Nurse who refused vaccine for herself and her teen contracts COVID for a second time – WGN TV Chicago

by: Darren Kramer, Nexstar Media Wire

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) A Connecticut nurse who did not get the COVID-19 vaccine for herself or her teen contracted the virus for a second time.

Camile, who did not provide her last name, is in her second year of being a registered nurse at a major Connecticut hospital. Last fall, she said she was worried about the long-term effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Camile also said she was confident she had antibodies from her first case of COVID. A few weeks ago, Camile came down with COVID again while working the overnight shift at her hospital treating cancer patients.

It was about 2 a.m. and all of a sudden I had shortness of breath and I couldnt breathe. In my mind I was thinking, well its probably not COVID because I already had COVID. Its very rare to get it a second time. And then in the morning the headaches, the muscle pain, the fatigue, and then I started having fevers, Camile said.

Camile said she was one of the first of a flurry of COVID-19 cases on her cancer floor.

People werent really popping up with COVID on our staff or on our floor. Our floor was clean at the time. Then I popped up and then everybody pretty much started popping up.

People werent really popping up with COVID on our staff or on our floor. Our floor was clean at the time. Then I popped up and then everybody pretty much started popping up, Camile said.

When asked if she thinks she gave COVID to any of the oncology patients, Camile responded, theres no way to really tell.

Asked if she regrets not getting the vaccine after having COVID on the oncology floor, she said, I maybe would ponder that hypothetical if there wasnt so many vaccinated employees that also got COVID.

Dr. Onyema Ogbuagu is an infectious disease expert at Yale. He said the COVID vaccine is the best way to protect healthcare workers and the patients they serve.

Vaccination does protect robustly against the circulating virus and the newer variants. Boosters are really important for omicron specifically and every healthcare worker would do well to get vaccinated, Dr. Ogbuagu said.

Camiles teenage son asked to get the vaccine, but she wouldnt let him. He got COVID, as well.

When asked if Camile had any regrets about not getting the vaccine after getting COVID twice and working with cancer patients, she said, No. If I had omicron, as they say, Im protected against delta and COVID.

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Nurse who refused vaccine for herself and her teen contracts COVID for a second time - WGN TV Chicago