Argus Explains: How Do the Covid-19 Vaccines Work and When Can I Get It?

The Moderna Covid-19 vaccine being administered at Kings County Hospital to essential worker Garrey Primus. Photo: Isaac Cervante

By JADA PRIMUS, TIFFANI CLARK, and VICTOR DELGADO

After one year of quarantining, mask-wearing, and social distancing, the one question now on nearly everyone's mind is, "When can I get a vaccine?" For the average healthy American, the answer is: by May…probably.

As of March 30, 29% of Americans have already received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine — nearly 100 million people.

There has been great debate over who should get the vaccine first. According to the CDC, vaccine distribution should be separated into phases. Cities and states are encouraged to follow these guidelines, but they are optional. The CDC says that healthcare workers and those in nursing homes should go first, followed by those 65 and older and other essential workers like teachers, firefighters, police officers, corrections officers, food and agricultural workers, public transit workers, and daycare workers. This is because healthcare workers are in highest contact with the virus and the elderly are more susceptible to serious illness from Covid.

The consensus among medical experts is that the average American will not receive the vaccine until late spring to early summer.

Thus far, no vaccine has been approved for use on children younger than 16, though early trials of the Moderna vaccine have looked good for the 12-16 age range.

Getting the vaccine might be a bit tricky since many people are trying to make appointments. But here’s what you can do:

1. Determine eligibility and schedule an appointment. The “Am I Eligible?” app is the quickest way to see if you're eligible and make an appointment. You can also call the New York State Covid-19 Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829).

Once you have an appointment, you will receive a confirmation email that contains a barcode. You will need to bring this to your appointment.

2. Complete the Vaccine Form. If you can’t submit the form online, it will be available at the vaccination sites.

3. Bring proof of eligibility to your appointment, like an employee ID card, pay stub, or legal proof of your date of birth.

So far, there are three different vaccines available in America: Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson-Johnson. These three vaccines are relatively similar in effectiveness.

Despite what feels like a long wait, the Covid-19 vaccines were developed and approved a lot faster than vaccines usually are. Under normal circumstances, vaccine development and authorization can take 6-20 years. But under the stressful circumstances of the pandemic, the whole process of vaccine development was sped up, from development and studies to clinical trials and FDA regulatory review.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are similar in that they are both created with mRNA, a revolutionary method that sends genetic codes to our cells. Usually, vaccines put weakened versions of germs into the body to trigger a natural immune response as if you got the virus. Instead, the mRNA genetic codes themselves start an immune response in our body, which means that antibodies that would protect and fight against the virus are produced without ever needing to catch Covid-19.

Additionally, mRNA vaccines can be developed faster than more common vaccine methods.

The Pfizer vaccine is shown to be 95% effective after two doses. The second dose is given 21 days after the first. Common side effects after the second dose are fatigue, chills, muscle pain, headache, and injection site pain. This type of vaccine has to be kept at extremely low temperatures, down to -94 degrees Fahrenheit during shipping, and refrigerated at 36-46 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 5 days.

The Moderna vaccine is very similar. It has been reported 94.1% effective after two doses. The booster shot (second dose) is given 28 days after the first dose. The Moderna vaccine shares similar side effects as the Pfizer vaccine. Moderna vaccines need to be shipped at -4 degrees Fahrenheit and can stay refrigerated for 30 days.

The last vaccine is the Johnson-Johnson vaccine. Using something known as a viral vector vaccine that includes an adenovirus — a common virus type like the ones that cause the common cold or flu. The adenovirus in the J&J vaccine sends instructions to our cells that teach them how to create the spike protein that Covid-19 carries so our bodies can create antibodies to fight off the virus.

The J&J vaccine is on average 66% effective against Covid-19 14 days after the shot. The big difference is that this vaccine is only a single-dose, and the side effects don’t seem to be as strong. When it comes to storage requirements, since J&J does not include mRNA technology, keeping it at low temperatures is unnecessary, meaning it could be given at any medical location and refrigerated for at least three months.

If you have been listening to the news lately, you most likely have heard the phrase “herd immunity.” Herd immunity is a scientific term that refers to when a large portion of a population is immune to a disease — either by getting it and naturally developing antibodies, or by getting vaccinated — to the point where the infection rate drastically drops, and the virus begins to fade away. At this point, herd immunity is the objective. Though it is unknown what percentage of the population needs to be vaccinated to achieve this immunity, health care experts estimate it to be around 70%.

Though this may seem like a distant goal, we might not be that far away. Thousands of vaccines are being administered every day, and millions of people already have the antibodies.

While waiting to get vaccinated, there are things you can do in the meantime to help in the fight against Covid, namely social distancing, wearing your mask, and having good personal hygiene.

Above all, it is essential to stay informed. Knowing the facts about the vaccine is one of the most crucial steps in staying safe and healthy.

As reports of Covid-19 cases continue to fall across the world, the one certainty is that people need to get vaccinated as quickly as possible so that they will not start rising again.