Is The Coronavirus Vaccine Being Studied In Children
Yes. The Pfizer mRNA vaccine is now approved for use in those 5 years of age and older. Studies of the Pfizer vaccine are ongoing in those younger than 5 years of age. The Moderna and J& J/Janssen vaccines are also being studied in those younger than 18 years of age.
It is important that COVID-19 vaccines be thoroughly tested in children before they are given in this group because we cannot assume that they will act the same way in younger children, particularly since we have seen that children are not affected in the same way by COVID-19 infections.
Answers To More Questions About:
CDC does not keep vaccination records or determine how vaccination records are used. To update your records with vaccines you received while outside of the United States, you may:
- Contact the immunization information system in your state. You can find state IIS information on the CDC website.
- Contact your healthcare provider or your local or state immunization program through your states health department.
The CDC-labeled white COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards are only issued to people vaccinated in the United States. CDC recommends you keep your documentation of being vaccinated in the other country as proof of vaccination. CDC also recommends checking with your primary care provider or state health department for options to document your vaccination status domestically.
If you have received all recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine that has been authorized or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or is listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization , then you are considered to be fully vaccinated. This currently includes the following vaccines:
Visit the clinical considerations webpage for more information.
While COVID-19 vaccines were developed rapidly, all steps were taken to make sure they are safe and effective:
Learn more about developing COVID-19 vaccines.
Yes, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 because:
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Could The Mrna Vaccines From Pfizer And Moderna Cause The Same Clotting Problem As The J& j Vaccine Did
The Johnson & Johnson /Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is an adenovirus vector vaccine, which is different from the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines. At the time of the J& J/Janssen pause, more than 182 million doses of the mRNA vaccines had been administered and no cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, or TTS, had been reported. Three people out of about 85 million doses of Moderna had blood clots, but they did not have low platelets. The number of blood clots experienced by those who got the Moderna vaccine would be expected based on the background rate of clotting in the general population.
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Can Pregnant Women Get The Covid
Pregnant women were not included in the early COVID-19 vaccine studies, but some participants were either pregnant and did not know it or became pregnant during the course of the study. Likewise, tens of thousands of pregnant women have been immunized since the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines became available, and many of them are also being monitored through the CDCs V-safe program.
With data from thousands of these women now in hand, no concerns have been identified and the vaccine works. While pregnant women and their babies will continue to be monitored, the CDC recently changed its statement about COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women to more clearly recommend these vaccines for pregnant women.
Two factors, in addition to the vaccine data, were important for informing vaccine recommendations for pregnant women:
- First, some pregnant women are at high risk for COVID-19 because of their jobs, such as healthcare workers, or existing health conditions.
- Second, pregnant women are more likely to be hospitalized and be admitted to the intensive care unit with COVID-19 than women of the same age who were infected but werent pregnant.
All pregnant women should keep these two important points in mind:
Who Should Not Get The Covid
Most people are able to get COVID-19 vaccine. But, a few groups of people either should not get the vaccine or should get a particular version. Likewise, some individuals should consult with their doctor or follow special procedures.
People who should NOT get any COVID-19 vaccine:
- Those younger than 5 years of age
- People currently isolating or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 these people can get vaccinated once they are finished isolation and their primary symptoms have resolved.
People who cannot get the mRNA vaccine , but may be able to get the J& J/Janssen vaccine:
- Anyone with a previous severe or immediate allergic reaction to a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine dose or an mRNA vaccine component.
- Anyone with a known allergy to polyethylene glycol
People who cannot get the adenovirus vaccine , but may be able to get the mRNA vaccine :
- Anyone with a previous severe or immediate allergic reaction to the COVID-19 adenovirus vaccine or one of its components
- Anyone with a known polysorbate allergy
- Those 5-18 years of age can get the Pfizer mRNA vaccine, but not other versions .
People who may get the vaccine after considering risks and benefits and/or consulting with their healthcare provider:
People who should follow special procedures
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Is It Necessary To Wait To Get Blood Work Done After Getting The Covid
Generally speaking, it would be recommended to wait about a week after getting the mRNA vaccine and a few weeks after getting the adenovirus-based vaccine before getting bloodwork. However, it would be better to inquire with the healthcare provider who ordered the bloodwork as they have the benefit of knowing the reason for the bloodwork, the type of tests ordered, and the patients medical history. As such, they will be in the best position to offer this guidance for each individual situation.
The Immune Systemthe Bodys Defense Against Infection
To understand how COVID-19 vaccines work, it helps to first look at how our bodies fight illness. When germs, such as the virus that causes COVID-19, invade our bodies, they attack and multiply. This invasion, called an infection, is what causes illness. Our immune system uses several tools to fight infection. Blood contains red cells, which carry oxygen to tissues and organs, and white or immune cells, which fight infection. Different types of white blood cells fight infection in different ways:
- Macrophages are white blood cells that swallow up and digest germs and dead or dying cells. The macrophages leave behind parts of the invading germs, called antigens. The body identifies antigens as dangerous and stimulates antibodies to attack them.
- B-lymphocytes are defensive white blood cells. They produce antibodies that attack the pieces of the virus left behind by the macrophages.
- T-lymphocytes are another type of defensive white blood cell. They attack cells in the body that have already been infected.
The first time a person is infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, it can take several days or weeks for their body to make and use all the germ-fighting tools needed to get over the infection. After the infection, the persons immune system remembers what it learned about how to protect the body against that disease.
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What You Can Do Once Fully Vaccinated
There’s emerging evidence that fully vaccinated people are less likely to transmit the virus to others, according to the CDC. Some early data from Israel that suggests that the Pfizer vaccine reduces transmission. And in J& J’s trials, they found a 74% reduction in developing asymptomatic infection, which indicates that the vaccine reduces transmission, former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on March 1.
The CDC recently released new guidelines for people who are fully vaccinated, saying that it’s safe for fully inoculated to visit with other people who are also fully vaccinated as well as some unvaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or social distancing, according to the guidelines.
But given that only 11% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated, and there’s not enough data on the effect of vaccines on transmission, it’s important to keep up with safety measures outside of the home even if you got your vaccine.
“Everyone even those who are vaccinated should continue with all mitigation strategies when in public settings,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement March 9.
Phase Two And Three Clinical Trials Vaccine And Placebo
The efficacy of the Pfizer vaccine was tested in about 44,000 participants aged 16 years and over where COVID-19 was already circulating in communities. About half of these participants were randomised to receive the vaccine and the other half received a saline placebo.
The trial looked at how many people got COVID-19 symptoms after they were vaccinated compared to how many got COVID-19 after getting the placebo.
Participants had two doses of the vaccine or placebo, getting their second dose within 19 to 42 days after their first dose. They were then closely monitored and evaluated for at least 2 months after their second dose.
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How Much Does The Coronavirus Vaccine Cost
Coronavirus vaccines are free however, the Federal Trade Commission has warned of scams in which people are charging for vaccines. Read more here.
Also, of note, while the vaccines are free, insurance companies may have to cover the cost of administering the vaccine. You should not, however, be charged any out-of-pocket fees when you go for your vaccine.
When Do Covid Vaccine Side Effects Kick In
The CDC says the side effects of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will begin within a day or two of getting the shot. You might feel crummy enough that it affects your ability to do daily activities, such as being too tired or sick with a fever to go to work, but they should subside in a few days.
Video: 14 COVID Vaccine Side Effects: Here’s What You Might Experience After You Get Your Shot
The CDC also notes that the side effects of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine include pain and swelling at injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea. Those side effects usually start within a day or two of getting the shot but should go away in a few days. However, on April 13, the FDA and the CDC announced that federal distribution and vaccine sites will pause the Johnson & Johnson vaccine out of an abundance of caution after reports of six blood-clot cases in American women. It’s worth noting that these six blood clot cases are out of the close to seven million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine that have been administered so far in the United States, so it’s incredibly rare.
Everyone has a different reaction from the vaccine: some people feel like they are sick with the flu for a day or two, while others have virtually no side effects – but even if you don’t experience side effects, rest assured the vaccine is still effective.
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Are Young Children Susceptible To Covid
If a parent tests positive, they should still try to isolate from other members of the household, and all others in the home, including any children, should quarantine and be monitored for symptoms, as per CDC recommendations for exposure.
Likewise, even after parents are vaccinated, they should be aware that their children could be infected and follow public health guidance to ensure that the children are not inadvertently exposed to the virus.
Do The Vaccines Prevent You From Spreading Coronavirus
We know that vaccination can stop you from getting seriously ill if you catch the virus, but an early worry was that it might not stop you from carrying the virus and spreading it to others. Now, evidence is coming in showing that vaccination can also reduce the spread of infection.
According to Public Health Englands review of evidence, the Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines both offer moderate protection against infection from the first dose. A second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech increases this protection further, but there isnt yet enough data on whether a second dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca does the same.
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How Do Flu Vaccines Work
Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with circulating influenza viruses.
Seasonal flu vaccines are designed to protect against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. All flu vaccines in the United States are quadrivalent vaccines, which means they protect against four different flu viruses: an influenza A virus, an influenza A virus, and two influenza B viruses.
Preparing For Your Vaccine
You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including a flu vaccine, at the same visit. Experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection, known as an immune response, and possible side effects after getting vaccinated are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines. Learn more about the timing of other vaccines.
You should get a COVID-19 vaccine even if you already had COVID-19.
Getting sick with COVID-19 offers some protection from future illness with COVID-19, sometimes called natural immunity. The level of protection people get from having COVID-19 may vary depending on how mild or severe their illness was, the time since their infection, and their age. No currently available test can reliably determine if a person is protected from infection.
All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States are effective at preventing COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine gives most people a high level of protection against COVID-19 even in people who have already been sick with COVID-19.
Emerging evidence shows that getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection to your immune system. One study showed that, for people who already had COVID-19, those who do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more than 2 times as likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get fully vaccinated after their recovery.
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How Long Until The Booster Vaccine Works And What Are The Side Effects
How long it takes for the Pfizer and Moderna booster vaccines to work and the common side effects of the vaccines
The government has ramped up its coronavirus booster vaccine programme ahead of Christmas as the Omicron variant soars in the UK.
The window between the second Covid-19 dose and a third booster jab has been halved from six months to three, meaning millions of adults are now eligible for their vaccines.
It comes as an additional 1,691 Omicron cases were identified in the UK, bringing the total number of confirmed Omicron cases to 11,708 as of yesterday , according to the UK Health and Security Agency.
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It’s understandable that many will have questions about the booster jabs.
We’ve answered two common questions about how soon the Pfizer and Moderna boosters offer protection and their side effects below.
It Takes A Couple Of Weeks
Clinical trials show COVID vaccine protection is optimal from about two weeks after your second dose. This means they:
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nearly completely protect against severe disease and death in healthy people
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dramatically reduce the likelihood of symptoms with COVID-19
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reduce the likelihood of infection with the virus
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if you do get infected, they reduce the amount of virus you make. Emerging evidence suggests this reduces the likelihood you will pass the virus to other people.
Each dose of a vaccine essentially shifts the odds in your favour. One dose gives you a lower chance of reaping some of these benefits, while two doses gives you a much higher likelihood of these benefits.
Though even with two doses, you could still be unlucky and get infected, develop disease or pass on the virus.
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Possible Side Effects After Getting A Covid
CDC has updated its recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines with a preference for people to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine . Read CDCs media statement.
COVID-19 vaccination will help protect people from getting COVID-19. Adults and children may have some side effects from the vaccine, which are normal signs that their body is building protection. These side effects may affect their ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Some people have no side effects, and allergic reactions are rare.
Serious side effects that could cause a long-term health problem are extremely unlikely following any vaccination, including COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccine monitoring has historically shown that side effects generally happen within six weeks of receiving a vaccine dose. For this reason, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration collected data on each of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines for a minimum of two months after the final dose. CDC is continuing to monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines even now that the vaccines are in use.
The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks. Rare cases of myocarditis and pericarditis in adolescents and young adults have been reported more often after getting the second dose than after the first dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.
Get a COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 years and older as soon as you can.