Should you wait to get vaccinated against COVID19? When is the best time to get vaccinated? Will the newer vaccines be safer and more effective? These are just some of the questions I have recently been asked. In this post I will address these as well as some other frequently asked questions about the COVID19 vaccines.
We are all anxious to return to a life that more closely resembles what we were doing before we heard of COVID19. 2020 was an extremely hard year, from the initial outbreak to the ongoing changes, including social distancing and wearing masks to slow the spread. The year ended with much promise and increased hope when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for two new vaccines. Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines use mRNA to trigger an immune response and have each demonstrated an efficacy of roughly 95%.
If you thought the approval of two vaccines would be the end of the discussion, sadly, you were mistaken. Although the vaccination process is currently underway and many have been vaccinated, many questions remain and the outcome, although more hopeful, is still uncertain. Will everyone choose to get vaccinated, will the current vaccines work against variant strains, will there be more effective vaccines in the near future? Let’s face it, getting everyone to agree that the sky is blue, is difficult. Getting everyone to agree on getting vaccinated, is nearly impossible. That said, we don’t need everyone to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. Although we don’t know exactly how many people need to be vaccinated, we know it will require a large majority.
Lack of information often leads to vaccine hesitancy and so does misinformation. Let’s look at some of the facts and try to dispel some of the myths.
- If your reason for not getting vaccinated is the fear of DNA alterations or catching COVID19 from the vaccine, you can rest easy. The mRNA technology is not brand new and does not alter our DNA. In fact, the mRNA is a natural chemical and is quickly broken down after triggering the immune response.
- These are also not live vaccines and as a result, they cannot cause COVID19 infection, despite having the potential to cause some adverse events.
- Adverse events can happen with all vaccines and are generally not severe and a positive sign that our bodies are building immunity.
- Commonly reported adverse events include local reactions such as redness, swelling and tenderness at the injection site. Systemic reactions mimic flu-like symptoms and can include fever, headache, muscle aches, joint pain or fatigue.
Should you wait to get vaccinated?
Unless you have a current contraindication to the available vaccines, the best course of action is to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Remember to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local guidance on priority orders. At some point the vaccines will become widely available. In the meantime, the CDC has a schedule for who should be vaccinated first while supplies are limited.
What are the contraindications to COVID19 vaccination according to the CDC?
CDC considers a history of the following to be a contraindication to vaccination with both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines:
- Severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or any of its components
- Immediate allergic reaction of any severity to a previous dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or any of its components (including polyethylene glycol [PEG])
- Immediate allergic reaction of any severity to polysorbate (due to potential cross-reactive hypersensitivity with the vaccine ingredient PEG)
Things we know and things we don’t know:
As mentioned earlier, both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines demonstrated 95% efficacy in clinical trials after the administration of two doses separated by 21 and 28 days, respectively. As the vaccination rollout continues, we will find out more about how these numbers pan out in the real world as well as how long immunity lasts. This is one of the things we don’t know. There are also questions as to whether someone who has been vaccinated can develop an asymptomatic COVID19 infection and continue to spread the disease. Despite some unanswered questions, the overwhelming evidence leads us to believe all those who can be vaccinated, should do so at the earliest available opportunity.
What steps to take after COVID19 vaccination?
Because many questions remain unanswered, the CDC continues to recommend following current guidance which includes “wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet away from others, avoiding crowds, avoiding poorly ventilated spaces, covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands often, following CDC travel guidance, and following any applicable workplace or school guidance, including guidance related to personal protective equipment use or SARS-CoV-2 testing.”
Although we learn more each day and guidance continues to evolve, take this opportunity to protect yourself and the patients you care for. No one enjoys getting vaccinated, but the massive toll this pandemic has taken on patients, healthcare workers and society in general should give us all motivation to do our part in ending this outbreak. If you have questions about what to do, speak with your healthcare provider. Getting vaccinated could be a big step and help bring some sense of normalcy back. If we can help guide you or your facility during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
The Consultant Pharmacists at OctariusRx provide guidance on safe medication management, survey readiness and cost savings to ambulatory healthcare facilities/surgery centers, senior care facilities and pharmacies. We also help individual patients optimize their medications to improve their quality of life and save money. Contact us for assistance.
