COVID-19 Vaccine Questions
The COVID-19 vaccine has raised many questions for those considering getting this injection. These are the answers to some of the most common questions that are raised in the primary care setting.
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How effective is the COVID-19 vaccine?
In the clinical trials, both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines lowered the chance of developing COVID-19 disease by around 95% as compared with placebo injections.
These vaccines prevented not only disease due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but — more importantly — severe disease. As stated by the New England Journal of Medicine, “Prevention of severe disease could convert Covid-19 from the global threat it is now into more of a nuisance, like the common cold.”
How long will the vaccines work? Will I need a booster?
Data from the phase 1 trial of the Moderna vaccine suggested that antibodies persisted for around 4 months with with titers declining slightly over time. Because these vaccines have only been tested since the summer of 2020, we do not yet know the full duration of protection they provide and there is currently no specific recommendation for boosters.
Will the vaccines work against new strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus?
Currently, there is limited data on the effectiveness of these vaccines will be against new strains of SARS-CoV-2. Both clinical trials preceded the identification of the major variants seen around the globe. Preliminary studies suggest that the vaccines might be more protective against some of the variants than others.
In one study, the Moderna vaccine’s level of neutralizing antibody titers was six times lower with the B.1.351 variant than earlier variants. Though the company says the titers should still be protective, they are developing a booster vaccine specifically to address this difference.
Do these vaccines prevent transmission of the virus to others?
One of the limitations of the vaccine clinical trials was a lack of information on the prevention of asymptomatic infections. This is a concern since up to 40% of people who get infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus have no symptoms but may still transmit the virus to others. While there is reason to be optimistic about the vaccines’ effect on disease transmission, until we know whether the vaccines protect against asymptomatic infection, we should continue to emphasize that vaccination does not allow us to stop other important measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 such as social distancing, masking, avoiding crowded indoor settings, and regular hand washing.
For your health,
Terry Rimmer, MD
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