Posted January 12, 2021 by Charles A. Zonfa, MD, FACOG | Chief Medical Officer
After nearly a year of interruptions in every aspect of our lives — work, school, entertainment and more — families finally have some good news: a COVID-19 vaccine.
The first vaccine recently approved by the FDA was by drug giant Pfizer and shows a 95% effective rate for preventing a COVID-19 infection. Pfizer developed the vaccine in partnership with the German company BioNTech and Chinese drugmaker Fosun Pharma.
The second frontrunner approved by the FDA was by biotech company Moderna, in partnership with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. It shows a 94.1% effective rate.
To date, millions of COVID-19 vaccinations have been distributed across the country to initial critical populations, with estimates of 1.3 billion doses to be distributed in 2021. As cases surge across the country, this is good news for families hoping to get back to some form of normalcy in the New Year.
But before you line up to receive this highly anticipated lifeline, SummaCare answers your most pertinent questions regarding vaccine safety, effectiveness, side effects, coverage and more.
When will the COVID-19 vaccine be available to the general public?
Initial supplies of the COVID-19 vaccines are limited and slated for those with increased risk of exposure to the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working with state health departments to determine eligibility, prioritizing the limited supply for those who have personal health risks.
Are the COVID-19 vaccines a covered benefit?
Original Medicare is covering the cost of the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination administration with no co-pays or deductibles for all Medicare Advantage members through 2021. For non-Medicare members (i.e. Commercial, Individual and Self-Funded), your provider will supply you with the vaccine at no cost and SummaCare is covering the cost of the vaccination administration.
Where do I go to receive the COVID-19 vaccines?
More information will be forthcoming when the vaccines are available to the general public.
How are the COVID-19 vaccines administered?
Both FDA-approved Pfizer and Moderna vaccines requires two doses. You will be given a card at the time of your first dose that provides instructions as to when you must return for the second dose.
Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe and effective?
Please note the questions and answers below are specific to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, recently approved for use by the FDA. Additional information will be available as new vaccines are approved.
Pfizer Vaccine Q&A
Please note the questions and answers below are specific to the Pfizer vaccine, recently approved for use by the FDA.
How do I know the vaccine is safe?
The vaccines have been carefully studied in clinical trials and the findings have been evaluated by independent oversight groups who have found the results and safety to be valid. The safety data shows an acceptable safety profile and there are no serious safety issues that have been identified. In addition, safety will continue to be an ongoing priority and data continually assessed as more people are vaccinated.
Are there known side effects associated with the vaccines?
Persons who receive the vaccine will commonly experience mild to moderate side effects. The most common are injection-site soreness, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and joint aches. Transient low grade fever also was observed in 14 percent of people in the clinical trial. Most of these symptoms resolved after 24 to 48 hours. These reactions were generally more frequent after the second dose.
There is a remote chance that the Pfizer vaccine can cause a severe allergic reaction. A severe allergic reaction would usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after getting a dose of the vaccine. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include, but are not necessarily limited to:
What happens if I develop side effects from taking the vaccine?
If you experience a severe allergic reaction, call 9-1-1, or go to the nearest hospital.
If you develop mild to moderate side effects, with the exception of fever, you may take acetaminophen. If you have a fever (equal to or greater than 100o F) that lasts longer than 24 hours you should talk to your doctor.
The following symptoms are more likely to be associated with COVID-19 than a reaction to the vaccine:
Report vaccine side effects to FDA/CDC Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The VAERS toll-free number is 800.822.7967 or report online to vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html. Please include “Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine EUA” in the first line of box #18 of the report form.
You may also be given an option to enroll in v-safe. V-safe is a new voluntary smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to check in with people who have been vaccinated to identify potential side effects after COVID-19 vaccination.
Is it safe to take the vaccine if I’m pregnant?
There is no data at this time on the safety of the vaccine in pregnant women. There is an increased risk of severe illness in pregnant women and there might be an increased risk of premature birth. There is no contraindication specifically for pregnancy and women who are pregnant may choose to be vaccinated. It is recommended you talk to your doctor.
Is it safe to receive the vaccine if I previously tested positive for COVID-19?
Yes, vaccination should be offered to people regardless of history of prior symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19. Data from the study suggests vaccination is safe and likely efficacious in those people. However, the COVID-19 vaccine, like other vaccines, should be delayed with anyone with active acute febrile infection. This means patients who previously tested positive for COVID-19 may receive the vaccine once the acute phase of their illness has resolved and the patient has completed their isolation or quarantine period. The patient may wait to receive the vaccine up to 90 days from the onset of their infection with minimal risk.
Is it safe to receive this vaccine if I recently received a vaccine for something else?
There is no information on the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine with other vaccines. Given the lack of data on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine administered simultaneously with other vaccines, the vaccine series should be administered alone, with a minimum interval of 14 days before or after administration with any other vaccines.
When should I receive my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine?
You should receive your second dose 21 says after receiving the first dose.
Moderna Vaccine Q&A
Please note the questions and answers below are specific to the Moderna vaccine, recently approved for use by the FDA.
How do I know the vaccine is safe?
The vaccines have been carefully studied in clinical trials and the findings have been evaluated by independent oversight groups who have found the results and safety to be valid. The safety data shows an acceptable safety profile and there are no serious safety issues that have been identified. In addition, safety will continue to be an ongoing priority and data continually assessed as more people are vaccinated.
Are there known side effects associated with the vaccines?
Persons who receive the vaccine will commonly experience mild to moderate side effects. The most common are injection-site soreness, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and joint aches. Transient fever, mostly low grade, also was observed in some people in the clinical trial. This more commonly occurred after the second dose. Most of these symptoms resolved after 24 to 48 hours.
There is a remote chance that the Moderna vaccine can cause a severe allergic reaction. A severe allergic reaction would usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after getting a dose of the vaccine. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include, but are not necessarily limited to:
What happens if I develop side effects from taking the vaccine?
If you experience a severe allergic reaction, call 9-1-1, or go to the nearest hospital.
If you develop mild to moderate side effects, with the exception of fever, you may take acetaminophen. If you have a fever (equal to or greater than 100o F) that lasts longer you should talk to your doctor.
The following symptoms are more likely to be associated with COVID-19 than a reaction to the vaccine:
Report vaccine side effects to FDA/CDC Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The VAERS toll-free number is 800.822.7967 or report online to vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html. Please include “Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine EUA” in the first line of box #18 of the report form.
You may also be given an option to enroll in v-safe. V-safe is a new voluntary smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to check in with people who have been vaccinated to identify potential side effects after COVID-19 vaccination.
Is it safe to take the vaccine if I’m pregnant?
There is no data at this time on the safety of the vaccine in pregnant women. There is an increased risk of severe illness in pregnant women and there might be an increased risk of premature birth. There is no contraindication specifically for pregnancy and women who are pregnant may choose to be vaccinated. It is recommended you talk to your doctor.
Is it safe to receive the vaccine if I previously tested positive for COVID-19?
Yes, vaccination should be offered to people regardless of history of prior symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19. Data from the study suggests vaccination is safe and likely efficacious in those people. However, the COVID-19 vaccine, like other vaccines, should be delayed with anyone with active acute febrile infection. This means patients who previously tested positive for COVID-19 may receive the vaccine once the acute phase of their illness has resolved and the patient has completed their isolation or quarantine period. The patient may wait to receive the vaccine up to 90 days from the onset of their infection with minimal risk.
Is it safe to receive this vaccine if I recently received a vaccine for something else?
There is no information on the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine with other vaccines. Given the lack of data on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine administered simultaneously with other vaccines, the vaccine series should be administered alone, with a minimum interval of 14 days before or after administration with any other vaccines.
When should I receive my second dose of the Moderna vaccine?
You should receive your second dose 28 days after receiving the first dose.