COVID-19 is once again recirculating in Connecticut, and the most important thing the experts tell us is to protect ourselves and others around us by getting vaccinated.

It will protect people by producing an immune response without experiencing sickness, moreover, the immune system will be prepared to fight the virus if someone becomes infected. Trials have shown that all vaccines are highly effective at preventing hospitalization, severe illness, and death from the virus. The COVID-19 vaccine is crucial to ending this pandemic. 

Even after getting vaccinated, health experts still recommend frequent handwashing, wearing a mask in public, practicing social distancing, and minimizing travel until we have achieved the threshold of herd immunity.

If you are prone to an allergy, vaccine experts suggest consulting with the primary doctor before taking any vaccines. “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and it’s their own body and I do not think anyone should force anyone to do anything with their body that they are not comfortable doing. At the same time based on scientific evidence that any vaccine would be helpful to the individual and people should grab the opportunity to get vaccinated” says Mr.Palmisano. 

According to the FDA, all three approved vaccines in the US (Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson) are extremely effective against COVID-19. “The best vaccine is the one you can get in your arms right now and no one should be shopping for a vaccine,” says Mr.Norland. 

We shouldn’t take the COVID lightly when it’s spreading widely. The only way to stop the surge of the fourth wave is by getting vaccinated and following the CDC’s guidelines. If more people are vaccinated, our families and communities will return to normal life sooner.

Otherwise, if we still try to neglect the guideline and fail to take the necessary precautions then we will continue to experience surges, and mutations, as we saw in 2020. We all should remember that COVID-related deaths are just numbers until they become the names of people we know or love.

The list of the vaccine:

Pfizer Vaccine (mRNA)= Messenger RNA

• Efficacy: 95%
• Common Side Effect: Fever, Nausea. Muscle Pains, Headache, Tiredness
• Dose: Two doses, 3 weeks apart 
• Full Protection: Two weeks after taking the final dose 

Pfizer is an mRNA vaccine that gets into the cells and instructs the cell to produce the coronavirus spike protein to develop an antibody and immune response to fight coronavirus. Right now it is approved for 16 years and older and it has appealed to the FDA for emergency use for kids 12-15 age. Real-life studies have shown 90% effectiveness in preventing infections and protection last for 6-12 months. The scientists who developed the vaccine say that a third shot is necessary as the effect of the previous vaccine decreases as time goes by.

Moderna Vaccine (mRNA)= Messenger RNA

• Efficacy: 94.1%
• Common Side Effects: Headaches, fever, muscle and joint pain 
• Doses: Two doses, 4 weeks apart 
• Full Protection: Two weeks after taking the final dose 

The vaccine gets into the cells and instructs the cell to produce the coronavirus spike protein to develop an antibody and immune response to fight coronavirus. It is now available for people 18 and above. Real-life studies have shown 90% effectiveness in preventing infections and protection last for 6-12 months. “Moderna will make a third booster shot for its two-dose vaccine available to Americans by the fall,” says CEO Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna Therapeutics.

Johnson and Johnson Vaccine 

• Efficacy: 72%
• Common Side Effects: Fatigue, Fever, Headache, Injection site pain
• Doses: Single-dose
• Full Protection: Two weeks to 4 weeks after receiving the single dose

The J&J uses a harmless Inactivated cold virus that signals the immune system to make antibodies so that it will protect the person if one is ever exposed to covid in the future. This vaccine is approved for 18 and above. According to the CDC, anyone with a history of an immediate or severe allergic reaction, also called anaphylaxis, to any of the vaccine ingredients should not receive this vaccine. This vaccine has been paused due to the report of some rare blood clots. According to Dr.Anthony Fauci, the J&J vaccine will resume with some restrictions. 

AstraZeneca Vaccine (Adenovirus-vectored) (Not yet Authorized by the FDA)

• Efficacy: 62%-78%
• Common Side Effects: feeling tired, achy or headaches and muscle pains
• Dose: 2 doses, 4 weeks apart
• Full Protection: Two weeks after taking the final dose

It is a modified version of a common cold virus that enters cells which then start to produce the spike protein. If the person catches COVID, then the body’s immune system will react to produce antibodies and T-cells to fight the virus. It is not yet known how long the protection lasts. Many countries have implemented age-based restriction’s after the controversy of rare blood clots linked with the vaccine. According to the WHO, this vaccine benefits outweighs the risk of a rare blood clot.