8 Questions Experts Still have About the COVID Vaccine
With the vaccine rollout plans still underway, and the three main options: Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, all coming together to ensure that as many people become vaccinated quickly, experts are still continuing to monitor and question the vaccines on the market.
1. Does the vaccine authorization mean an end to double-blind trials?
The biggest takeaway to the authorization of the vaccines was to ensure that they would be able to be distributed as quickly as possible. In order to do this, much of the legal work behind vaccine release was expedited, however as far as actual testing was concerned, all of the usual safeguards and measures were still in place so there are no worries regarding the safety of the vaccines. Experts believe that the trials will still continue, especially with those in the original trials in order to monitor the long-term effects and collect data.
2. How long will the vaccine be effective?
Currently, data is unsure exactly how long the vaccines will be effective or if there will be a need for booster shots or yearly re-vaccinations due to ongoing mutations of the virus. However, the original participants are being studied and monitored to study how long immunity lasts while scientists speculate other solutions.
3. How effective is the vaccine for the general population?
Israel has just completed a study showing a 94% drop in hospitalizations and serious illnesses caused by COVID; the UK has shown a 70% drop in just those who have only received a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine. With this real time data, it shows that the vaccines have true effectiveness outside of a trial environment. Of course, with this data, the benefits overtime can best be seen by ensuring as much of the population is vaccinated to help build overall immunity and slow down mutations which cause new, and sometimes more infectious, variants.
4. Will pregnant people be able to be vaccinated?
Pregnant people are often excluded from vaccine studies due to fear of endangering the fetus, the COVID vaccine is no different. While there is planning in the works to make vaccine testing more accessible to pregnant people, there is currently no available data. While there is a larger debate on ethics, inclusion, and awareness of pregnant people and vaccines, currently it is up to the individual to decide if they want to get the vaccine or not, especially if they are pregnant. Experts encourage pregnant people to talk with their doctors about the risks and the science behind the vaccine, however, many have noted that they believe there is no reason for concern and that having COVID during pregnancy may be worse than any other alternative. Ultimately, it is up to the individual.
5. If someone is considering getting pregnant, should they wait for a vaccine?
There is no formal recommendation at this time due to the lack of data; during the initial trials there were parties who became pregnant and they are being closely monitored.
6. Can people who are breastfeeding get vaccinated?
According to the CDC, those who are breastfeeding and are in the group recommended to get vaccinated can choose to get vaccinated. But, as with pregnant people, there was no formal study on those lactating receiving the vaccine. Because the vaccines (namely Pfizer and Moderna) are mRNA vaccines, they are thought to not pose any risk to a breastfeeding baby and there should be no trace contents of the vaccine found in the blood and therefore the milk as well.
7. Is life back to normal if I receive the vaccine?
This may be a tempting conclusion, but until the general population is able to benefit from the effects of herd immunity, life will likely not be “back to normal” and it will still be encouraged that you maintain a safe distance, continue to wear your mask, and have proper hand hygiene. This is because researchers are still unsure if immunity stops one from being a carrier, meaning they can still spread the virus even if they do not become sick from it. In order to make sure everyone stays safe; it is best to keep up precautions.
8. I already had COVID, do I need to be vaccinated?
Yes, it is encouraged for one to get vaccinated even if they’ve had COVID. It is unknown how long immunity will last with both the vaccine and natural immunity, but the vaccine will likely add a boost to immunity. There is also no data on if new variants are protected through only natural immunity, while there has been shown to be significant protection from new variants.
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Reference:https://thewell.northwell.edu/covid/vaccine-myths-debunked
