The application of a vaccine against COVID-19 is currently the only alternative to end the pandemic; but surely you, like many others, must have doubts about how it works and its benefits, so below we will answer some of the most common questions.
What covid vaccines have been approved and how do they work?
Currently, in the United States, the FDA has approved 3 vaccines for emergency use and a fourth is expected to be approved in April.
Pfizer- BioNTech
With a 95% effectiveness against the virus, this vaccine requires 2 doses within 3 to 4 weeks and is only approved for use in people over 16 years of age.
Moderna
The effectiveness rate of this vaccine is 94.1% and it is approved for use only in people over 18 years of age.
Like the previous one, it requires a second dose to be given between 28 days and 6 months after the first dose.
Johnson & Johnson
The use of this vaccine was authorized by the FDA in February. It is a single dose with an effectiveness of up to 85%.
These 3 vaccine options use RNA messenger, which works by instructing cells on how to produce parts of a protein. Then, the immune system will recognize that there is a protein out of place and will be forced to act by making antibodies that fight the virus.
Who should not get the COVID-19 vaccine?
At the moment, the only people who have been excluded from vaccination are children under 16 years of age, since so far no clinical trials of the vaccines available on the market have been conducted on this population; however, it is expected that such trials will begin soon.
Can the mRNA molecule modify my genes?
No. The RNA messenger never enters the nucleus of the cells and has no effects on DNA. This molecule only survives long enough to instruct the cells on the shape of the protein to be produced, and thus, generates a reaction from the immune system. Then the cell itself will take care of getting rid of the molecule.
This is a natural process of the body and what the vaccine does is to mimic it for a specific purpose, which is to attack the virus.
How long does the vaccine last?
This information has not yet been determined. It is possible that, like the flu vaccine, this vaccine will be applied annually, but for this, it is necessary to carry out additional research to analyze the behavior of the vaccine applied massively, and to identify people who have been infected even with the application of the vaccine.
This is possible and will only mean a weakening of protection, but will give those responsible more tools to determine the periodicity in which the vaccine should be applied.
How will the effectiveness of the vaccine be measured?
By means of the number of cases. If this number decreases, we can say that the vaccine has had a positive effect on the population.
At Formé, we work constantly to offer our patients the attention and services they need, so if you meet the requirements to access the vaccine, contact us at 914 723 4900 and request a vaccination appointment.
Remember that the application of the vaccine does not generate a cost for the patient. If you have any additional questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
At Formé, your health is our mission.
