By Beatrix Lockwood
NEW YORK (Reuters) – An unprecedented COVID-19 vaccination campaign is underway with tens of millions now being vaccinated in the US and around the world. Dozens of candidates for vaccination are still in the pipeline, bringing hope to an end to a global pandemic.
As part of our #AskReuters Twitter chat series, Reuters invited a group of healthcare experts to discuss what you need to know before you get the chance.
Below are the edited highlights.
How do the different vaccines reduce the risk of COVID-19 and its complications? How long will they provide immunity?
COVID-19 vaccines reduce complications by causing the immune system to generate antibodies and T cells that prevent the virus from being damaged. The duration of immunity is not known, but I suspect longer than one year. ”
– Amesh Adalja, Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Safety
Are COVID-19 vaccines safe and effective for people with serious diseases, such as cancer?
‘Anyone with questions about whether the vaccine is suitable for them should talk to their healthcare provider. In general, the vaccines have been shown to be very safe, and we know that COVID is not, especially not for high-risk people. ”
– Heather Pierce, JD, MPH, senior director and regulator at the Association of American Medical Colleges
What are the expected side effects of a COVID-19 vaccination?
“Side effects include injection site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, chills, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes in the injection arm, nausea and vomiting and fever. When I received the first dose of Moderna vaccine, I felt like I had been hit in the shoulder for about 24 hours. ”
– Dr. Joseph Petrosino, Director of Molecular Virology and Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine
Will emerging coronavirus variants, such as those first seen in the UK and South Africa, affect the vaccine’s effectiveness?
“While current vaccines protect against new variants, one consequence is that the faster spread of these variants requires faster vaccination to limit the extent of subsequent infection waves in the spring and summer of 2021.”
– Josh Schiffer, Professor at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
When do you estimate that the United States will achieve herd immunity? What about worldwide?
‘There are major problems for global herd immunity – even if the US achieves wide coverage due to the rich ends stored by rich countries, many of the world will not do so. Seventy countries will only be able to vaccinate one in 10 people this year. Without change, it means an ongoing pandemic. ”
– Matthew Kavanagh, Assistant Professor of Global Health and Visiting Professor of Law at Georgetown University; Director of Global Health Policy and Initiative at O’Neill Institute
Can you discuss the importance of access to vaccines, especially in low-income countries?
“Access to COVID-19 for everyone around the world is critical. It is our moral and ethical responsibility to make sure that happens. As many have said throughout the pandemic, we are not safe until the whole world is safe. ”
– Dr Krutika Kuppalli, researcher of infectious diseases
What do we know about the effects of the vaccine on pregnancy and reproductive health?
‘Several agencies recommend that vaccines should not be withheld from pregnant or lactating individuals who otherwise meet the vaccination requirements. Talk to your provider if you have any questions or problems. As a breastfeeding mother, I was vaccinated. ”
– Dr Syra Madad, Senior Director, Special Pathogens at New York City Health & Hospitals
What gives you hope now?
“I was actually crying when I saw the Pfizer vaccine data. It has been a difficult year for all of us, but knowing that this disease is preventable and will be prevented has taken my weight off my shoulders. ‘
– Joshua Wolf, doctor of the infectious diseases at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
(Edited by Lauren Young and Alistair Bell)