COVID-19 vaccines offer hope for getting out of the pandemic. They also raise many questions. Here are some answers.
Are they safe? What are the side effects?
Both vaccines authorized in the United States, by Pfizer and Moderna, were found safe after intensive analysis by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The experts analyzed the safety data of about 30,000 people who participated in clinical trials for each vaccine, and now millions of people have received the vaccines. Serious side effects were extremely rare and, until now, consisted of severe allergic reactions in some people. The rate of serious allergic reactions is about 4.5 per 1 million injections administered, according to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And allergic reactions can be treated.
“If this occurs, vaccination providers have drugs available to treat the reaction effectively and immediately,” notes the CDC.
Mild reactions that disappear in a few days are more common. This includes pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache and chills. The CDC even has a smartphone app to help track reactions.
Do they work well?
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have worked extremely well, above the previous assumptions of many experts. Both vaccines were about 95 percent effective in preventing people from receiving COVID-19 in clinical trials.
Does it cost money to get the vaccine?
No. It’s free, even if you don’t have health insurance.
Which vaccine should I get? Is one better than the others?
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines work extremely well, and experts say people should get what is available at a given location.
Choices can get a little more complicated when and if additional vaccines are allowed. Johnson & Johnson, for example, placed an order with the FDA and may be authorized later this month or early March.
That vaccine was 66 percent effective overall, a lower level, but still above the FDA 50 percent minimum.
Still, Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, wrote in The Washington Post that Johnson & Johnson is 100% effective at what really matters: preventing hospitalizations and deaths.
“If you are able to get a vaccine – any vaccine – get it,” he wrote.
How long after being vaccinated will I be protected? And how long does it last?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say it can take up to two weeks after the second dose to get full protection. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses. Still, some protection can be built even after the first dose.
It is not clear how long the protection will last. It is possible that a booster injection will be needed in the coming years. Researchers need more time to continue following study participants to see if vaccine protection continues or disappears over time.
Do I still need to wear a mask and take precautions after vaccination?
The CDC reports that, yes, you still do. Why? Because although vaccines are very effective at preventing illness, there is less evidence about whether you can still pass the virus on to someone else, which means that wearing a mask and keeping your distance from others is still important until a larger percentage of people are . vaccinated.
The good news is that the first evidence indicates that the vaccine also cuts off transmission of the virus to others.
Anthony Fauci
Anthony FauciOvernight Health Care: Biden visits Pfizer vaccine factory in Michigan | Neve delays 6 million doses | Israeli study provides new evidence in dose debate Blumenthal presses Facebook and Twitter to remove misleading information about vaccines for pregnant women The Hill’s 12:30 report: Vaccination prospects for spring MORE, the government’s leading infectious disease expert, said in a briefing that there are now “some studies that are pointing in a very favorable direction” for vaccination to reduce transmission.
In addition, the CDC says that if you are fully vaccinated, you will not need to quarantine if you are exposed to the virus.
When can I get vaccinated? Where do I go?
Eligibility for the vaccine is determined by each state, although there are recommendations from the federal government.
Vaccination started mainly with healthcare professionals and people in nursing homes. Now, they have progressed in many places to categories like people over 65 and essential workers. The average person who is not in these categories is not yet eligible.
It is unclear exactly when everyone will be eligible, but it is expected to be sometime in the spring. Even so, it will still be some time after the doors are open to everyone so that everyone can actually make an appointment and receive an injection in the arm.
The form of registration also depends on your state and location. There are several avenues, including pharmacies like CVS, other health care providers and mass vaccination sites, such as sports stadiums.
Check your 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 peak protein, which the virus uses to enter cells. The body then activates an immune response to these peak proteins, teaching it to fight the virus.
It is impossible for the vaccine to transmit the coronavirus, since the vaccine does not contain the virus and also does not alter its DNA in any way.
Were the vaccines rushed?
Vaccines were developed in record time, as the process usually takes several years. But the speed was not due to cutting curves. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have gone through three stages of clinical testing, with about 30,000 people each in phase 3 trials, and a complete FDA review process with a public hearing from an expert advisory panel. The speed was helped by the urgency of the crisis, which meant that there was a lot of funds available, including from the government, and because companies started making the doses even before the end of the tests.
Do vaccines still work against new variants of the virus?
New and more contagious variants of the virus are causing concern and leading to peak cases in some countries. The good news is that current vaccines have been shown to work well against one of the most prevalent variants, first found in the UK.
Experts are most 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 effectiveness is not yet clear. for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Moderna said in late January that although there has been a drop in antibody levels, they are still “above the levels that should be protective”.
Vaccines still offer protection, especially in the most important aspect: preventing serious diseases that can hospitalize or kill, said Fauci on MSNBC.
“There is sufficient cushioning in the vaccine’s effectiveness so that there is still some protection, especially against serious diseases,” he said.
It is not yet clear whether the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will need to be upgraded to the new variant, but companies are working on that possibility.
What happens if I miss the second dose?
The Pfizer vaccine should receive a second dose 21 days after the first dose, and the Moderna vaccine 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 better to put it on 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 authorized only for people over 16 and over 18, 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 younger children are not expected until the first quarter of next year.
Should I get the vaccine if I have an allergy?
yea. The FDA is advising people to avoid the vaccine only if they are allergic to one of the ingredients in the vaccine. (The ingredients are listed here and here.)
Should I get the vaccine if I am pregnant?
The CDC says that pregnant women can get the vaccines, although they may want to discuss the matter with their doctor. “Experts believe [the vaccines] they are unlikely to pose a specific risk to people who are pregnant, ”says the CDC. “However, the real risks of mRNA vaccines for pregnant women and their fetuses are unknown because these vaccines have not been studied in pregnant women.”
Should I get the vaccine if I already have COVID-19?
The CDC says you should. That’s because it’s not clear how long immunity against the virus lasts. Some studies suggest that only one vaccine injection may be needed for people who have already had the virus, since the vaccine helps to increase the level of pre-existing protection.