Beyond COVID - 19
Making the decision to be vaccinated against COVID-19 can be stressful. Moderna's COVID-19 Vaccine and Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID-19 can be administered to people 18 years of age or older. Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine can be administered to people 16 years of age or older. CONSULTIDANP does not endorse or recommend one Vaccine over another.
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There are minimal differences between vaccines that offer immunity against COVID-19. None of the COVID-19 vaccines are approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration, Each is available to be administered under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the US Food and Drug Administration and recommended by the Centers of Disease Control (CDC).
Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines are given as two separate shots. Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccines are given at least 21 days apart. Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines are given at least 28 days apart. Pfizer nor Moderna have specified deadlines for receiving the first (primary) and second (booster) vaccines beyond 21 and 28 days. Pfizer and Moderna recommend the same products be used to give primary and booster vaccines to ensure maximum immunization.
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Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is a single, one time vaccination.
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Pfizer cites 94% immunity fourteen days after receiving both vaccinations, Moderna cites 95% immunity after receiving two vaccinations, and Janssen cites greater than 74.4% immunity 14 days after receiving their single dose vaccine.
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All three manufactures note the following as side effects within 1 to 14 days of being vaccinated:
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Pain, redness, and swelling at the site of injection
Fatigue (feeling really tired)
Headache
Muscle aches and pain
Fever
Chills
Nausea/Vomiting
Swelling and tenderness in lymphnodes or joints
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The CDC urges people vaccinated and unvaccinated to help reduce transmission of COVID-19 by continuing to social distance at lease two arms lengths apart, wash our hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use an 60% alcohol based Hand Sanitizer, wear a mask that covers the nose and mouths a protective barrier to filter microbes when out in public or in the presence of others.
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The term "coronavirus" is not new. Various types of diseases are caused by different strains of coronaviruses. Various types of Coronaviruses have been known to cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV) since November 2002 (niaid.NIH.gov, 2020). With any strain of Coronavirus (like influenzas), staying away from others when you have symptoms (i.e., runny nose, coughing or sneezing, scratchy throat, etc.) is important.
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Contact health care professional when cold or flu like symptoms begin. Testing to determine cause of symptoms is key to preventing full flare of disease. A face to face visit can be made using Telehealth from most smartphones, tablets, laptops or desk computers.
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Most important - do NOT allow FEAR to guide your decisions. Read about Coronaviruses. Be Safe and enjoy every moment of each day.
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-Dr. Pamela V Johnson AAPRN, FNP-BC
Reference:
National Institutes of Health, National Immunology And Infectious Disease, May 19 2020. Retrieved June 3,
2020 online at https://www.niaid.nih.gov
Fact sheet for recipients and caregiver: Emergency use authorization (EUA) of the Pfizer BioTech COVID-19
vaccine to prevent Coronavirus disease 2019 in individuals 16 years of age and older. Available at:
https://www.fda.gov/media/144414/download
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Fact sheet for recipients and caregivers: Emergency Use Authorization for Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to prevent
Coronavirus 2019 in individuals ages 18 years and older.
Available online at https://www.fda.gov/media/144638/download
COVID-19 Vaccine Authorized by U.S. FDA For Emergency Use - First Single-Shot Vaccine in Fight Against Global
Pandemic. https://www.jnj.com/johnson-johnson-covid-19-vaccine-authorized-by-u-s-fda-for-emergency-
usefirst-single-shot-vaccine-in-fight-against-global-pandemic
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