The COVID-19 pandemic has had widespread effects on our community. In Greene County, as of March 22, there have been over 28,000 cases reported and 422 deaths. Until recently, the only tools we had to fight this pandemic were hand washing, wearing masks and physical distancing. There are now three COVID-19 vaccines available. With the vaccines, we have a powerful tool to add which can help end the pandemic. Our goal is for at least 70% of our community to be vaccinated to reach a level of herd immunity. Once cases have stabilized at low levels, we will be able to get back to the activities that we enjoyed prior to the pandemic.     

All three vaccines are highly effective at preventing moderate to severe / critical illness and death from COVID-19. Vaccination is a safer way to develop immunity than natural infection. Some people have severe illness with COVID-19, or can have symptoms that last for months. Current data indicate that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the potential risks. We encourage people to make an informed choice in getting the vaccine. Getting the vaccine will protect yourself, your loved ones and the community. 

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions: 

How do the vaccines work? 

The body’s immune system is designed to recognize germs (like bacteria or viruses) that can cause disease.  Vaccines teach your body how to develop immunity without having to be infected with the virus.  The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is an adenovirus vector vaccine containing DNA. The mRNA or DNA in these vaccines gives instructions on how to make the spike protein, which is on the outer surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The immune system makes antibodies against the spike protein. If a person is exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, they will have the antibodies ready to attack and destroy the virus.  

Are the vaccines safe? 

Ensuring vaccines are safe is a critical process that begins during vaccine development and clinical trials and continues after vaccines are authorized or approved for use. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Emergency Use Authorization for the three COVID-19 vaccines. They have been shown to be safe and effective as determined by data from the manufacturers and findings from large clinical trials. The trials included tens of thousands of people, across multiple racial and ethnic groups, ages, and people with various medical comorbidities. There have been over 80 million people in the U.S. vaccinated so far, and there have been very low rates of serious adverse effects. There continues to be ongoing surveillance of adverse events with multiple vaccine safety monitoring systems in place.  

The safety and efficacy data were reviewed by an independent expert committee called the  Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Pfizer’s clinical trial enrolled over 44,000 participants with 42% globally having racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds. Of Moderna’s 30,000 trial participants, 37% were from minority communities, including 6,000 Hispanic and 3,000 Black participants. Janssen’s trial included 43,783 participants in the United States, Latin America and South Africa.   

How were these vaccines approved so quickly? 

Although the timeline has been accelerated, the efforts have not sacrificed scientific standards, integrity of the vaccine review process, or safety. Scientists were able to build upon existing knowledge and research on other vaccines.  mRNA technology has been studied for decades. It has been studied with other diseases, such as SARS, rabies, influenza and Zika. Another way scientists saved time was by working on efforts simultaneously, rather than one after another like the traditional process. For example, COVID-19 vaccines were in Phase III clinical trials at the same time they were being manufactured.   

Who is eligible to get the vaccine? 

The Pfizer vaccine is approved for people 16 years of age and older. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are approved for people 18 years of age and older. People with a severe allergic reaction to one of the COVID-19 vaccines should not receive additional doses. People who have had immediate allergic reactions to any of the vaccine ingredients should be evaluated by an allergist to determine if they can safely receive the vaccine. If a person had monoclonal antibody therapy or convalescent plasma as part of treatment for COVID-19, they should wait 90 days before getting the vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccines should be given 14 days apart from other vaccines.  Studies are being done on whether children can receive the vaccines. 

What is the difference between the vaccines? 

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines contain mRNA, and require two doses. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses an adenovirus vector which contains DNA, and is given in a single dose. mRNA is unstable at room temperature, and requires ultracold storage. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines showed 95% efficacy in the clinical trials.  The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was 72% effective against moderate to severe/critical COVID-19 in the United States, and 85% effective against severe COVID globally. All three vaccines are considered to be highly effective.  There have been no head-to-head comparison trial of the vaccines. The results cannot be directly compared, because the trials were done in different countries and at different times during the pandemic, when disease rates and circulating variants were different. In the current situation of having limited supply, people should be vaccinated with the earliest vaccine that becomes available to them. 

Can pregnant or lactating people get the vaccine? 

Yes. Pregnant people with COVID-19 have an increased risk of severe illness, including hospitalization, mechanical ventilation or death. They may also be at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth. The vaccines do not contain live virus, so they are not believed to pose a risk to the pregnant person or the fetus. Pregnant people should engage in shared decision-making with their healthcare provider regarding receiving the vaccine, taking into account the  individual’s risk for infection and severe disease.   

Pregnant people were not specifically included in the clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccines. In the post-authorization safety monitoring, there have not been any indication of safety problems specifically in pregnant people, aside from the side effects reported in all vaccine recipients. Pregnant people are able to enroll in safety registries to report any adverse events. 

There is currently no evidence that antibodies formed from COVID-19 vaccination cause any problems with pregnancy, including the development of the placenta. In addition, there is no evidence suggesting that fertility problems are a side effect of ANY vaccine. People who are trying to become pregnant now or who plan to try in the future may receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them.  

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine recommend that COVID-19 vaccines should not be withheld from pregnant individuals who meet criteria for vaccination.   

Can a person get COVID-19 from the vaccine? 

No. The vaccines do not contain live virus, and they cannot cause infection. There are still a small number of people who could become infected with COVID-19, because none of the vaccines are 100% effective. It also takes a while for the body to fully develop an immune response, so it is possible to get infected before a person is fully immunized. 

If a person has already had COVID-19, should they still get the vaccine? 

Yes, as long as they have recovered from the illness and they are out of their isolation period. It is not known how long immunity after natural infection from COVID-19 lasts. It is also possible to be infected again, and the vaccines help protect against this. 

How many doses are needed? 

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single dose. If you received the Pfizer vaccine, you should get your second shot 21 days after your first. If you received the Moderna vaccine, you should get your second shot 28 days after your first. You should get your second shot as close to the recommended interval as possible. However, the second dose may be given up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose, if necessary. It takes time for your body to build protection after being vaccinated.  A person is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the second dose in a 2-dose series, or 14 days after receiving one dose of a single-dose vaccine. 

What can people expect after getting the vaccine? 

There may be side effects after getting the COVID-19 vaccination, but they should go away within a few days. Possible side effects include a sore arm, headache, fever, or body aches. Side effects are signs that the vaccine is working to build immunity. Call your healthcare provider if they don’t go away in a week or you have more serious symptoms. The side effects are generally more mild and briefer than what you would have with the actual COVID-19 infection. There are ongoing studies of the long-term effects of the COVID-19 vaccines. In general, it is uncommon for there to be side effects from vaccines that last more than two weeks. 

Will the vaccines protect against the variants? 

The new virus variants have the potential to be more transmissible and lead to increased cases, hospitalizations and deaths. As more and more people are vaccinated, this will slow down the spread of the variants. So far, studies suggest that the currently authorized vaccines are effective against these variants. This is being closely investigated and more studies are underway. The vaccine manufacturers are studying different vaccines and possible booster dose.  If needed, they will be able to make modifications in the vaccines.   

After a person has been fully vaccinated, can they stop using other preventive measures? 

At this time, it is still recommended for everyone to continue using all the tools available to us, like covering your mouth and nose with a mask, washing hands often, and staying at least 6 feet away from others. It will take some time to vaccinate a large percentage of the population, so it’s important to keep taking steps to protect people who haven’t gotten the vaccine yet. It may still be possible for a vaccinated person to have an asymptomatic infection, and they could potentially spread this to other people. Experts are still learning more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide under real-life conditions. 

Is there a cost to getting the vaccine? 

No person can be billed for the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination providers may charge an administration fee to insurance, Medicaid or Medicare, if applicable in your situation. Uninsured Missourians will be able to receive the vaccination regardless of their health insurance status. 

Where can I find more information? 

• Springfield-Greene County Health Department: health.springfieldmo.gov, call center 417-874-1211 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.), email: coronavirus@springfieldmo.gov 
• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: cdc.gov/coronavirus 
• Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: covidvaccine.mo.gov. 

How do I sign up to receive the vaccine?

Visit health.springfieldmo.gov/vaccine for a list of links to sign up with vaccine providers.