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(CBS Boston) — Two COVID-19 vaccines at the moment are accessible to sure segments of the American public. One was launched by Pfizer, and the opposite by Moderna. Both require two doses, separated by three to 4 weeks, and each are in the end about 95 p.c efficient.
Initially the Federal authorities advised states that solely healthcare staff and nursing dwelling residents ought to be eligible to be vaccinated. But, as of this previous Tuesday, anybody at the least 65 years previous or at the least 16 years previous, with a preexisting situation, have been added to the record. Individual states in the end make their very own choice, and a few states are beginning to embrace lecturers and first responders as nicely.
The preliminary rollout has moved extra slowly than everybody has hoped for. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 25 million doses had been shipped to hospitals and pharmacies as of this previous Monday. However, not even 9 million of these doses have been administered.
Scheduling points on the state stage are additionally partially guilty for the tempo of inoculations. Another potential impediment going ahead is public belief within the new vaccines. According to a nationwide survey carried out by the University of South Florida, 33 p.c of respondents stated that they’re both “not very confident” or “not at all confident” that the lately permitted vaccines are secure. In addition, 23 p.c stated they’ll “probably not” or “definitely not get vaccinated.”
The accelerated rollout brings with it many questions. CBS Local has put reader and viewer inquiries to our consultants: Dr. Mallika Marshall and Dr. Max Gomez. Mallika Marshall, MD, is an Emmy-award profitable journalist and doctor who serves because the common Health Reporter at WBZ-TV in Boston. Dr. Max Gomez is a medical reporter for WCBS-TV in New York.
While each Marshall and Gomez are providing their finest recommendation, seek the advice of your private physician earlier than making any choices about your private well being.
If somebody has had reactions to flu vaccines previously, is it secure to get a COVID vaccine?
Marshall: Yes. If you might have had severe reactions to different vaccines, you possibly can nonetheless get the coronavirus vaccine, however you can be monitored for an extended time period after receiving it. Generally, half-hour somewhat than the usual quarter-hour.
Can you continue to get COVID after the primary vaccine dose?
Gomez: The brief reply is sure, however not as typically or as simply as earlier than that first dose. The Pfizer medical trials urged about 50% safety after the primary dose. A brand new Israeli research finds a drop in new circumstances after the primary dose. That’s one thing, however not good, and it takes a couple of weeks after that first shot develop a lot immunity.
So sure, you possibly can nonetheless get COVID till you’ve had each doses, so you have to maintain sporting a masks.
There is one bit of excellent information in all this. The CDC says that flu exercise stays decrease than ordinary for this time of 12 months. That’s most likely attributable to individuals sporting masks, social distancing and washing their palms typically. So stick with it – we don’t need a twindemic.
Every time they present somebody getting the coronavirus vaccine, I’m amazed how lengthy the needle appears to be like. Is it longer than most needles for different photographs?
Marshall: The vaccine must be deposited into the deltoid muscle of the higher arm so a 1 – 1 ½” needle is used relying on the scale of the affected person. This is identical really helpful needle size for the flu vaccine.
What’s within the vaccine?
Gomez: One viewer may be very allergic to penicillin. While there have been a tiny variety of allergic reactions to the Pfizer vaccine, there may be nothing resembling penicillin in both vaccine Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use the same, brand-new know-how to induce immunity, so individuals rightly need to know what’s in them.
Surprisingly little. There are tiny snippets of what’s known as messenger or mRNA. That’s the genetic blueprint the virus makes use of to make the spike protein that helps corona infect cells and can stimulate your immunity. But there isn’t any coronavirus within the vaccine.
The different element is tiny oily nanoparticles that encompass and defend the mRNA, which in any other case would break down in a short time within the physique. That’s it. No preservatives or the rest till they’re combined with sterile saline proper earlier than being injected.
The authorities is now releasing all the photographs – not holding again anymore for spherical 2. If you get your first dose – however for some purpose, you possibly can’t get your second – what occurs then? Do it’s important to wait a time period earlier than getting one other spherical 1?
Marshall: The research with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines checked out giving the second dose 3-4 weeks after the primary, so we don’t actually know the way the effectiveness would possibly change if you happen to wait for much longer than that. The WHO says you shouldn’t wait greater than six weeks between doses, however the CDC says if there’s a delay, there isn’t any must repeat the primary dose. And there are different vaccines within the pipeline which could possibly be permitted within the subsequent few months which solely require one shot.
What if you happen to had COVID and didn’t realize it and now you might have antibodies? Should I nonetheless get the vaccine and is it secure?
Gomez: If you had a light or asymptomatic COVID case, then you’ll probably have developed antibodies to the coronavirus. That ought to defend you for some time, consultants say. Don’t depend on greater than 90 days, although. So you don’t want a shot straight away, however you continue to want one.
The CDC says it’s secure to get a vaccine you probably have antibodies, so an antibody take a look at, or a COVID virus take a look at for that matter, isn’t wanted earlier than a vaccine.
However, you probably have COVID signs, the CDC says wait till all of your signs are gone earlier than getting a shot.
Can you combine and match vaccines? One shot from Moderna and the second from Pfizer, or vice versa?
Gomez: Unfortunately, the reply is we don’t actually know, as a result of these combos have by no means been examined – at the least not but.
In concept, mixing and matching the 2 vaccines might work as a result of they comprise the identical coronavirus genetic sequence to stimulate immunity. The solely distinction between the Moderna and Pfizer photographs is the tiny lipid nanoparticle that surrounds the delicate mRNA gene.
But proper now, with vaccine in brief provide, it’s unlikely that anybody will have the ability to get one in every of every vaccine. Just get whichever you possibly can as a result of the positioning that provides you your first dose ought to prioritize you on your booster second dose.
When my household is all vaccinated, will we have the ability to be with one another with out masks, and can it’s secure to be with our small grandchildren?
Marshall: We nonetheless don’t know whether or not getting totally vaccinated will stop you from getting contaminated and passing the virus on to another person. We’ll have a greater thought within the subsequent few months. In the meantime, even if you happen to get vaccinated, you need to maintain bodily distance and put on masks if you’re round others who haven’t been vaccinated.
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