Skepticism and confusion linger throughout North Shore communities as the state initiates vaccinations for individuals who fall under the first group of Phase 2.
The state opened several new vaccination sites on Feb. 1, including one at Fenway Park, to assist with the vaccinations of people ages 75 and older.
Danielle Reardon, a school nurse at Lynn’s Connery Elementary School who distributes vaccines at Fenway Park, said that “right now they are trying to vaccinate 500 people a day, but the goal is to amp it up to 1,000.” She believes the general public will have access to the vaccine in late spring.
Dr. Kristy Cahill, medical director at Lahey Health Hub in Lynnfield, has been studying COVID-19 and working with medical professionals to ensure the safety of her patients and community by encouraging them to wear masks, and practice good hand hygiene and social distancing.
“Although the vaccine is very effective, no vaccine is 100 percent effective,” said Cahill. “Additionally, we are studying whether or not those that have been vaccinated can still transmit the virus to others. Until we have the answer to this and are able to vaccinate many more people, the CDC recommendations around masking and social distancing are not going to be lifted.”
There are currently two vaccines available. The Moderna vaccine has a 94.1 percent effective rate after a two-dose series, one month apart, while the Pfizer vaccine is found to be 95 percent effective after a two-dose series, 21 days apart. In order to gain herd immunity, most of the population needs to be vaccinated, so medical professionals and the government are encouraging the public to get the vaccine.
These vaccines were developed in record time, in about seven months, while most vaccines often take 10-15 years. This rapid development triggered many conversations regarding the safety and reliability of the vaccines.
There have been few cases of negative reactions from the vaccine, including flu-like symptoms and allergic reactions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that it is normal to have certain reactions such as redness, swelling, or pain around the injection site, after a vaccination. Fatigue, fever, headache and aching limbs are also common in the first three days after a vaccination, but are usually mild.
“If someone is allergic to polyethylene glycol, a component of the vaccine also seen in products such as Miralax, they should not receive the vaccine,” Cahill advised. “Other than that, the risk of severe allergic reaction is very low, as it is with other vaccines.”
Concerns arise regarding risk factors when getting the vaccine. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend that pregnant and breastfeeding women receive the vaccine. Cahill advises her patients to have a discussion with their obstetrician to discuss exact timing.
If a person has already had coronavirus, it is believed that they carry antibodies, and are therefore naturally immune to the strain for up to 90 days.
Cahill noted that “it is clinically safe to receive a COVID vaccine once you have recovered from your infection and are no longer in your isolation period.” However, she did state that while a person does not have to wait the full 90 days to receive a vaccine, it should be considered if there is a vaccine supply shortage.
While the natural immunity from infection lasts 90 days, current data shows that immunity from the vaccines lasts a few years. This does not mean, however, that once someone is vaccinated they can go visit their grandparents, give hugs and take masks off. It is still unknown if it is safe to do so, even when both are vaccinated, until further tests have been done, Cahill said.
“If all people in a setting have received both doses of a COVID vaccine and at least 10 days have passed, it is less likely that anyone would become seriously ill,” said Cahill. “However, we are still not sure about transmission of the virus after vaccination. I would not recommend losing those masks just yet, even though you will be tempted to.”
According to the CDC website, “none of the COVID-19 vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19 so a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.”
The overall recommendation from medical professionals is to always wear a mask and practice social distancing when visiting anyone outside of your immediate household.
The CDC states that obtaining a COVID-19 vaccine will help keep a person from getting the virus, help build protection, and is a vital tool to help stop the pandemic.
