Contents The COVID-19 Vaccine: Weighing the Options

The COVID-19 Vaccine: Weighing the Options

Submitted by HPIP Dr. Otis W. Kirksey Ahmed Temple No. 37 Imperial Director National Community Health Initiative

COVID-19 vaccines help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without us having to get the illness. Different types of vaccines work in different ways to offer protection, but with all types of vaccines, the body is left with a supply of “memory” T-lymphocytes as well as B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight that virus in the future.

It typically takes a few weeks for the body to produce T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes after vaccination. Therefore, it is possible that a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and then get sick because the vaccine did not have enough time to provide protection. Sometimes, after vaccination, the process of building immunity can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building immunity.

Types of Vaccines

Currently, there are three main types of COVID-19 vaccines that are or soon will be undergoing large-scale (Phase 3) clinical trials in the United States. Below is a description of how each type of vaccine prompts our bodies to recognize and protect us from the virus that causes COVID-19. None of these vaccines can give you COVID-19.

• mRNA vaccines contain material from the virus that causes COVID-19 that gives our cells instructions on how to make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus. After our cells make copies of the protein, they destroy the genetic material from the vaccine. Our bodies recognize that the protein should not be there and build T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight the virus that causes COVID-19 if we are infected in the future. • Protein subunit vaccines include harmless pieces (proteins) of the virus that cause COVID-19 instead of the entire germ. Once vaccinated, our immune system recognizes that the proteins do not belong in the body and begins making T-lymphocytes and antibodies. If we are ever infected in the future, memory cells will recognize and fight the virus. • Vector vaccines contain a weakened version of a live virus—a different virus than the one that causes COVID-19—that has genetic material from the virus that causes COVID-19 inserted in it (this is called a viral vector). Once the viral vector is inside our cells, the genetic material gives cells instructions on how to make a protein that is unique to the virus that causes COVID-19. Using these instructions, our cells make copies of the protein. This prompts our bodies to build T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight that virus if we are infected in the future.

Available COVID-19 Vaccines

Three vaccines are currently available in the United States under Emergency Use Authorization. The table below compares those products.

Vaccine MakerType of Vaccine Effectiveness Administration Pfizer/BioNTec mRNA94.1% Symptomatic COVID Infection 2-shot series, 3 weeks apart Moderna mRNA95%

Symptomatic COVID Infection 2-shot series, 28 days apart Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Vector 85% Severe COVID Illness 1 shot only

Because of the differences in clinical trial methodology, comparing the available products head- to-head should be avoided-- it is like comparing apples and oranges. Additionally, it should be noted that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was 100% effective in preventing hospitalizations or death.

Side Effects The most common side effects associated with the currently available vaccines in the U.S. were pain at injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, and chills. A total of seven patients experienced Bell’s Palsy, a sudden, and usually temporary, weakening or paralysis of the facial muscles. There have been six cases of serious allergic reaction. Signs of severe allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, swelling of face and throat, fast heartbeat, a bad rash all over the body, dizziness, and weakness. All these cases were safely treated and resolved within 24 hours. from a few cases of severe allergic reactions, there have been no major side effects reported from the vaccine. Remember, all drugs have side effects, and you must weigh the benefits over the risks. The benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines far exceed the potential risks of experiencing any of the side effects.

Content Sources 1. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Division of Viral Diseases. Last Updated Dec. 18, 2020 2. Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) https://www.fda.gov/media/144413/ download 3. Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine EUA Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers https://www.fda.gov/media/144637/download 4. https://www.janssenlabels.com/emergency-use-authorization/Janssen+COVID-19+Vaccine-Recipient-fact-sheet.pdf

The Bottom Line To date, there have been more than 29 million cases of COVID-19 infections in the United States. A staggering 537,936 people have died because of the infection. People at high risk for COVID-19 infection include those 65 and older as well as those living in nursing homes or extended care facilities. Other groups of people who are at severe risk for COVID-19 illness include those with chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma/COPD, or those who are immunocompromised including cancer treatment.

Communities of color, African American and Hispanic/Latino, have been disproportionately impacted. It is critical that you take the necessary steps to protect yourself and others from the COVID-19 virus. These steps include social distancing, wearing appropriate face mask, washing your hands, and avoiding large crowds (particularly indoors). It is important that you continue these practices even if you have already received your COVID-19 vaccine.

A major source of protection is getting vaccinated. There have been over 90 million COVID-19 vaccine shots given to more than 30 million people so far. Apart