A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to attend a Zoom meeting with Dr. Barney Graham, an immunologist working at the NIH who helped develop the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines that are currently being distributed by Pfizer and Moderna.
We all have questions about these vaccines, so I want to share a few things I have learned.
Both mRNA vaccines are very similar and had similar results in trials. The vaccines are 94-95% effective in preventing infection and symptoms of COVID-19, but it is still possible to transmit the virus having received the vaccine, but it is about 3X less likely. The full effect of the vaccine occurs about 10 days after the 2nd dose.
Of the 4-5% of study participants that contracted COVID-19 after receiving two doses of the vaccine, none of them experienced serious symptoms that required hospitalization. In other words, even if you are unlucky enough to be one of the people for whom the vaccine does not prevent infection, there is no evidence that you will experience symptoms worse than a bad cold.
The vaccine is given in two doses, 3 and 4 weeks apart for Pfizer and Moderna, respectively. A second dose is reserved for everyone who gets the first dose to guarantee availability.
You have about 20% chance of experiencing flu-like symptoms after the 2nd dose. This is your body’s immune system reacting to the vaccine. The reaction is more likely in younger adults than older. The symptoms are short lived, going away after a couple of days.
There are two ways to develop immunity to Covid-19, neither of which are guaranteed to be 100% effective for the long term.
1. Getting the virus through exposure, and surviving it.
2. A vaccine.
The vaccine is the preferred way to get immunity because one of the possible effects of COVID-19 is death.
No one who had been vaccinated with with mRNA vaccine has died. The CDC is currently tracking every person who gets the vaccine to monitor symptoms as it rolls out to the public.
Originally I was hesitant to receive the vaccine, but now that I know more, I will be getting in line for it as soon as I am allowed to do so.
Below is a link to Dr. Graham’s bio, and also a link that provides more answers to common questions about the vaccine that I recommend reading.
I’m providing this information for the benefit of the cuddling community. I don’t work for Pfizer or Moderna, and I don’t own stock in them. I do not dictate public policy and I’m not affiliated with any political or special interest groups. I am not dictating your behavior and you can make your own decision if you decide to get the vaccine or not.
https://www.niaid.nih.gov/research/barney-graham-md-phd
https://ideas.ted.com/the-top-7-covid-19-vaccine-questions-answered/?utm_source=recommendation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=explore&utm_term=ideas-blog-3