Each week, MLive is soliciting reader questions related to COVID-19 and publishing a handful, along with answers collected by our health reporters through previous and new reporting.
In recent segments, we answered questions about getting a booster while symptomatic, and why vaccinated people get infected.
Below are some of the questions we received this week. If you have an inquiry, send it over to covidquestions@mlive.com and it could be featured in future reporting.
Q: My husband had COVID in May of 2020 and lost his sense of taste and smell. He’s almost 18 months since contracting COVID and still hasn’t fully gained his sense of smell back and some smells are way off from what they used to be, and some smells are the same as others when they are completely different. Did the virus permanently damage his sense receptors and/or nerves or is the virus just living in his nerves to prevent his smell from returning? Does anyone know if there is a cure for this or if there are any recommendations for him to help sharpen his sense?
This line of questioning prompted MLive to interview a couple ear, nose and throat experts to better understand the process of registering smells, and what COVID-19 does to it. You can find the full story, here.
In summary, viral infections like COVID-19 can cause damage to the nerve fibers in the roof of the nose and the support cells around them. That damage, as well as the inflammatory response to the infection, make it difficult for molecules to get to the nerve fibers, resulting in the loss of smell.
In most documented cases, the sense has returned after a few weeks/months, but there are cases in which an individual has gone years or never regained their full sense of smell. Doctors said that’s not because the virus is continuing to live in your cells, but rather the damage is too severe or the environment isn’t conducive to regeneration. More research is needed to determine if certain conditions make an individual more susceptible for long-term sense loss.
There are a few remedies that have proven useful to some. They involve the use of nasal steroids to reduce inflammation, and/or a neti pot to clean and moisturize the nose. There is also a technique in which the individual undergoes olfactory training therapy with the use of essential oils to regain some sense of smell. For more on that, check out the full MLive article.
Q: I, as well as everyone else in my household, had COVID over a year ago. We also all received our first two doses of the vaccine. Is it necessary for us to get a booster?
There is evidence that the combination of natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity creates a strong hybrid level of protection against COVID-19. Between the two methods of protection, it can be expected that you are well prepared in the case of encountering coronavirus in the near future.
Many studies have indicated that the protection against reinfection is “strong and persistent” for more than 10 months, noted a report published in The Lancet. What isn’t fully understood is how long that protection will last and if it will protect against different strains of coronavirus. In some cases of viral infections, the protection can be life-long, while others like the flu don’t even offer annual protection due to mutations of the virus.
Researchers are still learning about SARS-CoV-2 and the varying levels of protection against it. That’s in-part why doctors continue to recommend the available vaccines, including the booster doses. Boosters aren’t available to everyone yet, but health officials are recommending them for individuals at greater risk of severe COVID-19 who finished their primary regimen at least six months ago.
It’s best to talk to your doctor to see if a booster is recommended for you.
Q: I recently tested positive for COVID-19. I have two children, ages 14 and 11. They have been home with me since they are quarantined. My question is, can I go and get them vaccinated now without getting tested for COVID? Or do they need to be tested before they get vaccinated. They do not have any symptoms.
The CDC’s recommendation for nonvaccinated individuals is to quarantine 14 days after an exposure to someone who tested positive. If you’re going to get them tested, you should wait until at least the fifth day after their close contact for the most accurate test results.
An individual should typically wait until they are no longer required to isolate or quarantine before seeking a vaccine. However, health officials said that recommendation can change based on an individual’s risk factors for severe COVID-19. It’s recommended that you contact your doctor to determine the best time to get your children vaccinated.
Q: My 10 and 11 year old kids are now eligible for COVID vaccination. I would prefer to be able to wait on vaccination a month or so until there is more data on this age group, but I’m also feeling some pressure since the school mask mandate will expire on Jan. 1. Are masks really not necessary any longer after some (presumably low) percentage of this young age group are vaccinated, regardless of community transmission?
I brought your question to Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive. Her advice -- get your children vaccinated as soon as possible. As a mother of a 7-year-old, she got her son vaccinated and felt a great sense of relief having done so.
“If you talk to health care providers; if you talk to doctors and scientists across the state, not only were we some of the first people to get vaccinated ourselves, but the vast majority of us are very excited and enthusiastic about vaccinating our children,” she said. " I think that speaks to the safety and efficacy of these vaccines.
“If you’re on the fence, don’t just look at this as being a new product. Look at this as a product that’s been around for several months, that millions of individuals have received and done well with.”
As for the masks portion, Bagdasarian noted that masks work best at limiting the spread of coronavirus when everyone is wearing them in a given setting. She said any talk of doing away with masks in schools and childcare settings at this point is premature, given that less than 50% of children 12 to 19 years old have been vaccinated after more than six months of eligibility.
The state health department strongly encourages schools to have mask requirements for students and staff, though only 42% of districts have such policies. State leaders have declined to issue a mandate, but health officials have long said masks are an important prevention tool while viral transmission rates remain high. Districts without mask requirements are experiencing higher case rates.
Q: Since I had pulmonary embolisms following the initial vaccines, would it be safe to get the booster?
A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot blocks one of the arteries in the lungs. In general, as many as 900,000 Americans will experience a pulmonary embolism each year.
As it relates to COVID-19, blood clotting has occurred in patients with moderate and severe cases of COVID-19, and the risk of developing blood clots with COVID-19 is higher if you have other conditions like hypertension, diabetes, obesity or cancer, or if you have a history of blood clots.
There have been some rare but serious cases of blood clotting in individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, but there doesn’t appear to be evidence of any increased risk of blood clotting following the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
As someone with a prior case of developing blood clots, however, it would be beneficial to consult your doctor before seeking a booster shot.
To find a vaccine near you, eligible residents can visit Michigan’s COVID-19 vaccine website or go to VaccineFinder.org. Shots are available through health systems, pharmacies, health departments, physicians offices and other enrolled providers.
To submit your question, send an email to covidquestions@mlive.com.
Read more on MLive:
Why should kids get vaccinated against COVID-19, and other questions answered by Michigan doctors
University of Michigan reports spike in COVID-19 cases after Halloween, MSU game
Newly vaccinated kids are excited for sleepovers, vacations, trips to Dave & Buster’s
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