Q: Can People Who Have Already Had Covid
A: While relatively few confirmed COVID-19 cases occurred overall among participants with evidence of infection prior to vaccination, limited data suggest that previously infected individuals can be at risk of COVID-19 and may benefit from vaccination. Furthermore, available data suggest that the safety profile of the vaccine in previously infected individuals is just as favorable as in previously uninfected individuals.
How The Flu Vaccine Works
Development of the seasonal flu vaccine actually begins many months ahead of flu season. The viruses used in the vaccine are based on extensive research and surveillance into which strains will be most common during the upcoming season.
Seasonal flu vaccines protect against two types of influenza viruses: influenza A and influenza B. They can also be either trivalent or quadrivalent.
The trivalent vaccine protects against three flu viruses: two influenza A viruses and an influenza B virus.
The quadrivalent vaccine protects against the same three viruses as the trivalent vaccine, but it also includes an additional influenza B virus.
Who Is Eligible For A Booster Shot
The Food and Drug Administration authorized booster shots for a select group of people who received their second doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least six months ago. Eligible people include Pfizer recipients who are 65 or older or who live in long-term care facilities. The agency also authorized boosters for adults who are at high risk of severe Covid-19 because of an underlying medical condition, as well as for health care workers and others whose jobs put them at risk.
People with weakened immune systems who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are also eligible for a third shot at least four weeks after their second doses. For these patients, the third shot is not considered a booster dose it is now part of the recommended immunization schedule for those with compromised immune systems who dont generate a robust response after just two shots.Tara Parker-Pope
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How Long Does It Take For The Covid
If you or a loved one has gotten a COVID-19 vaccine already, congratulations! This is an important step in protecting individuals and the public from the spread of this deadly virus.
But let me guessyou still have some questions, right?
Many of us doeven the experts who study infectious diseases for a living. Here, Ill lay out what we know about how quickly and effectively the vaccine works and what we still dont know about the transmission of COVID-19.
And yes, Ill explain why you still have to wear a mask.
Lets start with a common question.
How long does it take for the COVID-19 vaccine to work?
Regardless of which vaccine you get, you wont reach full protection until two weeks after your second or final dose. Thats about how long it takes your immune system to mount an antibody response to the vaccine.
All vaccines work this way. Think of it in terms of when you have a coldit takes your body a good amount of time to rid itself of whats making you sick. A vaccine is essentially faking out your immune system and triggering a similar response. After the shot, your body has some work to do.
Am I protected from COVID-19 after the first shot?
The first of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine does offer some protection, but not nearly as much as youll get from both doses.
What happens if I dont get my second COVID-19 shot in time?
Can I stop wearing a mask after my COVID-19 vaccine?
Plus, remember that no vaccine is 100% perfect. You could still be vulnerable yourself.
What Are The Differences Between The Two
These two COVID-19 vaccines are very similar. The main differences come in to play in relation to transporting and handling the vaccines. The Pfizer vaccine must be stored at -94° Fahrenheit. The Moderna vaccine needs to be stored at -4° Fahrenheit.
Both teach your immune system to destroy the coronavirus. Both use messenger RNA to instruct your body to build the spike proteins that are on the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Then your immune system kills it and remembers the protein so your body is ready if you’re infected with COVID-19.
Both are very safe and very effective. The Pfizer vaccine is 95% effective against COVID-19, and Modernas vaccine is 94.1% effective. They have similar temporary side effects, and those reactions are stronger after the second shot for both.
There are two differences that impact the public:
- Pfizers vaccine is authorized for people ages 12 and older. Modernas is authorized for people ages 18 and older.
- The two Pfizer doses are given 21 days apart. The two Moderna doses are given 28 days apart.
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Is It True That Cosmetic Injections Can Cause An Allergic Reaction To The Vaccine
A rare side effect of the vaccine has been seen in a few people who have previously been injected with dermal fillers, also called wrinkle fillers, which are gel-like substances used to smooth wrinkles and facial lines around the nose and mouth, plump lips and restore volume to sunken cheeks.
In a few cases, people have developed swelling in the parts of the face that had been treated with the fillers. One to two days after getting the vaccine during the Moderna clinical trials, three women developed swelling where they had previously been injected with cosmetic fillers. A 29-year-old woman developed swelling in her lips two days after the vaccine, and reported she had previously had a similar reaction to the flu shot.
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery said the side effect also has been seen after viral and bacterial illnesses, other vaccinations and dental procedures. The group said people with dermal fillers should not delay or avoid the Covid vaccine. The side effect is rare, temporary and responds to treatments such as oral corticosteroids and an enzyme called hyaluronidase. The swelling also can resolve without treatment. The side effect has not been seen with wrinkle-relaxing injections like Botox or Dysport. If youre concerned or not sure what type of injection youve gotten in the past, check with the doctor who gave you the cosmetic treatment.Tara Parker-Pope
Whats The Recommended Dosage
SAGE recommends the use of the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine at a schedule of two doses 28 days apart. If necessary, the interval between the doses may be extended to 42 days.
Studies have shown a high public health impact where the interval has been longer than that recommended by the EUL. Accordingly, countries facing a high incidence of COVID-19 combined with severe vaccine supply constraints could consider delaying the second dose up to 12 weeks in order to achieve a higher first dose coverage in high priority populations.
Compliance with the full schedule is recommended and the same product should be used for both doses.
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How Are We Monitoring The Coronavirus Vaccines
Pfizer and Moderna continue to monitor immunity in people who were given their vaccines in the initial clinical trialsboth companies reported strong overall efficacy at the six-month mark.
One thing researchers are monitoring in vaccine recipients is levels of antibodies, which are proteins produced by the bodys immune system when it detects harmful substances, and that are easily measured from blood samples. Antibodies are a really good marker for protection against infection, so we will be monitoring those levels for as long as we can measure them, says Akiko Iwasaki, PhD, a professor of immunobiology at Yale School of Medicine.
I tell my family, ‘It’s great that youre vaccinated… But even the vaccines dont have 100% guarantees, so… you want to keep weighing the risks,'” says Yale Medicine infectious diseases expert Jaimie Meyer, MD, MS
A report in The New England Journal of Medicine in April showed that 33 participants who had received the Moderna vaccine during the Phase I trial had a gradual decline in antibody protectionand, based on the slope, Iwasaki says, that is hopeful news. If antibodies are going down very quickly, you would expect that to last for a short time. The slow decline raises hopes that the mRNA vaccines will be protective for at least a year, if not longer, she says.
This is a reason why the CDC recommends vaccinations for people who have had a COVID-19 infection as well as for those who have not.
If I Have The Virus But Dont Know It Will The Vaccine Still Work
While theres not yet a lot of data about this scenario, vaccine researchers say theres no cause for additional worry if you find out you were infected at the time of vaccination. You wont feel very well, but thats due to the Covid, not the Covid vaccine, said Dr. Helen Talbot, a member of a panel advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University.
Its unlikely the first dose of vaccine has had enough time to help your body fight the infection, but the vaccine should still spur your body to produce a lasting immune response. Once youve recovered, you should plan to get your second dose as planned. If you unknowingly have the virus and are immunized, the vaccine will not prevent disease but will likely help in the overall development of immune response, said Dr. Talbot. You would then get your second immunization once fully recovered likely after the usual 21 or 28 days. No need to start the vaccine series over.”Dani Blum
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Why Do I Have To Wait Around After I Get The Shot
Everyone who gets the vaccine will be asked to stick around for about 15 minutes after getting the shot. This will allow health workers to monitor you for any signs of an allergic reaction, which are rare. A person with a history of severe allergies may be asked to stay for 30 minutes. Make sure you bring a quality mask to your vaccination appointment to wear while you wait. Even though you just received the vaccine it will take a few weeks after your final dose before you are protected.Tara Parker-Pope
What Takes So Long
Despite differences in mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and viral vector vaccines like AstraZeneca, both take similar amounts of time to generate antibody responses. After a single dose of AstraZeneca, antibodies can be detected after 14 days and further increase over the next two weeks.
But why does it take time for these responses to develop? When researchers track the antibody response to the first dose of vaccine, they find it takes at least ten days for the immune system to start making antibodies that can recognise SARS-CoV-2s spike protein .
It also takes at least a week for T cells, a type of white blood cell important in our immune response, to start to react to the vaccine. Over the next few weeks, these responses become evenstronger.
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In contrast, the second dose activates the immune system much more quickly. Within a week of dose two, your antibody levels increase by more than ten times, providing much stronger and longer-lasting protection from infection.
So the first dose of a COVID vaccine gets your immune response going, but the second dose is essential to ensure immunity is strong, consistent from person to person, and longer-lasting.
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This Is How Long It Takes For The Vaccine To Protect You From Covid
The COVID vaccine represents a major step forward for science, and one that will hopefully bring the coronavirus pandemic to a close. But it’s important to note that the vaccine isn’t an instant fixin part, because it doesn’t work right away. That means that even after getting the shot, there is a period of time when you are vulnerable to the virus. Experts say that the COVID vaccine can take up to two weeks to begin to protect you, and the first dose will only deliver half of the necessary protection. Keep reading for more on how long the vaccine takes to work, and for more recent vaccine news, discover The Real Reason President Trump Hasn’t Gotten the COVID Vaccine Yet.
Will My Employer Require A Covid Vaccination
Employers do have the right to compel their workers to be vaccinated once a vaccine is formally approved. Many hospital systems, for example, require annual flu shots. But employees can seek exemptions based on medical reasons or religious beliefs. In such cases, employers are supposed to provide a reasonable accommodation with a coronavirus vaccine, for example, a worker might be allowed to work if they wear a mask, or to work from home.
The Biden administration has mandated that all companies with more than 100 workers require vaccination or weekly testing. Mr. Biden also moved to mandate shots for health care workers, federal contractors and the vast majority of federal workers, who could face disciplinary measures if they refuse.Abby Goodnough
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Should I Still Get A Vaccine If I Already Had Covid
Experts recommend getting the vaccine even if youve had COVID-19. There isnt enough information to say if you have natural immunity from being sick or how long it may last, according to the CDC. Experts recommend waiting at least until you’ve recovered from acute illness and no longer have to isolate . They also suggest waiting about 90 days after you’ve recovered from COVID-19 . The waiting period can help keep your reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine more mild.
Q: What Data Did The Fda Review When Deciding To Authorize Janssen Covid
A: Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine is authorized to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in individuals 18 years of age and older. It is administered as a single-dose.
The FDA evaluated and analyzed the safety and effectiveness data from clinical trials conducted in over 40,000 thousand study participants and manufacturing information submitted by Janssen Biotech, Inc. The FDA has determined that the totality of the available data provides clear evidence that Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine may be effective in preventing COVID-19. The data also show that that the known and potential benefits outweigh the known and potential risks of the vaccines use in millions of people 18 years of age and older, including healthy individuals.
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What About The Billions Of People Who Live Outside The United States How Will The Rest Of The Planet Get Vaccinated
Vaccination efforts against Covid-19 have revealed an extraordinary gap in access to the vaccines around the world. Rich nations like the United States and Britain have cut deals with multiple drug manufacturers and secured enough doses of vaccines likely to come on the market this year to immunize their citizens multiple times over. China and Russia have developed their own vaccines and begun mass immunization programs. In stark contrast, most poor nations rely on a complex global vaccine-sharing initiative called Covax, and are likely to receive only enough doses to vaccinate at most 25 percent of their populations this year. Run by the World Health Organization and two global nonprofits, Covax relies on financial assistance and other support from wealthy nations. It wasnt until this month that the U.S. agreed to participate and provide funding.
Worldwide, 81 percent of shots that have been administered have been in high- and upper-middle-income countries, according to the Our World in Data project at the University of Oxford. Only 0.4 percent of doses have been administered in low-income countries.Megan Twohey, Keith Collins and Katie Thomas
Efficacy Across Different Groups
A consistently high efficacy was observed in the clinical trials across age groups, sex, race, ethnicity and people with underlying medical conditions.
This means after getting two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, more than 9 out of 10 people are protected against COVID-19 regardless of their age, health status or ethnic group.
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Q: Is There Information About The Effectiveness Of Janssen Covid
A: Information is available for the United States, South Africa, and Brazil. A subgroup analysis was conducted for these countries. Following are the results of this analysis:
- United States: the vaccine was 74.4% effective and 72% effective in preventing moderate to severe/critical COVID-19 occurring at least 14 days and 28 days after vaccination, respectively.
- South Africa: the vaccine was 52.0% effective and 64.0% effective in preventing moderate to severe/critical COVID-19 occurring at least 14 days and 28 days after vaccination, respectively.
- Brazil: the vaccine was 66.2% effective and 68.1% effective in preventing moderate to severe/critical COVID-19 occurring at least 14 days and 28 days after vaccination, respectively.
Measles Mumps And Rubella
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella are viral infections that have each caused widespread, deadly disease outbreaks. Throughout the 1960s, individual vaccines were developed for each of them, but a decade later, they were combined into one.
Measles was the first of the three to receive its own vaccine in 1963, followed by mumps in 1967, and rubella in 1969. Two years later, in 1971, Maurice Hilleman of the Merck Institute of Therapeutic Research developed a combined vaccination that would provide immunity for all three viruses.
Hilleman was credited with creating the first measles and mumps vaccine, and began researching ways to incorporate a system of immunity for each virus. Using his previous research and a rubella vaccine developed by Stanley Plotkin in 1969, he created the first successful MMR vaccine in just two years.
According to the CDC, “One dose of MMR vaccine is 93% effective against measles, 78% effective against mumps, and 97% effective against rubella.”
“Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective against measles and 88% effective against mumps.”
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