Covid-19 vaccine update: answers to steadily asked questions

Information about Covid-19 vaccines is changing each day, and maintaining with it might probably be a challenge. Below are answers to some steadily asked questions based on what we all know and what we all know thus far.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC](2021a) studies have shown that the vaccine’s effectiveness against Covid-19 infections may decline over time and should be less effective in protecting against coronavirus variants. At the time of publication of this text, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, marketed as Comirnaty, had received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) as a booster dose and has been shown to extend the immune response in individuals who have accomplished the first series of two shots. Currently, only certain populations initially vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine can receive a booster dose 6 months after receiving the primary two doses:

• Older people aged 65 and over, in addition to people aged 50–64 with underlying health conditions (see list of conditions below)
• Long-term take care of residents aged 19 and older
• People aged 18-49 with comorbidities based on individual advantages and risks (see list of conditions below)
• Employees (aged 18-64) at increased risk of exposure to and transmission of the COVID-19 virus in the next work situations:
  • First responders (i.e. healthcare employees, firefighters, police, care staff)
  • Education (i.e. teachers, support staff, day care employees)
  • Food and agriculture
  • Production
  • Prison
  • US Postal Service
  • Public transport
  • Grocery stores
• Residents at increased risk of exposure to and transmission of the Covid-19 virus in certain places:
  • Prison
  • Shelter for the Homeless

Side effects after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are much like those experienced after receiving the 2-shot primary series. The most steadily reported negative effects were fatigue and pain on the injection site. Serious reactions equivalent to anaphylaxis are rare but can occur.

Research to reply this query is ongoing, but currently the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the interchangeability of various vaccines, either prime or booster doses, attributable to a scarcity of clinical trial data.

Expanded use of Covid-19 vaccine boosters in eligible populations has been possible released by FDA on October 20, 2021. Each of the available vaccines against Covid-19 might be administered as a booster dose to people eligible for primary vaccination with one other vaccine.

Yes, all individuals who received a series of two shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine or a single dose of the J&J/Janssen vaccine are considered fully vaccinated after two weeks.

According to the CDC (2021b), individuals can now receive the COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, equivalent to the flu vaccine, on the identical day. If a couple of vaccine is run at one visit, doctors should give each injection to a distinct site and, if possible, separate the injection sites by not less than one inch. Additionally, providers should administer Covid-19 vaccines, when possible, and vaccines which are more more likely to cause local reactions in numerous extremities.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021a, October 7). Who is eligible for a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine? Retrieved October 7, 2021 from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021b, September 27). Interim Clinical Considerations for the Use of Covid-19 Vaccines Currently Approved or Authorized within the United States – Co-administration of Covid-19 vaccines with other vaccines. Retrieved October 12, 2021 from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/covid-19-vaccines-us.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fvaccines%2Fcovid-19% 2Finfo-by-product%2Fclinical-considerations.html#Co-administration