What’s the 411 on the Covid-19 Vaccine? FACTS you should know when considering the Covid-19 Vaccine

Covid-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that appeared in late 2019. You can get Covid-19 form contact with another person who has the virus. It is predominantly a respiratory illness that can affect other organs. People with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms may include fever or chills; cough; shortness of breath; fatigue; muscle or body aches; headache; new loss of taste or smell; sore throat; congestion or runny nose; nausea or vomiting; diarrhea.

Types of Vaccines

Currently, two vaccines have been authorized and recommended to prevent Covid-19: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

1. Pfizer-BioNTech consists of 2 shots, 21 days part given the muscle of the upper arm. It is recommended for people ages 16 and older.

2. Moderna consists of 2 shots, one month (28 days) apart given in the muscle of the upper arm. It is recommended for people ages 18 and older.

Effectiveness of the Covid-19 Vaccine

1. Pfizer-BioNTech: Based on evidence from clinical trials, this vaccine was 95% effective at preventing Covid-19 illness in people without evidence of previous infection.

2. Moderna: Based on evidence from clinical trials, this vaccine was 94.1% effective at preventing Covid-19 illness in people without evident of previous infection.

What are the risk and side effects of the vaccine

The most reported common side effects:

In the arm where you got the shot:

• Pain

• Swelling

• Redness

Throughout the rest of your body:

• Chills

• Tiredness

• Headache

• Body aches

There is a small chance the vaccine could cause a severe (very bad) allergic reaction. These side effects usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after getting the vaccine. These r

Severe Allergic Reaction

• Difficulty breathing

• Swelling of your throat and face

• Redness

• Rash

If you do find yourself having a severe reaction, call 911, or go to the nearest hospital.

*These may not be all the possible side effects. Serious and unexpected side effects may occur. The Covid-19 vaccine is still being studied in clinical trials.

What you should tell your healthcare provider before getting vaccinated

Please make sure to tell your healthcare provider or vaccinator about any of your medical conditions including if you have allergies, have a fever, have a bleeding disorder or are taking blood thinning medications, are immunocompromised or are on a medicine that affects your immune system, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, have received another Covid-19 vaccine.

The Bottom Line

Getting vaccinated is one of many steps you can take to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Protection from COVID-19 is critically important because for some people, it can cause severe illness or death. Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools available. Vaccines work with your immune system so your body will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. Other steps, like masks and social distancing, help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others. Together, COVID-19 vaccination and following CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19.

For more information on the Covid-19 vaccination plan and vaccination phase distribution please free to check the Illinois Department of Public Health at https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine-faq

Information Courtesy of:

Jacqueline Smart, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Illinois Department of Public Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention