COVID-19 has made itself comfortable in our communities and has continued to evolve. As this virus changes, so have the protocols and treatments (specifically the vaccines) to keep people safe and healthy. Read on for the answers to the most commonly asked COVID vaccine and vaccine booster questions.
1. How do the COVID-19 Vaccines Work?
Vaccines have been around for a long time and it is thanks to these developments that people live better, healthier lives. When the pandemic was in full swing, scientists took it upon themselves to develop vaccines for this deadly virus in record time. Like other vaccines, the Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccines protect individuals from getting severely ill or even dying from COVID.
mRNA Vaccines
Unlike other vaccines, Moderna and Pfizer are mRNA vaccines. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), this type of vaccine trains the cells in our body to make a protein or “piece of protein” which then prompts an immune response. Moderna and Pfizer, therefore, protect a person without them possibly getting sick with COVID-19 from the vaccine itself.
Adenovirus Vaccines
J&J is considered an adenovirus vaccine. As Nebraska Medicine puts it, “the Johnson & Johnson vaccine delivers the virus’ DNA to your cells to make the spike protein. An adenovirus acts as a delivery vehicle used to carry the coronavirus genetic material (DNA). The adenovirus delivers the little piece of DNA to the cell that will then make the spike protein.”
Why are Second Doses Necessary?
All three vaccines protect and help your body to develop antibodies against COVID. It is also important to note why the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require multiple doses to be effective, while J&J only requires one dose.
According to the Stanford Medicine News Center the first dose stimulates a part of the immune system that gives a wide range of antiviral protection, while the second dose has “powerful beneficial effects that far exceed those of the first dose.” That is why it is stressed that the second dose of the mRNA vaccines should not be skipped.
2. Are the Vaccines Safe for People with Breathing Issues?
According to the CDC, the vaccines are safe as long as the person does not have any immediate, severe allergic reaction to the vaccine or its ingredients. Medical News Today also mentions that the American Lung Association, in general, recommends people with conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or breathing problems, such as asthma, should get vaccinated.
In fact, they strongly suggest that people with breathing conditions get the vaccine sooner rather than later because contracting COVID may cause more serious complications in people with these underlying breathing ailments.
3. Is it Possible to get COVID if You are Vaccinated?
Yes, but the good news is that only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated test positive for COVID-19. According to the CDC, the small number of people who get the virus after being fully vaccinated have very mild symptoms. This includes those who contract the Delta variant.
However, while symptoms are tolerable, the disease can still be transmitted by those who test positive for COVID-19 and are fully vaccinated. Click here for more information on what to do if you test positive or if you were around someone who tested positive. This includes the CDC’s guidelines on when to isolate or quarantine.
4. Is the COVID Booster Shot Necessary?
Over time the effectiveness of the vaccines decreases and it is for this reason that boosters are necessary. The COVID booster helps keep the immune system strong and ready to fight the virus as it continues to change. On Sept. 1, 2022, the CDC approved the Omicron booster shot. The Pfizer Omicron booster shot is available for ages 12 and older. The Moderna Omicron booster is available for ages 18 and older.
The updated boosters “add Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein components to the current vaccine composition, helping to restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination by targeting variants that are more transmissible and immune-evading,” according to the CDC.
The Omicron variant is what experts in the United States call a variant of concern due to its increased transmissibility. This is why the COVID booster shot is so important.
Scheduling the COVID Vaccine
At this time we are not offering the COVID vaccine at our clinics. Please click here for a list of vaccine providers in Colorado.
Check out vaccination rates in Colorado by visiting the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.