Written by: Rebecca Webb, PharmD, Pharmacy Clinical Services Manager

COVID-19 vaccines are now available to eligible populations under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in the United States.  These vaccines are a critical component to ending the pandemic.  Therefore, it is important for everyone to be well-informed and up to date regarding these vaccines.  Below are frequently asked questions concerning currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines.  

 

Which COVID-19 vaccines are currently authorized in the U.S.?

Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are currently authorized for emergency use by the FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration).  Numerous other vaccines are under development and may be authorized in the future.  

 

How effective are the currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines?

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has reported to be 95% effective.  The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has reported a 94.1% effective rate.  

 

How do the currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines work?

Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are mRNA or messenger RNA vaccines.  These types of vaccines use a new technique to help build protection against contagious diseases.  They instruct the body to make a piece of a protein comparable to what is found on the surface of the coronavirus.  The body then creates an immune response to this protein.  This immune response is what protects against the virus.  

 

Can mRNA COVID vaccines alter my DNA?

No, mRNA COVID-19 vaccines do not alter your DNA (genetic material).  These vaccines do not cross into the part of the body that contains DNA.  The body also eliminates the mRNA once it uses it to create the protein for the immune response.  

 

How are currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines administered?

Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID vaccines are given in the muscle of the upper arm.  Two doses are required for each vaccine.  However, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is given 21 days apart whereas the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is given 28 days apart.  Both doses must be with the same vaccine.

 

Can COVID-19 vaccines cause coronavirus infection?

No, COVID-19 vaccines do not cause infection with the coronavirus.  Authorized vaccines do not contain the live virus that causes COVID-19.  However, it is possible to have side effects after a COVID-19 vaccination.  This is a normal sign that the body is building protection against the virus.  

 

What are potential side effects of currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines?

For the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, side effects can include fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, swollen lymph nodes, general discomfort, and injection site reactions (i.e., pain, swelling, and redness).  Similarly, for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, side effects can consist of fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, chills, nausea or vomiting, swelling or tenderness in the lymph nodes of the armpit area, fever, and injection site reactions (i.e., pain, swelling, and redness).  Most side effects reported with both vaccines were mild to moderate.

 

Are safety precautions, like face masks, still required after receiving COVID-19 vaccinations?

Safety precautions have not changed, regardless of vaccination.  Recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still include wearing face masks, practicing social distancing, and good hygiene (i.e., routine hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing).  

Information on COVID-19 vaccines is continually changing as new vaccines become authorized and as more information becomes available.  Talk with your local Food City Pharmacist to get the most up-to-date facts on COVID-19 vaccines. 

 

^References:

^{1.COVID-19 Vaccine: Helps protect you from getting COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html. Accessed January 26, 2021.}

^{2.Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers). ModernaTX, Inc.; December 2020.} 

^{3.Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers). New York, NY: Pfizer Inc.; Mainz, Germany: BioNTech Manufacturing GmbH; January 2021.}