Woman told not to get second dose after adverse reaction to first

Adverse reactions to the coronavirus vaccine are rare, but they can still happen. A woman in Collier County says she had one and was told by a Publix pharmacist not to return to the pharmacy to get the second dose.

“I have my little card,” Jan Chapin said. “I have that I’m official.”

When Chapin scheduled her first dose with Publix, she felt like a lucky winner.

“We’ve been in quarantine basically since last March, not seeing any of our family, our kids, our grandkids,” Chapin said. “So we were so excited to get this shot.”

But three weeks later, that luck has run out.

Chapin is frustrated because she is unable to get a second dose.

Chapin is allergic to artificial sweeteners, so when she got the first shot, she felt a slight reaction within minutes.

“I got a little tingly in my lips, and my tongue was burning,” Chapin explained.

Because of that, Publix pharmacist said they can’t give her the second dose.

“She says, ‘No. It’s a liability.’ I said, ‘OK, where do I go? Who do I contact?’” Chapin said. “And they had no options for me.”

Chapin spoke with her doctor who cleared her, but finding and scheduling her next appointment hasn’t been easy. She has tried going through the health departments in Lee and Collier counties and even called hospitals.

“It’s just who I’ve called and little notes and who tells me to do what,” Chapin said. “I don’t know.”

Chapin has not had any luck, and she is due for her second dose next week.

“Can you imagine if someone was in their 80s or 90s and was in the same position and couldn’t get the second shot?” Chapin said.

The CDC says side effects such as nausea and soreness are common, but allergic reactions like those Chapin experienced are rare.

Florida Department of Health in Collier County said, if your doctor gives you the OK to get the second dose, then, you can call them for guidance. But in some instances, you might be referred to a hospital.

Publix says it doesn’t have a blanket liability policy, but it’s up to the pharmacist.

If this happens to you, call your doctor to see if you should get the second dose.