I will try and answer your questions SS. I want to state that a year ago, we really had not heard much about COVID. Since that time, a vaccine has been researched, shown to be safe and is presently being manufactured There has not been enough time to demonstrate how long the vaccine will give us immunity. Some vaccines, such as flu, need to be made and distributed each year depending upon what strain is circulating in the Southern Hemisphere. Other vaccinations such as tetnanus need a booster every 10 years.
That "mutant" Covid is running amuck, had heard about it a few weeks ago.... at the time it was in England, but it's jumped the pond and working it's way west.
The vaccine, does anyone know if it does anything to this new version? I wasn't in any rush to get the shot, but if it doesn't do anything to this new one..... what's the point?
To date, the mutation that we are seeing in North America does not seem to affect the efficacy of the COVID Vaccine. The vaccine is effective.
Actually the whole vaccine has so much information it's hard to know what's right....... you need one shot, except you also need a second shot.... except you also need another shot every 8 months...... it's effective, except it's not unless you get them all.....what happens if you're late due to non-availability?
Pfizer and Moderna require 2 shots. 3 and 4 weeks after the original shot to provide 95% protection. Johnson and Johnson's vaccine is made differently and will require just one shot.
The recommended time frame between shots is what has been researched and any other time frame doesn't have data to state what happens if the second shot is delayed.
Other vaccines , which have been around much longer also have time frames. Shingles for example is a 2 shot vaccine with the second shot given 2 months after the first.
These are the ideal recommendation as the data that is presently available from the manufacturer.
That doesn't mean that if the schedule is interrupted and you are not able to get the vaccine as recommended that your level of immunity would be seriously affected. But that has not been studied yet.
Since the vaccine is somewhat effective with 1 dose, there is thinking of some scientists that we should give everyone at least one vaccine.
I personally would prefer that we follow the guidelines. Those may change as more information becomes available.
The different brands are all the same, except they're not. Can you mix and match the different brands? Or does that break the chain?
Pfizer and Moderna are both mRNA vaccines so they are similar. It is recommended that you get the same brand for the second shot.
Johnson and Johnson is made by a different process so it is not the same as Pfizer and Moderna's.
Think Advil vs Tyelenol. Both will decrease a fever however they are different drugs with different mechanisms.
There's plenty of shots, except they're for the people who need them the most, except they're throwing away millions of shots because they didn't use them before expiring.
The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have a limited "shelf life" once they have been taken out of the freezer. Millions of doses have NOT been thrown away. There were some that were accidentally left out too long. There are 5-6 doses in each vial. There are not yet "plenty of shots". The manufacturer is producing them as fast as they can but it will still be awhile until enough shots are available for the total poplulation.
The feds turned over the shots to the hospitals for distribution except when my folks call the hospital they're told they can get on a list. No one is responsible at a local level and no one seems to know what is going on, what the stock of shots available are, or how to get them in the people who want them now.
There is a problem regarding distribution of the vaccine. Each state has also been determining who should get the vaccine first and have not been following the CDC guidelines.
We need to be patient. The shots will become available and I would think that the distribution will become more streamlined.
Remember, we have never had to deal with something like this before. We are learning as we go along.
I'm so tired of this virus...... the nasty thought of being back to square one is a really terrible idea. I hope that's not the case.
My poor mom is so terrified of the existing virus, I don't even want her to know this new one is out there.
There is not a "new" virus. There is a mutation to COVID which is quite common.
If the virus mutates and the vaccine isn't working, the mRNA viruses can be adjusted to become more effective but at the moment that is not a problem because the mutations are not affecting the efficacy of the vaccine.
She told me the other day that I only need to hide for another year...... except the talking heads on TV say it'll be another two years (if you can believe them)..... meanwhile, time marches on and waits for no COVID.
The best source of information about COVID is to go to the CDC website at:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.htmlYour state public health department also will have up to date resources as well as an information line that you can call to ask questions.
When I worked in Toronto during the SARS epidemic in 2002, the information changed very quickly as more became known about the virus. Sometimes our public health department would receive several updates in a day..hard for us to keep up.
In the meantime, we know what works.
Social distancing.
Wear a mask.
Avoid activities that occur indoors.
Wash your hands.
No unnecessary travel.
Stay healthy by exercising, getting enough sleep and managing your stress level.
Stay home if you are sick.
Get tested if you have symptoms or have been in contact with another person who tests positive.
Get vaccinated when it is available to you.
You cannot get the virus unless you are exposed to it so the more you stay away from any place/activity that puts you into close contact with other people, the less infections will occur.
Our hospitals and medical personal are at their breaking point. The vaccine will help us to get back to a normal life but not for some time yet.
And it will still be necessary to follow these guidelines even after you get your vaccine as there is still a chance that you can become infected.
Re: COVID-19, Coronavirus. Its real, stay safe! #5
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