Yes we did, and not in a good way! We got to half a million dead even before the predicted March 1st date. So sad, and so unnecessary.
We also hit another milestone, a much better one, almost 70 million vaccines given and 20 million people have received both shots.
The Janssen branch of Johnson and Johnson’s new Covid vaccine was approved on Friday and will be rolling out around the middle of next week. Exciting news, more on that later.
As far as the two currently available mRNA vaccines here is the answer to some of the questions that people have.
Are there some people who should NOT get these two vaccines?
Yes. People who have had a history of anaphylaxis (severe life threatening allergic reaction) to previous vaccinations or who are allergic to PEG (Polyethylene glycol) or Polysorbate.
The anaphylaxis rate so far with the Pfizer vaccine is 1 in 90,000 and with the Moderna 1 in 400,000.
Who needs to be watched for 30 minutes instead of 15 after the Covid vaccine?
People with a history of anaphylaxis of any kind including to different foods and nuts.
Can I get other vaccines at the same time as the Covid vaccine?
No. Because of the lack of data at the moment the recommendation is that you wait at least 2 weeks before and after other vaccines. The only exception would be vaccines that have to be given in an emergency like Rabies or Tetanus.
If I have had confirmed Covid-19 should I get the shot?
Definitely not immediately. If you wait 2 months we will have better data to advise you on the optimal time period.
If I received convalescent plasma or monoclonal antibodies should I get the vaccine?
No, you should wait 3 months.
So before we talk about the new vaccine let’s talk about our beloved teachers. Some are in a panic because they have not yet received their vaccine and have to return to the classroom on Monday. I think teachers can feel safe going back to class irrespective of their vaccine status. Why? because Covid-19 is different from the flu. Teachers think of their students as a hot bed of flu infection not so with Covid. Secondly, the kinds of precautions that have been put in place for the teacher and student’s safety way exceeds anything we have had in the past. For one thing everyone will have on a mask.
Teachers, return to the classroom and do what you are good at, while following all the protocols and ...its going to be OK. I know it is stressful. You may feel this is not what you signed up for but you will feel better once you are back in your element. Wear a face shield if it makes you feel better but it probably is not necessary. When Covid first hit, nurses and hospital workers felt the same way. Bus drivers and grocery workers felt the same way. At that time there wasn’t even a vaccine on the horizon. But if no one was willing to do their jobs where would we be? At some point we must all step up, take appropriate precautions and do our jobs. Our communities depend on us.
Right now we all need patience, soon everyone in the country will have access to the vaccine and my guess is it will happen in the next 8 weeks. There is always one more thing to panic about: do you remember when people thought there wouldn’t be enough toilet paper? This too shall pass, just do what you are supposed to.
Which brings me back to the new vaccine:
It is made with the kind of technology that we are used to. It is made with a weak adenovirus like many of the other vaccines you have had before.
It is 66% effective at preventing Covid symptoms, 90% effective at avoiding hospitalizations and 100% at preventing death. It has also been shown to be 74% effective at preventing transmission (which none of the others have yet).
Advantages:
1, Needs only one shot 2, Doesn’t have to be frozen 3, Prevents asymptomatic transmission 4, Will be more widely available.
It is possible that later it will be shown that 2 shots will bring the efficacy up to 90+% but the one shot sounds good to me!
Thanks to all of you who read my emails and send me messages that encourage me to keep writing them.
Stay safe, finally there really is a light at the end of the tunnel!
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