Written by Katie Polk.
About the author: Katie lives in Frederick, MD and currently works in Public Health as part of the COVID-19 response. She recently got engaged and as if work right now wasn’t busy enough, now she’s planning a wedding too! Katie loves walking around downtown Frederick, going for bike rides, trying new wineries, and baking. Katie got her Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from George Mason University and is planning to start a Master of Public Health degree in the fall.
Hey Mamas! My name is Katie and I met Renee when I was a student at George Mason University studying microbiology. Over the last several years, I have worked in research laboratories studying things such as bacteria, viruses like Ebola and HIV, and public health. I am here today to talk to you about the COVID-19 vaccine. In the last year, we have seen so much information spreading about all things COVID-19 and it’s a lot to keep track of. To be honest, it can feel overwhelming to figure out which pieces of information are true, which guidance to follow, and what this all means while adjusting to lockdowns, mask mandates, and telework. Not to mention, if you have been home the past year with littles because school/daycare is closed. My hope today is to make things just a little easier for you amidst everything else you have going on. I’m going to give some background on vaccines in general, clarify some misinformation and answer questions about COVID-19 vaccines, and empower you to make the best decision about COVID-19 vaccination for yourself, your family, and your community’s health.
Vaccines prevent infectious diseases. When bacteria or viruses (germs) enter your body they multiply and spread, which makes you sick. The very first time a specific germ enters your body, it can take your immune system several days to make the tools needed,such as antibodies, to fight this germ. However, after fighting off the germ your immune system will remember the antibodies it made. The next time this germ tries to infect you, your immune system will be ready and able to keep the germ from multiplying. This is what keeps you from feeling sick again when exposed to the same germ. Vaccines help speed this process up. They use an inactive or altered part of a germ to teach your body the tools it needs to protect you without you ever having to get sick. Because vaccines work so well we no longer have to worry about childhood diseases like chickenpox or measles, as long as people keep getting their vaccines. The concept behind vaccines has been around since 1796 (History of Vaccines) with years of research since making them better and safer. Today’s vaccines are incredibly safe and do not cause autism. The original study claiming a link between vaccines and autism, was found to be completely made up and that doctor has since lost their license (Read more here).
Now that we have a basic understanding of vaccines and their safety, let’s talk COVID-19 vaccine. There are currently three vaccines being given in the United States under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). These are the Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccines.
How do they work?
COVID-19 is the illness caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines. mRNA is used to make proteins. Your cells have and use mRNA to make the proteins that make you. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines include the mRNA for the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. When you get this vaccine, your cells will make the spike protein using the instructions provided by the mRNA. Then your immune system will use the spike protein to learn what tools it needs to fight the whole virus SARS-CoV-2.
The Janssen vaccine is a vector vaccine. In this vaccine the Spike protein gene has been added to an inactivated (cannot replicate or make you sick) adenovirus. This adenovirus delivers the instructions for the Spike protein to your cells, and like with the other vaccines, this lets your body learn the tools needed to fight SARS-CoV-2 and prevent you from getting COVID-19. The Spike protein by itself does not make you sick and none of the vaccines will alter your DNA.
Is it safe?
As I mentioned, these three vaccines are approved under an EUA, which is granted in an emergency when there are no other licensed treatments available. In order to apply for an EUA the FDA specifies certain data that it needs to see and vaccines go through three phases of clinical trials. All of the vaccines approved in the US had to go through lots of testing and clinical trials to prove they were both safe and effective. An outside committee of experts reviews the data in the application for EUA. After rigorous review, the committee recommends to the FDA whether the product should be granted an EUA or not. The data needed to apply for an EUA is actually the same data that is needed to apply for a normal vaccine license. The difference is that usually a vaccine license is applied for later so that long-term analysis can be done. An EUA is granted sooner because there is enough data to determine that the risk of the vaccine does not outweigh the benefits of ending a public health emergency. Next a committee at CDC reviews the data and tells CDC who should get the vaccine and when. The long term analysis of the clinical trial continues to occur even after an EUA is granted and the vaccines are being monitored closely in the population to ensure they remain safe and effective.
Was it rushed?
SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus. Coronaviruses were discovered in 1965 and have been studied ever since. For a long time human coronaviruses were thought to cause mild illness like the common cold. In 2002 with the emergence of SARS and in 2011 with the emergence of MERS, we learned that there are human coronaviruses that cause more serious disease. In the last 56 years lots of research has been done on both mild and serious coronaviruses. This background of research allowed scientists to quickly develop the COVID-19 vaccine. If we did not already know so much about coronaviruses, we would not have been able to make vaccines so quickly. 56 years of research actually went into developing COVID-19 vaccines, not just one.
Does it matter which vaccine I get?
It does not matter at all. All three vaccines are 100% effective at preventing hospitalization and death from COVID-19. So while the vaccine may differ slightly in their ability to prevent mild sickness, they will all protect you from severe COVID-19. If you are interested in getting the COVID-19 vaccine, you should get whichever one is available to you.
Can pregnant women get the vaccine? Can my children get the vaccine?
Children and pregnant women’s immune systems actually work a little differently than a healthy adult’s immune system. Clinical trials are done in healthy adults first to make sure the vaccine works normally, before testing it in other groups. So, the original clinical studies for COVID-19 vaccines did not include pregnant women or children. However, pregnant women are at an increased risk of severe COVID-19 and some studies suggest an increased risk of preterm birth and stillbirth for pregnant women with COVID-19. Because of this, pregnant women who are eligible for vaccination in their state may choose to be vaccinated. Pregnant women interested in COVID-19 vaccine, can consult with their doctor about whether the COVID-19 vaccine is right for them (however this is not a requirement for vaccination). It is important to remember that receiving the vaccine will not cause infertility (Read more here)
The Moderna and Janssen COVID-19 vaccines are only available to persons 18 years or older. The Pfizer vaccine is available for children 16+ years of age. These recommendations may change as the data from clinical trials including children gives us more evidence. Studies have begun to determine the safety and effectiveness of these vaccines in children and studies with pregnant women are happening soon.
Can nursing mama’s get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Women who are breastfeeding and eligible for the vaccine in their state can get the vaccine if they choose to. This is a personal decision for you, and you can choose to consult a doctor, but it is not required for vaccination. There is currently no specific data on the effects (positive or negative) of COVID-19 vaccine for breastfeeding women.
How do I go about getting the vaccine?
Vaccine distribution is different in every state. Check your county health department’s website for more information about where the vaccine is being given and who it is currently available to.
If you’re still reading, thanks for sticking with me. I hope I have answered some of your biggest questions and left you with a little clarity. While COVID-19 is new, vaccination is a safe and helpful public health tool that has been used for decades to prevent infectious disease. Below are some resources and my sources that I hope continue to empower you to make the best decisions for the health of yourself, your family, and community.
Vaccinate Your Family – Great source for information about childhood vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines https://vaccinateyourfamily.org/
History of Coronaviruses – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16378050/
CDC COVID-19 Resources – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Vaccine Finder – a resource to help find COVID-19 vaccine appointments https://vaccinefinder.org/search/
