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A nurse is preparing to inject a Covid-19 vaccine at Howard University Hospital in Washington, DC on December 15, 2020.
Editor’s Note: Now that the Food and Drug Administration has issued an emergency use permit for a vaccine to limit the spread of the coronavirus, you may have questions about what this means for you. If you do, send them to The Conversation, and we’ll find a doctor or researcher to answer them. Here Dr. Jason McKnight, a primary care physician at Texas A&M University, asked five questions about the ongoing rollout and distribution.
1. I hear I may still need to wear a mask even after being vaccinated. Why?
It will likely be the ongoing recommendation that everyone wear a mask in public, even after receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. While these vaccines appear to be very effective in preventing infection from the disease, even at 95% efficacy, this means that about 5% of people who receive the vaccination can still become infected. Wearing a mask helps to reduce the transmission of the virus in those situations where the vaccine does not prevent the disease.
Furthermore, continuing to wear a mask can help prevent the spread of other respiratory illnesses, which can help avoid overwhelming healthcare, as we are already seeing during the pandemic. Finally, it is possible that some people who receive the vaccine have an asymptomatic infection, and wearing a mask also helps prevent the spread of disease in that situation.
2. If I get the Pfizer vaccine for the first dose, how can I be sure to get the Pfizer vaccine the second time?
The distribution of the Pfizer vaccine is designed to meet the need for the second dose. The clinic, hospital or pharmacy where you have been vaccinated will keep a record of the vaccine you received to ensure that your second dose matches the first dose.
3. How will public health experts monitor the safety of the vaccine when it is rolled out to larger groups of people?
Both public health experts and the vaccine manufacturers will continue to monitor the safety of the vaccine in different ways. First, the people vaccinated in the clinical studies will be further monitored to ensure there are no long-term safety concerns. There is also a so-called phase IV post-marketing surveillance trial, which allows long-term monitoring of many vaccinated people to ensure that no safety complications arise and to ensure that the vaccine remains as effective as originally thought.
4. How will I know when it is my turn to get a vaccine?
Contact the Department of Health or your healthcare provider to find out when it is your turn to get vaccinated. They will receive updates and further information on who should be vaccinated and when. If you have any questions about the vaccine and timing of administration, please contact your health care provider.
5. Where do I get a vaccine?
While the exact distribution of vaccines is not yet solidified and depends on the state you live in, most vaccines will likely be sent to hospital systems, health care providers’ offices, and some pharmacies. Contact your local health authority or healthcare provider to find the nearest location where you can get vaccinated.
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By Jason R. McKnight, Clinical Assistant Professor, Primary and Public Health, Texas A&M University
This article has been republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.