).
What is the most common side effect of the COVID-19 vaccination? A sore arm or shoulder is the most common side effect from the vaccination. We recommend consideration of pre-medication with acetaminophen one hour before the shot and continuing acetaminophen for a few days following the shot. After the shot, some persons with Parkinson’s may also consider switching to ibuprofen, naproxen or an anti-inflammatory, but should only do so after consulting their physician.
International Tip: If you do not live in the United States check your local health department or health department equivalent. Some countries have national vaccine distribution plans and some like the US, have plans that are carried out by local authorities.
Does it matter if I get the Pfizer or Moderna Vaccine? In general, the outcomes with both vaccines were roughly equivalent and we do not favor one vaccine over the other.
What are the reasons to consider not getting the vaccine? If you have in the past had a severe allergic reaction to any previous vaccination (of any type), you should discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. If you have had another vaccination (e.g. flu, pneumonia, zoster) in the previous two weeks, most experts recommend waiting a month or more before receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. The preliminary data suggests that the vaccine is safe in people who previously had a neurological condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome. It is important to have these discussions with your doctor, as in general almost everyone with Parkinson’s disease should be eligible for the two shot COVID-19 vaccine.
To read more books and articles by Michael S. Okun MD check Twitter @MichaelOkun and these websites with blogs and information on his books and http://parkinsonsecrets.com/ #Livingwith Parkinson’s #EndingPD #Parkinsonsecrets #LessonBedside and https://www.tourettetreatment.com/
He also serves as the Medical Director for the Parkinson’s Foundation.
To see more on Dr. Indu Subramanian she does live interviews of experts in Parkinson’s for the PMD Alliance.