The arrival of the Vaccine is the new hot topic in healthcare. I wanted to spend a few seconds today addressing some of the questions raised by the community members.
Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe?
Safety is a top priority when developing a new vaccine in the U.S. Federal agencies like the FDA and CDC work closely with the Vaccine (drug) manufacturers to develop and authorize the use of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Careful testing. All vaccines go through clinical trials to test safety and effectiveness. For the COVID-19 Vaccine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) set up rigorous standards for vaccine developers to meet. This infographic from the National Institutes of Health shows the four phases a vaccine must go through before being released to the public.
Any safety concerns with the COVID-19 Vaccine that I should know about?
There have been no severe side-effects reported with either of the first two vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, which are both two-step vaccines. Trails for both vaccines had fully independent monitoring boards, and safety data is always being continuously reviewed and monitored.
Allergies: The CDC says people with allergies to certain foods, insects, latex, and other common allergens can have the COVID-19 Vaccine. Those with a history of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to injectables or other vaccines should discuss the vaccination with their doctor. According to the CDC, at this time, anyone who has a severe allergy (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine ingredients should not receive this Vaccine.
For more info about vaccine safety, please watch this video: Tell Me More: Vaccine Safety
How effective is the COVID-19 Vaccine?
According to STAT NEWS: “The Pfizer vaccine showed efficacy of 95% at preventing symptomatic COVID infection after two doses. The Vaccine appeared to be more or less equally protective across age groups and racial and ethnic groups. The Moderna vaccine was 94.1% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 after the second dose.”
More educational videos: “Coronavirus: Your COVID-19 Vaccine Questions Answered “
Sources:
https://www.statnews.com/2021/02/02/comparing-the-covid-19-vaccines-developed-by-pfizer-moderna-and-johnson-johnson/
https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-vaccines
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/is-the-covid19-vaccine-safe