CBS4 Medical Editor Dr. Dave Hnida: The Answer Is 'Yes' To Getting Vaccine After Having COVID

(CBS4) - With the arrival of Pfizer's vaccine for COVID-19 in Colorado, many people are asking if they should get the immunization if they have already had coronavirus. CBSN Denver's Makenzie O'Keefe posed that very question to CBS4 Medical Dr. Dave Hnida Monday morning, just hours after the vaccine arrived.

Mock drill simulates Colorado's arrival of first Covid-19 vaccines. — VAIL, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 8: Vail Health Hospital pharmacy technician Rob Brown practices measuring the exact dosage for a mock Covid-19 vaccine in the sterile compounding room in the pharmacy on December 8, 2020 in Vail, Colorado. From one vial, once reconstituted to be administered to a patient, there are five doses of the vaccine. With the state expecting its first shipment of a COVID-19 vaccine in a matter of days, the state health department ran an exercise to see how ready it is to take on such a mass vaccination campaign. The Pfizer vaccine, which is the first shot expected to gain federal approval, will be difficult for the state to distribute as it needs to be stored at sub-zero temperatures and requires two shots. The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management held a dry run or drill of receiving the vaccines in a thermal shipping container at Denver International Airport, using a courier car to take the vaccines to Vail Health Hospital and then the path the vaccines will follow once at the hospital from the pharmacy to a patient receiving the vaccine. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

"I think there are three answers to that, it's yes, yes and yes," Dr. Dave said. "It is something where we do not know, even if you've had COVID, a mild case, asymptomic case, a very severe case, just what sort of antibody protection you have."

"Even if you did have antibody protection, how long does that last?"

Dr. Dave said that makes getting vaccinated the safest way to go.

"We know that we can make sure you have a good immune response if you are exposed to the virus, you will have an excellent change of fighting off the disease."

He pointed out there have been cases of people getting infected with coronavirus, people testing positive again even they're not sick.

"We really have a lot of uncertainties in that line of thinking so the best advice is yes, you need to be vaccinated."

And even with vaccinations, Dr. Dave emphasized the importance of social distancing, wearing masks and good hygiene.

"It will be a long time before we are able to protect our full population and achieve the so-called herd immunity, but once again, light at the end of a very long tunnel which is good to see for a change."

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