For additional questions or concerns about COVID‐19 or the vaccine contact us at [email protected]. We will do our best to submit questions to medical and public health professionals and respond as soon as possible. City of Montgomery COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ
Is a COVID‐19 vaccine necessary? COVID-19 can be a minor illness in some people, but it may lead to severe disease or even death in previously healthy people. Many treatments and medications are being studied, but there is not currently any cure. Prevention is key. Vaccination is an important step in helping to prevent this illness and its potentially devastating consequences, especially in our Montgomery community.
Is taking the COVID‐19 vaccine mandatory? The vaccine is not mandatory; however, it can help prevent disease and reduce disease severity, especially anyone who is in a higher risk group, or who lives, works, or socializes with anyone who is at higher risk. Getting vaccinated will improve the health and well-being of our communities and get the economy moving again.
Which COVID‐19 vaccines are expected to be available first in the US and when? The vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech are now available in the US under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). EUAs are only given out in emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Under an EUA, the FDA provides scientific and regulatory requirements to vaccine developers and undertakes a rigorous evaluation of the scientific information through all phases of clinical trials, which continues after authorization or approval. Clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines must first show they are safe and effective before any vaccine can be issued an EUA.
How do the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines work? The vaccines contain a technology called messenger RNA (mRNA), which is genetic information used to make the COVID-19 spike protein, which is the part of the virus that attaches to human cells. The spike protein in the vaccine cannot cause COVID-19; rather, a form the spike protein is created in the vaccine. It encourages the immune system to make antibodies against the virus. The messenger rNA that gives instructions to make the spike protein disappears once your body has developed antibodies to provide some protection from COVID 19 disease.
Why were the vaccines developed so fast? I’m concerned that these vaccines did not undergo enough testing as other vaccines. The speed of Covid-19 vaccine development is not a result of compromised safety or quality. The vaccine process is happening faster because research and development, clinical trials, manufacturing, and plans for distribution are occurring at the same time, with unprecedented levels of government spending. Also, the COVID-19 vaccine technology (mRNA) had been in development for over a decade, and when the pandemic hit, scientists were able to build on this research to develop the vaccine.
How effective are the vaccines? Will they really reduce the risk of COVID‐19 infection and complications? In Phase 3 trials, the Pfizer vaccine showed a 95% efficacy rate 7 days after the second dose. The Moderna vaccine showed a 94% efficacy rate 14 days after the second dose. The results in both studies were consistent across gender, age, race and ethnicity.
continued > Will getting the flu vaccine protect me against COVID‐19? No. Influenza viruses and coronaviruses are different and the COVID-19 vaccine does not take the place of the pneumonia vaccine or the flu vaccine. Getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19; however, the influenza vaccine can reduce the risk of getting sick with flu, needing hospitalization, and can help to conserve potentially scarce healthcare resources during the pandemic.
Is the vaccine being targeted to Montgomery communities of color? The vaccines are not being targeted at people of color, though communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, due to a range of factors. Health care workers and residents of long term care facilities will have access to the COVID-19 vaccine first (per the CDC recommendations). After those two groups, the vaccine is likely to go to frontline essential workers and people 75 years and older, police and firefighters, followed by people with high-risk medical conditions, people aged 65-74 years and other categories of essential workers. States have the final say over which groups are first in line for any vaccine, but they will most likely to follow this recommendation.
Did people of all backgrounds participate in the clinical trials? Were the vaccines effective for people of all races and ethnicities? In the Moderna vaccine trial, 20% of participants identified as Latino, 10% identified as Black and 4% Asian. In the Pfizer trial, 13% of participants identified as Latino, 10% identified as Black and 5.5% Asian. Final trial results from both Moderna and Pfizer revealed that their COVID-19 vaccines are equally effective at preventing COVID-19 infection across all racial and ethnic groups.
Will my Montgomery community get a different vaccine than other communities? Will we get a lower quality vaccine here in Montgomery? The Alabama Department of Public Health is responsible for distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines, and will be working closely with the City of Montgomery and local leaders to ensure equitable, transparent allocation and distribution. The Pfizer vaccine must be kept in ultra-cold freezer (about - 70 degrees centigrade ) whereas the Moderna vaccine must only be kept cold in a regular vaccine freezer (about -20 degrees centigrade) before being thawed out and used. For logistical reasons, the Moderna vaccine may be more readily available in rural regions. However, the two vaccines are similar in their functionality and their efficacy.
Can I “mix” doses of two kinds of COVID‐19 vaccines? The COVID-19 vaccines are not interchangeable . If two doses of different mRNA COVID-19 vaccine products are inadvertently administered, no additional doses of either product are recommended at this time. Recommendations may be updated as further information becomes available or other vaccine types (e.g., viral vector, protein subunit vaccines) are authorized.
How effective is the vaccine after just one dose? The Pfizer vaccine includes two shots, 21 days apart, while the Moderna vaccine includes two shots, 28 days apart. Pfizer’s vaccine efficacy after a single dose was 52.4% in trials; Moderna’s was 80.2%. However, both doses are currently recommended to get the maximum protection, since there have been no clinical trials assessing these mRNA vaccines as single dose regimes.
This information is based on currently available scientific evidence, reports, emergency use authorization details and expert opinion, and is subject to change. This document will be updated as necessary evidence and information about the COVID‐19 vaccine in Montgomery becomes available. This document has been reviewed by the Alabama Department of Public Health. Prepared by Partners In Health; Updated February 1, 2020