by Dr. Cynthia Morrow, MD, MPH
The question is no longer IF, but WHEN a COVID-19 vaccine will become available. With two COVID-19 vaccines becoming available before the end of the year, I want to share the role vaccinations can play in keeping our community safe and how we are preparing for distribution at the local level.
Vaccines play a key role in protecting the public’s health. Vaccines greatly reduce the risk of infection by working with the body’s natural defenses to safely develop immunity to viruses or bacteria. A vaccine imitates an infection in the body, prompting the body to develop immunity by activating the immune system. It can take a couple of weeks for the body to develop full protection from the vaccine. The key advantage is that vaccines provide immunity without the risks of severe illness or even death that can come with natural infections.
There is not yet an authorized or approved vaccine to prevent COVID-19 however the federal government has been working with pharmaceutical companies since the pandemic started to develop a safe, effective vaccine as quickly as possible. “We are committed to expediting the development of COVID-19 vaccines, but not at the expense of sound science and decision making. We will not jeopardize the public’s trust in our science-based, independent review of these or any vaccines. There’s too much at stake,” said Stephen M. Hahn, M.D., Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
While the development of a vaccine can often take years, scientists did not have to start from scratch with the COVID-19 vaccine – they were able to build on prior research on other coronaviruses (e.g., SARS and MERS). With the safety of COVID-19 vaccines being top priority, clinical trials with tens of thousands of participants are conducted to meet standards set by the FDA. Even after a vaccine is authorized for use, there are many systems in place for the ongoing monitoring of vaccine safety.
The goal is for the wider public to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. However, the initial supplies of vaccine will be limited as production ramps up. Vaccines will first be given to prioritized populations, including healthcare personnel and residents of long-term care facilities, essential workers next, then adults with high risk medical conditions and adults 65 and older. As vaccine supply increases over time all adults will be encouraged to get vaccinated.
Here are several key points from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
• Getting a vaccine will help keep you from getting COVID-19.
• COVID-19 vaccination is a much safer way to build protection than actually getting sick from COVID-19.
• COVID-19 vaccination will be an important tool to help stop the pandemic.
Staff at the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts have been working for several months to prepare for the vaccine. Our clinical, epidemiology, and emergency preparedness teams have been ordering supplies, establishing plans for vaccination events with our local emergency managers, preparing education and communication materials, identifying populations most vulnerable to COVID-19, and collaborating and coordinating efforts with healthcare and community organizations.
This has been a very long year- we are all tired of this pandemic. With the vaccine on the horizon, there is light at the end of this long and dark tunnel. Even as we prepare for to distribute the vaccine, it is critically important that all of us take personal responsibility to do what we can to protect ourselves against this pandemic. Wearing a face covering, keeping our distance, and washing our hands continue to be the best strategies to stay safe and healthy. As the pandemic continues to devastate families in our community it is more important than ever that we take care of ourselves and our loved ones by hunkering down and avoiding any unnecessary exposure. Together we can eradicate this nasty virus so that we can all get back to our “new normal” as soon as possible.
