Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies started developing COVID-19 vaccines in March, two of which have passed FDA approval and began distribution in the US: one from Pfizer and BioNTech, the other from Moderna. On December 15, all fifty states began distributing vaccines to the public to achieve herd immunity and return to a state of normalcy as soon as possible. Naturally, public reaction to the vaccines ranged from relief and excitement to skepticism and fear. With an issue as important as COVID-19 vaccinations, accurate information from reputable sources is crucial. Read further for answers to common questions about the vaccine or scroll below for a list of reputable sources for further reading.
How do the two available COVID-19 vaccines differ?
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine consists of two separate shots administered 21 days apart. Tests reported it to be 95% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 after two doses. As of February, it is not yet approved for people under the age of 16.
The Moderna vaccine, developed in partnership with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases consists of two separate shots administered three weeks apart. Tests reported it to be 94.1% effective against symptomatic COVID-19. As of February, it is not yet approved for people under the age of 18.
According to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, both vaccines require the second dose as close to the recommended timing window as possible to reach their protective strength. The first dose alone provides much less protection against COVID-19 than both doses together. Common side effects of both vaccines can include pain, swelling, and redness at the site of the injection, as well as chills, tiredness, and a headache. Their ingredients differ and neither contain the live virus.
How did the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determine that the vaccines are safe?
Several companies and organizations submitted COVID-19 vaccines for FDA approval, but only two have been approved so far. According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, the approval process consists of a series of clinical trials, divided into three phases, to test their safety and effectiveness against the disease. In phase 1, the vaccine is administered to anywhere from a dozen to several dozen healthy people. In phase 2, several hundred people, including children, older adults, and people with pre-existing medical conditions receive the vaccination. In phase 3, tens of thousands of volunteers receive either a viral vaccine or a placebo vaccine, usually composed of saline or a different kind of vaccine, and investigators watch to see a disparity in COVID-19 rates between the two groups following the trial. During all things phases, scientists ruthlessly vet the safety and efficacy of the vaccines and determine who can and cannot safely receive the vaccine.
For updates on where other vaccines are in the approval process, visit the New York Times COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker.
Which groups will receive the vaccine first?
As of December 12, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) implemented its vaccination sequencing plan, which prioritized the immunization of healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities like nursing homes. As of January 25, K-12 educators and childcare workers are eligible to receive a vaccine. On February 8, people 80 and older will become eligible to receive the vaccine and each week eligibility will expand in five-year increments until March 1, when everyone over the age of 65 will be eligible.
The next phase, likely starting in March, will make 1.2 million people eligible, including at-risk essential workers, people with underlying conditions aged 16-64, people in custody, and people living in low-income and congregate senior housing. OHA Public Health Director Rachel Banks has warned that the OHA may need to revise plans for this group if Oregon does not receive more doses in the future, as they currently have the capacity to vaccinate 50,000 people per week.
Oregon’s Vaccine Advisory Board is still working on plans for the last phases of distribution, which would include multi-generational households followed by the general public.
Who shouldn’t get a vaccine?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that “If you have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) or an immediate allergic reaction [within 4 hours of getting vaccinated]—even if it was not severe—to any ingredient in an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, you should not get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.” Yale Health recommends that people who have had a severe reaction to any vaccination or medication should talk to a doctor before proceeding.
The CDC currently recommends the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine only for people aged 16 and older and the Moderna vaccine only for people aged 18 and older. There is no current data about COVID-19 vaccines in two groups for which COVID-19 has proven especially harmful: immunocompromised people and pregnant and lactating people but if they wish to both groups can receive the vaccine.
The CDC also recommends that people who have already contracted COVID-19 should still get vaccinated because post-COVID immunity is not guaranteed and data on it is very limited.
When will the general public get the vaccine?
While some federal authorities have estimated that vaccines will be accessible to the public by April 2021, current U.S. Surgeon General nominee Dr. Vivek Murthy has warned it could take until until summer or fall of 2021.
How do I get vaccinated?
Once eligible to receive a vaccine, Marion and Polk County residents can set up an appointment at a Salem Health vaccine clinic and learn about the process at https://www.salemhealth.org/covid-19/covid-vaccine.
For those living outside of Marion-Polk, contact your county health department for information: https://www.naccho.org/membership/lhd-directory.
Do COVID-19 vaccines grant immunity immediately?
According to the (CDC) it takes two doses for a person to be properly immunized and it usually takes a few weeks for each dose to start working with the currently approved vaccines.
I heard a questionable fact about COVID-19. How can I find out if it’s true or not?
Ensure the information comes from a regularly updated, reliable source that passes WHO’s “Vaccine Safety Net” credibility criteria.
Are masks and social-distancing protocols still necessary once I get vaccinated?
Although the approved vaccines are very effective, they don’t guarantee 100% effectiveness against COVID-19. Also, health experts have yet to find out whether vaccinated people can still spread the virus to others. For these reasons, the OHA stresses the importance of continuing safety precautions even after receiving both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, including wearing a mask and keeping a six-feet distance when around people who don’t live at your house, avoiding large gatherings and crowds, staying home when sick, washing hands often, and getting all other routine vaccines, like the flu shot.
For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the following websites:
Eligible? Sign up for a vaccination appointment:
https://www.salemhealth.org/covid-19/covid-vaccine
Eligible but outside of the Marion-Polk region? Contact your county health department for information:
https://www.naccho.org/membership/lhd-directory
World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines
Center for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html
Oregon Health Authority:
https://covidvaccine.oregon.gov/
Food and Drug Administration: https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-vaccines
Johns Hopkins University:
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/vaccines/vaccines-faq
NPR Vaccine Rollout Tracker (by state):
