Understanding the COVID-19 Vaccine

by Zaid Aleem

With significant developments in regard to the COVID-19 vaccines and availability of the vaccine in the market today, it will be important to understand what is known about each vaccine and who can take it. 

Currently, one vaccine is authorized and recommended to prevent COVID-19. The vaccine developed in collaboration by Pfizer and BioNTech is already in use. Moderna’s vaccine may be authorized for use this week by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition to this, there are several other vaccines in Phase 3 clinical trials, including AstraZeneca and Jannsen’s COVID-19 vaccines. 

According to CNN, under the emergency use authorization the vaccine was distributed from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Friday and can be given to anyone 16-years and older. According to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices it should be safe for almost everyone. 

However, the FDA has put one group in the category of those who should not get the vaccine: people who have a known history of a severe allergic reactions to any component of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. 

At this time, people with underlying medical conditions and the elderly are prioritized to get the COVID-19 vaccine. According to Dr. Peter Marks, the director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, because there is not enough data available yet on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant women, it is up to them to decide whether or not they would like to get vaccinated.

“COVID-19 in a pregnant woman is not a good thing, so someone might decide that they would like to be vaccinated, but that’s not something that we’re recommending at this time,” Marks said at a news briefing Saturday. “That’s something we’re leaving up to the individual.”

The vaccine may also be appropriate for people who have a suppressed immune system due to a condition or disease such as those going through treatments for diseases like cancer. As per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, whether or not someone gets the COVID-19 vaccine should be their choice.