2019 Novel Coronavirus (CoVID-19): Part XXI
2019
Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV (first named); COVID-2019 (later named
disease); SARS-CoV-2 (final name of the virus causing COVID-2019),
COVID-2019 Pandemic:
February 1, 2021 update Part 21 (Vaccines - Part #5)
Paul Herscu ND, MPH
Herscu Laboratory
This COVID-19 Update #20 is the companion piece to COVID-19 updates #17, #18, #19 and #20 all of which focus on vaccines.
What Can I Do in Preparation for the Vaccine? And Some Questions and Answers
What follows are some very basic principles and procedures. None of this is tested with COVID-19 in any formal fashion, and it would be great if it were. Nevertheless, instead of doing nothing, it may be possible to diminish harm from following these basic principles. You do not have to take up any of these recommendations in order to receive the vaccine, but these are my recommendations for my patients. Please consult your own physician on any decisions you make.
1. Every single person should get tested for the virus before they get vaccinated to make sure they are not actively ill with COVID-19, in order to lessen the burden on the immune system.
2. Advocate for quantitative COVID-19 testing instead of the dichotomous yes/no testing we are receiving today. If your titres are high, consider allowing others to receive the vaccine ahead of you for now, people who have no protection at all.
3. After a few weeks, ask for antibody titres to be drawn post-vaccination, to see if the vaccine took.
4. The WHO continues to oscillate regarding the vaccination of pregnant women, at least with the mRNA vaccines. But the natural question that follows is, who is pregnant? In other words, female bodied individuals who are of childbearing age and sexually active with male bodied individuals should probably take a pregnancy test before getting these vaccines.
5. The below are reasonable steps to take, and based on basic naturopathic concepts, and mirror what we do on the other side of the equation to support an optimally functioning immune system. We want a response to the vaccine, while limiting harm, and here is what we suggest:
