COVID-19 Vaccination

The steps for developing, testing and evaluating this vaccine—including the process for making sure it is safe—have not changed. Operation Warp Speed (OWS) has accelerated the process, not by skipping steps, but by allowing the usual steps to take place simultaneously. OWS has allowed scientists to maintain efficacy standards without compromising safety. While the vaccine development time is shortened, the usual safety measures, such as large clinical trials, are still in place. Each vaccine candidate must undergo independent review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), as well as our own NH health and medical experts.

The manufacturers are conducting clinical trials to determine how effective their vaccine is. Each vaccine will have different, but likely similar, results.

Results from the third phase of Pfizer’s clinical trial found their vaccine was 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 in study participants seven days after the second dose of the vaccine. When scientists looked at the results from the clinical trial, more than 95% of participants who tested positive for COVID-19 had received placebo and only about 5% of those infected received the vaccine.

Early results from Moderna indicate their vaccine was 94.1% effective in preventing COVID-19 infection in study participants. When researchers looked at the 196 participants who tested positive for COVID-19, 94.1% had received the placebo—only 5.9% of those who were infected received the vaccine. 

updated 12/30/20

Safety and fact sheets on the COVID-19 vaccine have been translated into many different languages:

• Pfizer—28 languages
• Moderna—26 languages

Many Catholics have questions about whether the COVID-19 vaccines are morally acceptable under church teaching, especially the Johnson & Johnson vaccine which was developed using fetal stem cell lines.  It is an issue that both the Vatican and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have offered advice on, citing the common good underscored by the vaccine.  The USCCB advises:
 
“Given that the COVID-19 virus can involve serious health risks, it can be morally acceptable to receive a vaccine that uses abortion-derived cell lines if there are no other available vaccines comparable in safety and efficacy with no connection to abortion. If it is possible to choose among a number of equally safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, the vaccine with the least connection to abortion-derived cell lines should be chosen.  If a vaccine with no connection to abortion-derived cell lines is not readily available, vaccines that used such cell lines only for testing would be preferable to those that use such cell lines for ongoing production. Such choices may not be possible, however, especially in the early stages of vaccine distribution. In that case, one may receive any of the clinically recommended vaccines in good conscience with the assurance that reception of such vaccines does not involve immoral cooperation in abortion.”

You should cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others, avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay six feet away from others, avoid crowds and wash your hands often. Get additional information about these and other steps you can take to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

No, you cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine is a mRNA vaccine, which do not use the live virus that causes COVID-19. After the vaccination, as your body is making antibodies, you may experience symptoms similar to those you would have if you were fighting an infection such as chills, fatigue or fever.

There is evidence that some people infected with COVID-19 have been re-infected because their immunity decreased. Vaccination will improve your protection against a future infection.

You should discuss your options with you obstetrician as the Pfizer vaccine clinical trials did not include pregnant women. However, the CDC, the American College of Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine all encourage pregnant women to get the vaccine. A discussion with your healthcare provider can help you make the best decision for you.

​updated 12/30/20

At first, COVID-19 vaccines will not be available for younger children since they were not included in the first vaccine clinical trials. 

The side effects most associated with vaccines include pain, tenderness and redness at the injection site and underarm area, muscle aches, fatigue, fever, and headache. We expect vaccines for COVID19 to have similar side effects. A sore arm is the most commonly reported side effect from those who’ve received the vaccine so far. In a recent press release, Pfizer announced that most patients had mild to moderate symptoms, and the only severe reactions were fatigue, which happened to 3.8% of study participants, and headache, which affected 2% of study participants. The most common mild to moderate side effects for the Pfizer vaccine are pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, fatigue. Headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain and fever. Patients in the Moderna vaccine clinical trial reported having pain at the injection site and underarm area, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, and headache. There have been a few reports of severe allergic reactions. 

updated  12/30/20

This will depend on the vaccine. The following groups should NOT receive the vaccine: people who had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and people who have had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in the vaccine.

People who have a history of a severe allergic reaction to any vaccine or injectable medical therapy (intramuscular, intravenous, or sub-cutaneous medicines) may receive the vaccine, however the CDC recommends that they be observed for at least 30 minutes after vaccination (instead of the usual 15 minutes of observation).

CDC recommends that people with a history of severe allergic reactions not related to vaccines or injectable medications—such as allergies to food, pet, venom, environmental, or latex—may still get vaccinated. People with a history of allergies to oral medications or a family history of severe allergic reactions, or who might have an milder allergy to vaccines (no anaphylaxis)—may also still get vaccinated. If you have a severe allergic reaction after getting the first shot, you should not get the second shot.

If you have had a severe reaction within four hours of taking polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate, you should not get the vaccine. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist in allergies and immunology to provide more care or advice.

CDC recommends that the COVID-19 vaccine should not be given for at least 90 days after a person receives antibody therapy to avoid the possibility that the antibody therapy interferes with the body’s ability to make antibodies.

updated 12/30/20