I’m a little nervous about the new vaccines. Are they safe?
All ages
Many of my patients ask me if I think there are any risks to taking a COVID-19
vaccine that has been developed so quickly? And my response to them is
that I will be the first in line to take a vaccine as soon as it becomes
available.
The vaccines have been tested for safety and efficacy, just as they would
in a longer process. One of the reasons these vaccines are able to move
through the clinical trial process so quickly is due to increased government
funding. This has helped researchers proceed with multiple steps in the
drug development and testing process at the same time, rather than slowly
over time.
The current vaccines that have made headlines have been shown to be more
than 90 percent effective in protecting against COVID-19. The significance
of this rate of effectiveness can’t be overstated. The novel coronavirus
is twice as contagious as influenza, the virus that causes the flu. For
the flu vaccine to protect the population, it needs to be 30-40 percent
effective. For a coronavirus vaccine to stamp out an outbreak, it only
needs to be 50-60 percent effective. So, a vaccine that is greater than
90 percent effective is incredibly promising.
The vaccine will be rolled out in four phases, based on guidelines from
the National Institutes of Health.
The first phase includes high-risk health workers and first responders.
People of all ages with underlying conditions that put them at significantly
higher risk, and older adults living in group settings will also be part
of the first phase.
Phase two includes K-12 teachers and school staff, as well as child care
workers. Critical workers in high-risk settings, particularly those who
are in industries essential to the functioning of society, are included
in this phase. People of all ages with underlying conditions that put
them at moderately higher risk, and older people who were not part of
phase one will also be included in this group — as will people who
are living in group homes for people with disabilities, the homeless and
people who are incarcerated.
During phase three, vaccines will become available to young adults, children
and workers in industries and occupations important to the functioning
of society who are at increased risk.
Phase four, which might come as early as late spring, early summer, includes
everyone else who did not have access to the vaccine in the earlier phases.
My hope is that if enough people get the vaccine, we could put an end to
this pandemic. In the meantime, please continue to wear a mask, wash your
hands and maintain social distance to help keep you, your family, friends
and community safe.
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