Harney County Health Department and Harney District Hospital have received numerous questions about COVID-19 vaccines. In an effort to help keep the public informed, the health department is providing answers to five of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs). Please note that these responses are specific to the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. If you have questions regarding the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, please contact the health department at 541-573-2271.

How do COVID-19 vaccines work?

• On a basic level, the vaccines cause your body to create antibodies that can fight off the virus that causes COVID-19 if you become infected. For those who are interested in the science, the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine, which means that neither a live or dead virus is injected into you. Instead, an mRNA strain is injected into you, and it makes its way into your cells. Once inside, the cells read the mRNA sequence and begin building spike proteins, which are very similar to the spike of the coronavirus. The harmless spike proteins are released, and your body spots the intruder (the protein). This will stimulate your immune system to form antibodies to the COVID spike protein without you getting sick. When your body is exposed to the actual virus, your body will know what to do and create antibodies to attack the virus and destroy it before you get sick. The technology used to make these vaccines is NOT new to science. The same technology is used for immunotherapy for cancers and has been safely used in medicine for a long time. Use of this existing technology enabled quick development of the vaccines. 

Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccines?

• No, this is a myth. It is impossible to get COVID-19 from the vaccines because the mRNA used in the vaccines cannot create the virus. Therefore, there is no chance of you being infected from the vaccines. It should also be noted that the mRNA cannot gain access to the nucleus of your cells, so there is no risk of it affecting your DNA.

How were the vaccines created so quickly?

• Usually, it takes several years to develop a vaccine, confirm its safety, and manufacture it in sufficient quantities. However, the COVID-19 vaccine timeline was shortened substantially. This was accomplished due to multiple factors. First, some of the clinical trials combined phases 1 and 2 to assess the safety and efficiency of the vaccines. Additionally, due to the large number of COVID-19 cases throughout the United States, the efficiency of the vaccines and safety issues can be assessed quicker in both the vaccine and placebo groups, than during the absence of a pandemic. Lastly, the U.S. government invested heavily in the manufacturing capacity, allowing millions of doses to be create quickly once the vaccines entered the phase 3 trials. Usually, this does not occur until after a vaccine has been approved, delaying distribution. However, due to the severity of the virus, the federal government accelerated development so that, once approved, the vaccines could be distributed quickly.

Also, the vaccines were moved to the top of the priority list at the FDA. Many drugs will sit waiting for FDA review for a few years. During this waiting period, nothing is being done with the medication or vaccine. It is just waiting. However, the COVID-19 vaccine’s FDA review was accelerated due to the pandemic. 

Are there short- or long-term side effects?

• The most recent studies completed by Pfizer and Moderna both lasted multiple months. Experts generally agree that side effects of a vaccine are usually apparent within a two-month time frame. Therefore, we know most of the side effects of these two vaccines. Studies are ongoing, and we will continue to learn new information about the vaccines. 

According to the CDC, short-term side effects of the vaccines may include pain or swelling around the injection site and potential for fever, chills, tiredness, and headaches. These side effects are common with vaccines and correspond to your body responding to the vaccine in a proper way. Most of these side effects will subside within a few days. If they persist, see your primary care provider.

The vaccine is gone from your body in a few days, so the vast majority of the population will not experience any long-term side effects. As with all vaccines, there is a very small risk for long-term effects, but that is usually limited to a number as small as 1 in 10 million. You are far more likely to have long-term, life-altering effects from COVID-19 than from a vaccine.

Do I need to wear a mask after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine or quarantine if I am a close contact?

• At the moment, the CDC and Oregon Health Authority have not revised their recommendations for mask wearing or social distancing. However, people who are two weeks post their second vaccination do not need to quarantine or be tested if they come into close contact with a confirmed positive. However, this changes if the vaccinated individual starts exhibiting symptoms.

Answers to additional FAQs can be found on the health department’s website: https://www.co.harney.or.us/index.php/covid-19-information/covid-19-vaccine-faq-s

If you have additional questions, please call the health department at 541-573-2271 or contact your healthcare provider.