The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization to two vaccines. One was developed by Pfizer and the other by Moderna. Other COVID-19 vaccines may be approved in the months ahead.
The initial shipments of vaccine in the United States are being made available first to health care workers and nursing home residents and staff.
ProHealth Care looks forward to providing the vaccine for all who want it. The availability of the vaccines will determine how quickly this can happen. ProHealth will follow federal and state guidelines with regard to vaccination priorities.
When vaccine supplies are sufficient to allow for the vaccination of patients and other community members, ProHealth Care will communicate broadly about the vaccination process. No appointments are being taken now.
Yes. A vaccine earns government approval only after it has been proven to be both safe and effective. The approval process involves panels of independent experts retained by the pharmaceutical companies as well as reviews by the FDA’s own scientific staff and an independent panel of experts convened by the FDA. No serious safety concerns have been reported with either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
No. It is not possible to get COVID-19 from the vaccines.
Yes. Very effective. In clinical trials, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were shown to be more than 90% effective.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will require two doses to ensure full protection. The Pfizer vaccine will require a second dose 21 days after the initial shot, and the Moderna vaccine will require a second dose 28 days later. The vaccines are not interchangeable, meaning that you will need to receive the same type of vaccine for both doses.
It normally takes two to three weeks for immunity to develop and several weeks for a full antibody response.
Some people may experience side effects, including sore arms, muscle aches and fever. This is a normal sign that your body is building protection. These symptoms are not expected to last long.
Yes. Absolutely. We all will need to continue wearing masks, social distancing and washing our hands often. These precautions will be required until enough people have been vaccinated to contain the spread of the virus.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have not been tested on children. More research will be required before a vaccine can be made available to children. The Pfizer vaccine has been approved for those 16 and older.
Pregnant women should consult with their doctors about whether to get vaccinated.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has included a great deal of information on its website.
