Should I get the Pfizer or Moderna Covid-19 vaccine? Your questions have been answered.

To date, more than 89 million cases of Covid-19 have been diagnosed worldwide, with more than 1.9 million global deaths. In the United States, there have been more than 22 million cases and more than 372,000 deaths from Covid-19 to date.

With the rapid introduction of several Covid-19 vaccines, there is hope that this pandemic could be eradicated, as well as fears among many that vaccines made as part of Operation Warp Speed ​​to rip, and be dangerous, either in the short or long term. Currently, two Covid-19 vaccines are available in the United States. One is made by Pfizer and the other by Moderna. I have covered both short-term and long-term safety data of these two mRNA vaccines in previous articles, as well as an overview of how the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines work.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are administered in two doses. Like 9am on January 8, 2021, more than 6.6 million people in the United States have received the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. For comparison, this is around the number of people living in the cities of Los Angeles and Chicago combined. To date both vaccines have been considered safe overall, in terms of both the ongoing clinical trials and the experiences in the vaccine population. However, many still have questions about whether they should get the Covid-19 vaccine.

A Gallup study conducted in November 2020 found that 63% of Americans would be willing to receive a Covid-19 vaccine if they were available. However, Dr Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, has said that 75-85% of the population needs to be vaccinated to control the pandemic. Some question whether they should be vaccinated because of natural doubts about something relatively new, but there is also misinformation.

This article is part of a series on Covid-19 vaccines and will address specific questions about who may be a candidate for the currently available Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

I tested positive for Covid in November, so I’m not sure I need a vaccine.

Routine data suggest that it is rare for people who have previously tested positive for Covid-19 to be reversed within 90 days. However, it is safe for people who have been vaccinated against Covid-19, and it is recommended that the vaccine be offered to everyone, regardless of their previous history of Covid- 19. There are many documented cases of people being re-vaccinated with Covid-19, so it makes sense for people who have survived Covid-19 to be vaccinated.

I have two children, aged 14 and 16. Can they have the vaccine?

The Pfizer clinical trial included participants aged 16 and over, so your 16-year-old will be a candidate for the Pfizer vaccine when dispensed for that age group, but is not licensed. FDA still exists for participants under 16 years of age. . Therefore, unless your 14-year-old is part of a clinical trial, this child is not currently a candidate for the vaccine.

I am allergic to some vaccine ingredients. Should I get the vaccine anyway?

If you have allergies to any vaccine ingredient you should No get the vaccine. You will find the ingredients for both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in Appendix B at the end of this document. Review this with your doctor, and if you are allergic to a part that can only be found in one vaccine, you should not have this vaccine and you should try to get the other one instead. If you have questions about the ingredients, contact your pharmacist or allergist.

I am not allergic to any of these ingredients listed for each vaccine, but I am allergic to many other things. Should I avoid this vaccine?

Not necessary. About 1 in 100,000 people who have received the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine have developed anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction), so this is a rare finding. We do not yet have the same data on the Moderna vaccine. Most people who had this type of reaction were within minutes of receiving the vaccine and responded to treatment (epinephrine). Although frightening and potentially fatal without intervention, this reaction is a treatable condition with no lasting side effects. That is why it is recommended that those who receive the Covid-19 vaccine be monitored for at least 15 minutes after receiving the vaccine. CDC reports state that allergic reactions, including severe allergic reactions, to food, pets, toxins or environmental allergies No inhibition or inhibition of vaccination with Covid-19 mRNA vaccine. The mRNA vaccines do not contain eggs or gelatin, and the vial stops are not made of natural rubber latex.

I am pregnant, or breastfeeding. Should I avoid this vaccine?

Participants who were pregnant or breastfed were not included in the Pfizer or Moderna trials. However, as the mRNA vaccine does not contain a live portion of the virus, it is considered that these vaccines are not likely to pose a risk to the pregnant person or the fetus. In contrast, we know that pregnant women with a Covid-19 baby may be at greater risk for serious illness and death. Therefore, if the vaccine is offered to a pregnant person, pregnancy is not a contraindication. Breastfeeding should be offered the vaccine when they meet the prescribing criteria. The American College of Dentists and Gynecologists has information for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding making these decisions.

I am living out of cancer and taking medications related to my diagnosis. Should I still have the vaccine?

Cancer survivors have been included in clinical trials of the vaccine, and cancer is not a contraindication for these vaccines. Some cancer survivors may be at increased risk of developing an adverse reaction if they are infected with Covid-19 because their immune systems may be at risk, which makes them candidates good for these vaccines. Talk to your oncologist and primary care physician to see if you should consider this vaccine.

Would a history of self-harm or dangerous immunity mean I can’t get this vaccine?

Not necessary. People with these conditions were not excluded from these clinical trials. Although we do not yet have safety data on each of these subgroups, the risks of the vaccine need to be weighed against the potential risk for a potentially severe Covid-19 symptom. people with these conditions if they are infected with the virus. It is also unknown how effective the vaccines are in people who cannot, because of having one of these conditions, have the immune response needed to provide protection.

Is there one vaccine I should choose over another?

If you are not allergic to any of the ingredients (see Appendix B at the end) found in just one of the available vaccines, no, there is no reason at this time to have a single mRNA vaccine. choice over the other. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective. Take the one that was offered to you first.

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There are currently more than 50 Covid-19 vaccine candidates in trials around the world. It is likely that within the next few months a number of new vaccines will be available in the United States. It is important that we carry out an independent evaluation of each of these vaccines as each person decides whether to have the vaccine when offered in the hope of ending the pandemic. this world.