Introduction

Throughout history, vaccines, generally, have saved hundreds of millions of lives.

Through widespread vaccination, infectious diseases cases, such as smallpox, polio, have been eradicated. While diseases like Tuberculosis, Measles have been drastically reduced and in some advanced countries, eliminated.

COVID-19 has been one of the most devastating health emergencies in modern history. More than 2 million people have died due to COVID-19 around the world. As at today, we have more than 130,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria with over 1,500 deaths.

COVID-19 can have serious, life-threatening complications, and there is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you. And if you get sick, you could spread the disease to friends, family, and others around you.

Getting COVID-19 may offer some natural protection, known as immunity. However, experts don’t know for sure how long this protection lasts. COVID-19 vaccination will give protection by creating an antibody (immune system) response without having to experience sickness.

What are the benefits of getting a COVID-19 Vaccine?

A COVID-19 vaccine might:

• Prevent you from getting COVID-19 or from becoming seriously ill or dying due to COVID-19
• Prevent you from spreading the COVID-19 virus to others
• Add to the number of people in the community who are protected from getting COVID-19 — making it harder for the disease to spread and contributing to herd immunity
• Prevent the COVID-19 virus from spreading and replicating, which allows it to mutate and possibly become more resistant to vaccines.

What COVID-19 vaccines have been approved and how do they work?

• Several COVID-19 vaccines are in clinical trials. Currently, the two initial vaccines used are Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.
• Both COVID-19 vaccines use messenger RNA (mRNA).
• Coronaviruses have a spike-like structure on their surface called an S protein. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines give cells instructions for how to make a harmless copy/piece of an S protein.
• After vaccination, your cells begin making the protein pieces and displaying them on cell surfaces.
• Your immune system will recognize that the protein doesn't belong there and begin building an immune response and making antibodies.
• Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is for people age 16 and older. It requires two injections given 21 days apart. The second dose can be given up to six weeks after the first dose, if needed.
• This vaccine has an efficacy rate of 95%.
• Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is for people age 18 and older. It requires two injections given 28 days apart. The second dose can be given up to six weeks after the first dose, if needed.
• This vaccine has an efficacy rate of 94.1%.

Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccine?

• You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccines created by Pfizer and Moderna do not have any virus or other infectious material in them.
• They are designed to cause your body to make copies of a harmless piece of the coronavirus, so you will not get COVID-19 from the vaccine.

Can I stop taking safety precautions after getting a COVID-19 vaccine?

• COVID-19 vaccination does not produce immediate immunity. Immunity is built over a period of time, during which there is still exposure to the virus.
• Therefore, it's possible that you could become infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or after being vaccinated.
• So, everyone still needs to practice infection prevention precautions, wear mask, physical distancing and handwashing, for the foreseeable future.

Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine even if I've already had COVID-19?

• People who have gotten sick with COVID-19 may still benefit from getting vaccinated.
• Getting COVID-19 might offer some natural protection or immunity from reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19. But it's not clear how long this protection lasts.
• Because reinfection is possible and COVID-19 can cause severe medical complications, it's recommended that people who have already had COVID-19 get a COVID-19 vaccine.
• If you’ve had COVID-19, you might delay vaccination until 90 days after your diagnosis.
• Reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19 is uncommon in the 90 days after you are first infected.

Do the COVID-19 vaccines protect against the COVID-19 variants?

• Early research suggests that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines can provide protection against the COVID-19 variants identified in the U.K. and South Africa.
• Vaccine manufacturers are also looking into creating booster shots to improve protection against variants.

Can I get a COVID-19 vaccine if I have an underlying medical condition?

• Yes, if you have an underlying medical condition you can get a COVID-19 vaccine — as long as you haven't had an allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine or any of its ingredients.
• But there is limited information about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines in people who have weakened immune systems or autoimmune conditions.
• If you have a chronic medical condition and may have a higher risk of serious illness, check with your doctor about other ways to protect yourself.

Can I get a COVID-19 vaccine if I have a history of allergic reactions?

• If you have a history of severe allergic reactions not related to vaccines or injectable medications, you may still get a COVID-19 vaccine. You should be monitored for 30 minutes after getting the vaccine.
• If you've had an immediate allergic reaction to other vaccines or injectable medications, ask your doctor if you should get a COVID-19 vaccine.
• If you’ve ever had an immediate or severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in a COVID-19 vaccine, it is recommended not getting that specific vaccine.
• Also, people who are allergic to polysorbate should not get an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
• If you have an immediate or severe allergic reaction after getting the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, don't get the second dose.

Can pregnant or breastfeeding women get the COVID-19 vaccine?

• There is no research on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• However, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and part of a group recommended to get a COVID-19 vaccine, you may choose to get the vaccine.
• Talk to your health care provider about the risks and benefits.

Is there anyone who should not get a COVID-19 vaccine?

• There is no COVID-19 vaccine yet for children under age 16.
• Several companies have begun enrolling children as young as age 12 in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials.
• Studies including younger children will begin soon.

Are you worried about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines?

• Studies found that the two initial vaccines (from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) are both about 95% effective — and reported no serious or life-threatening side effects.
• There have been stories on whether the COVID-19 Vaccine contains a microchip. According to experts, the vaccine doesn’t contain any chip and is safe for administration.

What are the possible side effects of a COVID-19 vaccine?

• A COVID-19 vaccine can cause mild side effects after the first or second dose, including:
• Pain, Redness or swelling where the shot was given, Fever, Fatigue, Headache, Muscle pain, Chills, Joint pain, Nausea and vomiting, Feeling unwell, Swollen lymph nodes.
• You'll likely be monitored for 15 minutes after getting a COVID-19 vaccine to see if you have an immediate reaction.
• Most side effects happen within the first three days after vaccination and typically last only one to two days.
• The COVID-19 vaccine may cause side effects similar to signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
• If you've been exposed to COVID-19 and you develop symptoms more than three days after getting vaccinated or the symptoms last more than two days, self-isolate and get tested.

What are the long-term side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines?

• Because the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines clinical trials only started in the summer of 2020, it’s not yet clear if these vaccines will have long-term side effects.
• However, vaccines rarely cause long-term side effects.

Were safety procedures and standards not compromised to develop COVID-19 vaccines in less than one year?

• The first two COVID-19 vaccines were created using a new technique/technology called messenger RNA, or mRNA. The method has been in development for years before the pandemic, and the arrival of the new coronavirus provided vaccine manufacturers a chance to use it.
• Also, China shared genetic information about the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus when it was available, which gave vaccine developers an early start at finding a vaccine.
• The fact that it was done faster does not mean that the procedures and standards were compromised.

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