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I'm getting a series of new Q's from friends & family about the #COVID19 #vaccines in light of (very concerning) news about continuing problems with vaccine distribution.
In this thread, I'll answer them "out loud", in hope of being helpful to others.
https://time.com/5932028/vaccine-rollout-joe-biden/
In this thread, I'll answer them "out loud", in hope of being helpful to others.
https://time.com/5932028/vaccine-rollout-joe-biden/
Q1. WILL THE VACCINE WORK IF I'M OLDER THAN 65?
A1: Yes. The data actually shows that the mRNA vaccines are effective in 65+ age group (although #s were smaller, so there's a wide confidence interval- eg Table 10 of the Moderna FDA data: https://www.fda.gov/media/144434/download)
A1: Yes. The data actually shows that the mRNA vaccines are effective in 65+ age group (although #s were smaller, so there's a wide confidence interval- eg Table 10 of the Moderna FDA data: https://www.fda.gov/media/144434/download)
A nice summary of takeaways & concerns for older adults, from @apoorva_nyc, is here: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/14/health/coronavirus-vaccine-elderly.html
(note that this efficacy data does NOT apply to the adenovirus vaccines... more to come on that)
Q2: WHAT ABOUT THE NEW #COVID19 VARIANTS??
A2: There are a few, as yet non-peer-reviewed, studies that suggest that antibodies from having had #COVID19, do not fully protect against some new variants. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/21/health/coronavirus-variant-problem-vaccines/index.html
A2: There are a few, as yet non-peer-reviewed, studies that suggest that antibodies from having had #COVID19, do not fully protect against some new variants. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/21/health/coronavirus-variant-problem-vaccines/index.html
But:
Antibodies are not the full immune system.
Vaccine-based immunity can be stronger than natural
Whether these lab-observed changes matter "in real life" (eg, affect ILLNESS) is still TBD.
[Read this article- ignore the click-baity headline!] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00121-z
Antibodies are not the full immune system.Vaccine-based immunity can be stronger than naturalWhether these lab-observed changes matter "in real life" (eg, affect ILLNESS) is still TBD.[Read this article- ignore the click-baity headline!] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00121-z
Moreover, the vaccine still protects against all prior variants.
So not getting it, because of the new variants, would be - simply - silly. It's the equivalent of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Cf thread from @angie_rasmussen: https://twitter.com/angie_rasmussen/status/1350098204927299585?s=20
So not getting it, because of the new variants, would be - simply - silly. It's the equivalent of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Cf thread from @angie_rasmussen: https://twitter.com/angie_rasmussen/status/1350098204927299585?s=20
And of course ---> the sooner we all get vaccinated, the sooner we can reduce the risk of mutations.
Q3: WHAT IF THERE AREN'T ENOUGH DOSES FOR MY 2ND SHOT?
A3: This is a complex question with a complex answer.
We are still figuring out how many doses are actually available. And plans are in the works to strengthen the supply chain (although ,,,, https://www.statnews.com/2021/01/21/covid-19-vaccine-supply-biden-hopes-to-fix-that/
A3: This is a complex question with a complex answer.
We are still figuring out how many doses are actually available. And plans are in the works to strengthen the supply chain (although ,,,, https://www.statnews.com/2021/01/21/covid-19-vaccine-supply-biden-hopes-to-fix-that/
A3 cont: .... TBD whether we can actually get more doses made more quickly.
ALSO: the UK is currently conducting a giant natural experiment on the efficacy of delayed 2nd doses. We will see what it shows.
https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/01/20/revisiting-the-uks-strategy-for-delaying-the-second-dose-of-the-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine/
ALSO: the UK is currently conducting a giant natural experiment on the efficacy of delayed 2nd doses. We will see what it shows.
https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/01/20/revisiting-the-uks-strategy-for-delaying-the-second-dose-of-the-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine/
'Hopefully we won't get to that point. For now, again, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater! If you have the chance to get your first shot, please take it!
And keep advocating for getting doses out the door & into arms ASAP. I'm hopeful.
And keep advocating for getting doses out the door & into arms ASAP. I'm hopeful.
Q4: COGNITIVE DISSONANCE! WHY WEAR A MASK AFTER YOU'RE VACCINATED? DO YOU NOT TRUST THE SHOT??
A4: I trust the data VERY MUCH. I'm thankful every day that I am fully vaccinated. It gives me a little super-hero cape of protexn!!
BUT (see next tweet):
A4: I trust the data VERY MUCH. I'm thankful every day that I am fully vaccinated. It gives me a little super-hero cape of protexn!!
BUT (see next tweet):
Although the mRNA vaccines are remarkably effective, nothing in life is 100%.
Given high rates of community transmission right now, & the small possibility of being a vaccinated "carrier," it's not worth the risk to not keep masking **right now**.
https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-0111#.YAt2dQynFrA.twitter
Given high rates of community transmission right now, & the small possibility of being a vaccinated "carrier," it's not worth the risk to not keep masking **right now**.
https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-0111#.YAt2dQynFrA.twitter
(This is how the polio vaccine works, too, btw.)
Soon enough (hopefully!) we'll have reached vaccine-induced herd immunity, and be able to take off the masks.
We just aren't there yet. Patience, sadly, is still needed.
Soon enough (hopefully!) we'll have reached vaccine-induced herd immunity, and be able to take off the masks.
We just aren't there yet. Patience, sadly, is still needed.
Q5: WHAT ABOUT ALLERGIC REACTIONS?
A5: Great news here. Despite some scary reports in the first week, it turns out that anaphylaxis rates are really low, and for Moderna vaccine are similar to non-mRNA vaccines. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7004e1.htm?s_cid=mm7004e1_e&ACSTrackingID=USCDC_921-DM47045&ACSTrackingLabel=MMWR%20Early%20Release%20-%20Vol.%2070%2C%20January%2022%2C%202021&deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM47045
A5: Great news here. Despite some scary reports in the first week, it turns out that anaphylaxis rates are really low, and for Moderna vaccine are similar to non-mRNA vaccines. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7004e1.htm?s_cid=mm7004e1_e&ACSTrackingID=USCDC_921-DM47045&ACSTrackingLabel=MMWR%20Early%20Release%20-%20Vol.%2070%2C%20January%2022%2C%202021&deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM47045
For those of us with a history of anaphylaxis, do make sure you're monitored 30 minutes afterward, out of an abundance of caution.
But this is a truly minimal risk compared with the risk of the disease itself. (More than 380 per 100k Americans have been hospitalized.)
But this is a truly minimal risk compared with the risk of the disease itself. (More than 380 per 100k Americans have been hospitalized.)
Q6: CAN I JUST WAIT AND SEE HOW OTHERS DO?
A6: Sure, wait, but you may not get another chance for a long time. Plus at this point, the vaccines have been administered to literally millions, w/temporary side effects/few AEs. (And what exactly are you waiting for? Months? Years?)
A6: Sure, wait, but you may not get another chance for a long time. Plus at this point, the vaccines have been administered to literally millions, w/temporary side effects/few AEs. (And what exactly are you waiting for? Months? Years?)
That said, for Black & brown communities, there are specific, appropriate concerns that lead to extra concern, and waiting.
I urge folks to read this great piece by @Eugenia_South
https://twitter.com/Eugenia_South/status/1352609861780070400?s=20
I urge folks to read this great piece by @Eugenia_South
https://twitter.com/Eugenia_South/status/1352609861780070400?s=20
Q7: WHEN WILL I GET MY SHOT?
A7: This is the million-dollar question. It depends on so many factors that are just unknown & unpredictable as of right now. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/21/politics/biden-covid-vaccination-trump/index.html
A7: This is the million-dollar question. It depends on so many factors that are just unknown & unpredictable as of right now. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/21/politics/biden-covid-vaccination-trump/index.html
These issues - the unknowability and seeming unfairness - is even more acute for minorities (who are, PS, also at highest risk of this disease). https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2021/01/20/stark-racial-disparities-covid-19-vaccine-access/4232407001/
The good news? "Some state officials told CBS News they have already seen more outreach from the federal government just in the past 24 hours of this new administration, including offers of help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-vaccine-setbacks-shortages/
So our best guess for now is that - if everything goes well under the @WHCOVIDResponse plan - we will have most adults vaccinated by summer. But stay tuned.
Please, when you get the chance.... don't pass it up. #ThisIsOurShot
Please, when you get the chance.... don't pass it up. #ThisIsOurShot
For more Q&A, see my earlier thread: https://twitter.com/meganranney/status/1338841290100903937?s=20
