COVID-19 vaccines offer hope for a way out of the pandemic. It also raises a lot of questions. Here are some answers.
I am safe? What are the side effects?
Both vaccines authorized in the United States, from Pfizer and Moderna, have been shown to be safe after intensive testing by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Experts analyzed safety data from about 30,000 people who participated in clinical trials for each vaccine, and now millions of people have received the vaccines. Serious side effects have been extremely rare and have so far resulted in severe allergic reactions in some people. The rate of severe allergic reactions is about 4.5 to 1 million photos taken, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And allergic reactions can be treated.
“If this happens, vaccination providers have drugs available to treat the reaction effectively and immediately,” the CDC notes.
Mild reactions that disappear in a few days are more common. These include pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache and chills. The CDC even has a smartphone app to help track reactions.
How well does it work?
It has been found that both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines work extremely well, above the previous assumptions of many experts. Both vaccines were approximately 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 in clinical trials.
Does it cost money to get the vaccine?
Not. It’s free, even if you don’t have health insurance.
What vaccine should I get? Is one better than others?
Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines work extremely well, and experts say people should receive whatever happens to be available at a particular site.
The choices could become a little more complicated when and if additional vaccines are allowed. Johnson & Johnson, for example, applied to the FDA and could be licensed later this month or early March.
The vaccine was 66% effective overall, a lower level, but still above the FDA minimum of 50%.
However, Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, wrote in The Washington Post that Johnson & Johnson is 100% effective in what really matters: preventing hospitalizations and deaths.
“If you can get a vaccine – any vaccine – get it,” he wrote.
How long after vaccination will I be protected? And how long does it take?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say it can take up to two weeks after the second dose to get full protection. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses. However, some protection may build up even after the first dose.
It is not clear how long the protection will last. A booster shot may be needed in the coming years. Researchers need more time to continue study participants to see if protection against the vaccine continues or is lost over time.
Do I still need to wear a mask and take precautions after vaccination?
The CDC advises that, yes, you still do. Why? Because vaccines are very effective in preventing disease, there is less evidence that you can transmit the virus to someone else, which means that wearing a mask and keeping your distance from others is still important until a higher percentage of people are vaccinated.
The good news is that early evidence indicates that the vaccine also reduces the transmission of the virus to others.
Anthony Fauci
Anthony FauciOvernight Health: Biden Visits Michigan Pfizer Vaccine Factory | Snow delays 6 million doses The Israeli study provides new evidence in the single-dose debate. Blumenthal pushes Facebook and Twitter to eliminate vaccine misinformation targeting pregnant women Hill’s Report 12:30: Spring Vaccination Perspective MORE, the government’s leading infectious disease expert, told a briefing that there are now “some studies pointing in a very favorable direction” for vaccines that reduce transmission.
The CDC also says that if you are fully vaccinated, you should not be quarantined if you are exposed to the virus.
When can I be vaccinated? Where do I go?
Eligibility for the vaccine is determined by each state, although there are recommendations from the federal government.
Vaccinations began largely with health workers and nursing homes. Now, they have progressed in many places to categories such as people over 65 and essential workers. The average person who does not fall into these categories is not yet eligible.
It is not clear exactly when everyone will be eligible, but it is expected to be sometime in the spring. Even then, it will be a while before the doors are open to everyone so that everyone can actually book an appointment and take a hit on the arm.
How you sign up also depends on your condition and location. There are several ways, including pharmacies like CVS, other health care providers, and mass vaccination venues, such as sports stadiums.
Check the local or state health department’s website for more information.
How does the vaccine work?
Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines, a new technology. The mRNA vaccine provides the genetic code for the body to be part of the coronavirus, called the spike protein, which the virus uses to enter cells. The body then triggers an immune response to these peak proteins, teaching it how to fight the virus.
It is impossible for the vaccine to give you the coronavirus, because the vaccine does not contain the virus and also does not change your DNA in any way.
Were the vaccines rushed?
Vaccines have been developed in record time, as the process usually takes several years. But the speed was not due to cutting corners. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines went through three stages of clinical trials, with approximately 30,000 people each in phase 3 trials and a full FDA review process, with a public hearing of an expert advisory group. The speed was helped by the urgency of the crisis, which means that sufficient funds were available, including from the government, and because companies started making doses right before the studies were completed.
Do vaccines still work against new variants of the virus?
New, more contagious variants of the virus are causing concern and leading to increases in cases in some countries. The good news is that current vaccines have proven to work well against one of the most common variants, first encountered in the UK.
Experts are more concerned about a variant first identified in South Africa. This variant has been shown in studies to reduce the level of antibodies that vaccines produce to fight the virus, although exactly how much it will reduce the effectiveness is still unclear for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Moderna said in late January that although there had been a drop in antibody levels, they were still “above the levels expected to be protective.”
Vaccines continue to provide protection, especially on the most important issue: preventing severe diseases that can hospitalize you or kill you, Fauci told MSNBC.
“There is enough pillow in the effectiveness of the vaccine that there is still some protection, especially against serious diseases,” he said.
It is not yet clear whether Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will need to be upgraded for the new version, but companies are working on this possibility.
What happens if I miss the second dose?
The Pfizer vaccine is intended to have a second dose 21 days after the first dose, and the Moderna vaccine has a second dose 28 days later. But don’t panic if you miss that exact day. You should still receive a second dose, but the CDC says that while it is best to take it in time, you can take it up to 6 weeks after the first dose if you miss the window.
Can children get the vaccine?
Not yet. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are currently only permitted for ages 16 and over and 18 and over, respectively. Additional studies are needed in children. According to Fauci, data on children aged 12 to 17 are expected sometime in the fall, but data on children younger than them are not expected until the first quarter of next year.
Should I get the vaccine if I have allergies?
Yes. The FDA recommends that people avoid the vaccine only if they are allergic to a vaccine ingredient. (Ingredients are listed here and here.)
Should I get the vaccine if I am pregnant?
The CDC says pregnant women can get the vaccines, although they may want to discuss the issue with their doctor. “Experts believe [the vaccines] it is unlikely to pose a specific risk to pregnant women, ”the CDC said. However, the real risks of mRNA vaccines for the pregnant woman and her fetus are unknown, as these vaccines have not been studied in pregnant women.
Should I get the vaccine if I already have COVID-19?
The CDC says it should. This is because it is not clear how long the immunity to having the virus lasts. Some studies suggest that a single vaccine may be needed for people who have already had the virus, as the vaccine helps increase the pre-existing level of protection.