Drugmakers Pfizer and BioNTech said that their experimental vaccine could be 90% successful in preventing COVID-19. It grew hopes for a huge victory in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.
Monday’s announcement reverberated around the world. Stock markets rose to new highs, and political leaders celebrating late-stage trial results. But, several questions remained unanswered and warned that any celebration might be premature.
Key Points
- The Pfizer version of the COVID-19 vaccine was the first to be approved, starting in mid-December
- Under the Emergency Use Permit, people over 16 years of age can receive the vaccine
- Hospital workers and residents at long-term care facilities will receive the vaccine first
- Dow closes 830 points on the positive news of the Pfizer COVID vaccine
December was an otherwise dark month characterized by a precipitous increase in COVID-19 deaths across the country. The drug manufacturer Pfizer received an emergency authorization that month. It began to sell its version of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Here’s What You Need To Know About The Pfizer Vaccine for Covid-19:
How Effective Is The Vaccine?
Around 95% of it. Phase 3 trials of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine included 42,000 participants. About half of them received the new vaccine and the rest received a placebo. In total, 170 people became ill with covid-19. Only eight of them were in the vaccination group; 162 got a placebo. As a result, about 5% of the cases were in the vaccination group. This is where the 95 percent figure comes from. This is a really healthy number. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it would be happy with 50%.
What Is In The Vaccine, and How Does It Work?
The main ingredient in the vaccine is the messenger RNA. It provides instructions for making the virus spike protein. The body’s immune system recognizes the spike protein to protect against infection. The mRNA is synthetic, not derived from actual viruses. And it does not enter or interfere with the body’s own DNA.
When germs, such as viruses, enter the body, they attack and spread. This invasion is what triggers the disease. The immune system uses a variety of methods to fight infection. The first time the body experiences disease or virus, it can take several days for the body to make and use all the germ-fighting resources required to fight the infection. During the infection, the immune system remembers what it learned about protecting the body. Vaccines help improve immunity by trying to imitate an infection. Vaccines significantly decrease the risk of illness. They work with the body’s natural defenses to build immunity to disease.
Some vaccines, such as flu vaccines, use dead or deactivated viruses to imitate the infection. But, the vaccine for COVID-19 does not. It uses messenger RNA to train the immune system to recognize the SARS-CoV-2 virus. An individual cannot get COVID-19 out from the vaccine.
Is a Pfizer Vaccine for COVID-19 Safe?
The FDA still did not approve the Pfizer version of the COVID-19 vaccine. But that’s more a matter of timing than safety. The pandemic has forced scientists into a race to produce an effective vaccine in a short time.
Typical vaccine trials may run for years or even decades. But, those vaccines developed by Pfizer, and Moderna, have been pushed out in short period. This means that they are presumed safe based on limited clinical trials.
Researchers tested the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 well. And they did not find any significant side effects.
There is no evidence on whether the COVID-19 vaccine will be a one-time vaccine. It may be a yearly vaccine like the flu shot. Despite this, the vaccine’s effectiveness is 94 percent to 95 percent, which is incredibly high.
Side Effect of Pfizer Vaccine for COVID-19
Side Effects Of Clinical Trials Have Been Minimal and Include:
- Pain at the injection site
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Chills
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Fever
- Injection site swelling or redness
- Nausea
- Feeling unwell
- Swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy)
How Many Doses Of The Pfizer Vaccine for Covid-19 Will Be Available After Its Approval?
At first, very few. Pfizer and U.S. authorities are currently preparing to receive 40 million doses of the vaccine. That’s enough to send 20 million individuals or 6% of the U.S. population. An additional 80 million doses, enough for 40 million Americans, will be available in 2021.
However, this might not be as terrifying as it sounds. Because other vaccine candidates—especially Moderna’s—are close behind Pfizer’s in the approval pipeline.
How Much Will The Vaccine Cost?
The U.S. government pays $39 per vaccine to Pfizer for the first 100 million doses. Americans have to pay relatively little out of pocket to get the vaccine. Medicaid, Medicare, and most forms of health insurance would be required by the government’s mandate to cover the cost of vaccines for patients. Also, uninsured people should be able to get the vaccine at little to no cost. A special fund has been set up to reimburse providers for these vaccinations.
Can Pregnant Women Receive Pfizer Vaccine for COVID-19?
The coronavirus pandemic complexity is difficult for all. But it may be not more than for pregnant women. Suppose you are pregnant or breastfeeding and are seeking a Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19. Then please know that the American College of Gynecology has released a statement. The timely statement’s official language states that ACOG advises that COVID-19 vaccinations should not be withheld from pregnant persons who meet ACIP-recommended priority vaccination requirements.
Researchers proved the vaccine to be safe and effective for the general population. But, none of the vaccines now available have been tested in pregnant women. Unfortunately, this means there are no safety statistics that we can use to decide whether or not to have a COVID-19 vaccine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Researchers found that pregnant women can have more serious cases of COVID-19. According to the ACOG statement, ‘Available evidence indicates that symptomatic pregnant patients with COVID-19 are at an increased risk of more serious illness than non-pregnant peers’.
Can Kids Get the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19?
Researchers studied the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine only in children above the age of 16. But Newland expects this to change in a very short period. Authority may eventually approve the [vaccine] for children. [Pfizer and other companies] are also doing clinical trials in children. So, the vaccine will hopefully be available to children by fall.
The Bottom Line
It will take a while to recognize this. But, the news on the COVID-19 front is slowly changing. Health teams are working hard to distribute the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19. In the meantime, we must continue to follow the hygiene precautions:
- Social distance
- Wearing a mask
- Regular hand washing
.
