JUDGE: Vaccinations - What we know so far
Here is what we know so far about the coming COVID-19 vaccination.
• The Pfizer vaccine received an emergency use authorization for people 16 and older from the FDA on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020.
• Texas was allocated 224,250 doses of vaccine which will be shipped to 110 providers (hospitals) across the state in Week 1 of distribution.
• The first 19,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine arrived in Texas Monday morning with another 75,075 on Tuesday.
• Moderna submitted an EUA application on Nov. 30. An FDA advisory committee will review Moderna’s data on Dec. 17.
• Pfizer and Moderna have announced trial results that suggest their vaccines are 94 percent or more effective.
• The vaccines are not interchangeable. Both Pfizer and Moderna are two dose vaccines, meaning one must receive a booster shot. If the first shot is Pfizer the second shot must be Pfizer and the same is true for Moderna and any other two dose vaccination.
• The FDA reviews EUA applications based on scientific evidence about their safety and effectiveness gathered through large clinical trials and determine whether each vaccine’s benefits outweigh its risks.
• Initial doses will be allocated for critical populations, including health care workers, other essential workers, and people more likely to develop severe disease, like older adults and those with underlying health conditions.
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women should discuss their options with their health care provider.
• The CDC recommends that the vaccine be offered to people regardless of whether they have a history of COVID-19 infection.
• Side effects include fatigue, headache, fever, chills, nausea, muscle pain and joint pain. These side effects show that the vaccine is working. Rarely, the vaccine could cause a severe allergic reaction.
• The vaccine is free for recipients. Providers can charge an administration fee that will be reimbursed by insurance.
• Recipients will get a vaccination card showing which vaccine and lot number they received and the date they need to return for their second dose.
• Milam County through its Health Department and Texas A&M Health Science will administer the vaccine to any Milam County resident as soon as we get the vaccine. We will do mobile vaccinations across the County similar to our current testing protocol.
• We ask that every Milam County resident get the vaccine, unless directed otherwise by their treating physician.