Covid-19 Vaccine FAQs

• Does it work?
  • The Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine has been proven to be 95% efficacious amongst test subjects.**
  • The Moderna vaccine has been proven to be 94.1% efficacious amongst test subjects.**
• What does efficacy mean?
  • These numbers represent the percentage of patients in which the vaccine prevented their development of symptomatic Covid-19 infections. In essence, the vaccines are about 95% effective at preventing the spread of Covid-19 symptoms, however, they will not prevent the spread of the virus from person to person.
• Do I still need to wear my mask and socially distance after I get the vaccine?
  • As the answer to the previous question implies, the vaccine will prevent the development of the disease that results from the Covid-19 virus, however, it will not prevent the spread of virus from person to person. As a result, folks should still continue to wear masks and socially distance until enough of the population has been vaccinated to achieve herd immunity.
• If you received one dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, does your second dose need to be the same vaccine, or can the second dose be the Moderna vaccine (and vice-versa).
  • While it is highly recommended that you take both doses of the same vaccine, if for some reason a second dose of the vaccine you originally received isn’t available, it is safe (although slightly less efficacious) to take the other vaccine for your second dosage.
• Is it safe?
  • All existing research indicates that the vaccine is safe. Some mild side effects including injection site pain and fatigue have been reported. A small percentage of people have also experienced allergic reactions of varying degrees, so we recommend consulting with your doctor before receiving the vaccine if you are prone to allergic reactions.
• Who should get the vaccine?
  • The vaccine is recommended for everyone over the age of 16. Unless you have an allergy or pre-existing condition that prevents you from safely receiving the vaccine, you should take it as soon as it becomes available to you. In order to achieve herd immunity, 70-80% of the population must receive both doses of the vaccine (either Pfizer-Biontech or Moderna)
• Who should you talk to if you still have concerns about taking the vaccine?
  • If you still believe that the vaccine is not right for you or that it might cause you harm, we highly recommend that you consult with your doctor to determine the risks and benefits of being vaccinated.

**These statistics are based on patients who received 2 doses of the respective vaccines. Patients receiving just one dose had significantly lower efficacy, so it is highly recommended that you take your second dose as recommended (for Moderna, 28 days after the first dose; for Pfizer-Biontech, 21 days after the first dose).**

Additional Resources:

FDA Pfizer-BioNTech Fact Sheet: https://www.fda.gov/media/144414/download

FDA Moderna Fact Sheet: https://www.fda.gov/media/144638/download

CDC Vaccine Resources: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/vaccine-benefits/facts.html