COVID Vaccine Information

The news lately has been filled with positivity related to vaccines, and hopefully that will continue.  Certainly, vaccine news has been coming fast and furious in the last few days.

Many people have shared that they are a bit nervous about vaccine safety, given the expedited timeframe for development. Here is information to share that might be helpful for anyone wondering about vaccines. While it is from the Minnesota Department of Health, all states have similar information, processes and protocols. 

• Making vaccines safe
• Reviewed and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other scientific groups
• Minnesota Department of Health will only distribute a vaccine if it meets the safety requirements of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a national independent committee
• A COVID-19 vaccine must meet the same requirements as ALL vaccines
• Vaccines have led to the dramatic reduction of smallpox, polio and the measles
• It prevents you from getting sick and/or dying from COVID or passing on the disease to others
• Who is the FDA?
• Scientists and physicians with globally recognized expertise in vaccine development, efficacy and safety
• The agency has regulatory independence for making science-based decisions
• How is the vaccine tested?
• First vaccine studies are done on groups with the highest risk for the disease or who will get very sick if they get the disease
• Next, those who are pregnant or have a compromised immune system are studied
• Clinical trials are conducted using a diverse group of people that takes into account racial and ethnic differences for ensuring safety for everyone
• Phase III trials for COVID-19 vaccines have been as large as those for other vaccines, including tens of thousands of participants
• How is the vaccine being made?
• None of the early vaccines being tested for COVID-19 are live weakened versions
• Early vaccine manufacturers include Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson
• Live weakened versions of vaccines are used for measles, mumps, rubella or varicella vaccines
• How will the vaccine be distributed?
• It’s free
• It’s optional
• Healthcare workers and emergency responders will most likely receive a vaccine first; distribution beyond that will most likely will include essential workers.

Sources: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/vaccine.html and https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices/fdas-scientific-and-regulatory-oversight-vaccines-vital-public-health https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/making-vaccines/prevent-covid