Pharmacist addresses common customer questions about COVID-19

Editor’s Note: Katie Hanke, a pharmacist at Gwidt Pharmacy in Wittenberg, reached out to the Wittenberg Enterprise & Birnamwood News about addressing some of the questions many customers were asking about dealing with COVID-19. Listed below are questions she receives from her customers and her responses.

Q: What can I do to prevent getting COVID-19?
 

A: Stay well hydrated, get proper sleep, wear a mask in public, practice social distancing, take supplements and keep your regular appointments with your primary care provider. If you are uncomfortable going into a clinic, talk with your primary care provider to discuss options for safely keeping appointments during the pandemic. It is extremely important to keep chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and mental health under control to keep you healthy and out of the hospital.
 

Q: What supplements can I take?
 

A: Immune boosting supplements typically include vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc and echinacea. At this time, there is no evidence that taking immune boosting supplements prevents or treats COVID-19. Although there aren’t any scientific studies showing they work, these immune boosting supplements are safe for most people when taken at recommended doses.

Some supplements should be used cautiously. Avoid zinc nasal spray, as it can cause permanent loss of smell. Elderberry extract is likely safe, but if you have allergies to grass pollen you may experience an allergic reaction to elderberry. Garlic interacts with many blood thinners.

Always discuss new supplements you want to try with a trusted health care provider to ensure the supplement and dose is safe for you.
 

Q: I heard you can’t take ibuprofen if you have COVID-19. Which over-the-counter medicine can I take for COVID-19 symptoms?
 

A: For most people, we recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol) first as an over-the-counter option to treat fever and body aches. Acetaminophen is easier on the stomach and safer for older adults or people with kidney or heart problems. People with liver problems should avoid acetaminophen.
There is no evidence that NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) worsen COVID-19. NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve) and aspirin. NSAIDs can be used if desired.
It’s always a good idea to check with a health care provider to make sure an over-the-counter medicine is safe for you to use. If symptoms worsen, seek emergency care.
 

Q: Will antibiotics help treat COVID-19?
 

A: Since COVID-19 is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not treat COVID-19. However, some people, especially older adults or those with underlying conditions, may get bacterial pneumonia with COVID-19. If a person gets bacterial pneumonia, that may be treated with an antibiotic. If you qualify for a pneumonia shot, make sure yours is up-to-date to help protect you.
 

Q: Why is it so important to get a flu shot (influenza vaccine)?
 

A: We need to keep as many people out of our hospitals as possible. Influenza is another respiratory illness that also causes thousands of people to be hospitalized and die every year. The influenza vaccine is the best prevention we have to keep influenza patients out of the hospital. In addition, there is a chance a person could get COVID-19 and influenza at the same time, which would further complicate their care. The influenza vaccine may not be 100% effective at preventing you from getting the flu, but it’s the best tool we have.
 

Q: What kind of flu shot should I get?
 

A: At this time there is a delay in getting influenza vaccines to clinics and pharmacies, especially the high-dose senior flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that if influenza vaccine is available, get it and don’t delay waiting for a specific kind of flu shot. Suppliers and manufacturers are working to keep influenza vaccines in stock. It’s a good idea to call ahead of time to ensure there are doses available before you visit your local pharmacy or health care provider.
 

Q: When can I get a vaccine against COVID-19?
 

A: There are several large studies in the final stages of reviewing the safe and effective use of a COVID-19 vaccine. The government is currently planning how to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine fairly across the United States once it is approved. At this time, the government is still hoping for a 2021 approval of COVID-19 vaccine.
 

Q: Will the COVID-19 vaccine be safe?
 

A: It is extremely expensive to develop a vaccine. Typically vaccine manufacturers proceed slowly through phases of research. Each phase has a specific goal — like to determine the dose, the number of shots needed, the safety and how well it works. Once each phase is completed, the vaccine gets approved. After approval, the manufacturer then starts making vaccines to sell.

The U.S. government is heavily investing in COVID-19 vaccine development. So instead of a stepwise approach, all the phases of the studies are being done at the same time. The manufacturers are already making vaccines, so as soon as the COVID-19 vaccine is approved, it will be ready to be distributed throughout the country. None of the safety steps have been eliminated; everything is being done faster due to government investments.

Keep in mind there is new information about coronavirus every day. Always contact a trusted health care provider for the most up-to-date recommendations. The Centers for Disease Control website, www.cdc.gov, is another great resource for additional information about COVID-19.