5 Common Questions about the COVID-19 Vaccine

Now that the country has different COVID-19 vaccines authorized for application, it is essential that the population clarifies their doubts and agrees to be part of the national plan to stop the coronavirus pandemic.

A lot has been said about the different vaccines against COVID-19, but in general, the most frequent doubts are related to its origin and the speed of its development, so in Formé, we seek to answer the 5 most frequent doubts about these vaccines.

It usually takes several years to develop a vaccine, so why has the COVID-19 vaccine development been so fast?

Although the development of a vaccine can take up to 15 years, the pandemic and its lethal effects made hundreds of scientists work collaboratively to identify a recipe that would reduce the impact as soon as possible, but without neglecting the verification of the efficacy, quality, and safety of the medicine.

Thus, it was possible to consolidate information on SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV (Acute Respiratory Syndromes) to skip the discovery phase and proceed with Phase I, II and III clinical trials; while large-scale production of several of these formulations was being carried out, even without certainty of their efficacy.

During the process, many of the timelines had been optimized to the point that, by the time the results of the COVID-19 vaccine efficacy were positive, the formula was already in production and ready for distribution.

Can the COVID-19 vaccine modify my DNA?

The effect that the COVID-19 vaccine will have on your body is to induce your cells to generate a protein or antibodies that play an immunizing role against the virus. This process is done without the contents of the vaccine entering your cells, which means that it cannot affect or even interact with your DNA.

Can I get just one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine?

Keep in mind that the only function of the vaccine is to protect you, so you should always follow the medical and scientific instructions to the letter. In this case, 2 doses of the vaccine should be administered in an interval of 3 to 4 weeks, which is the only way to guarantee the effectiveness of the vaccine, unless you get a vaccine with different instructions to the previous one.

Will the COVID-19 vaccine make me sick with the virus?

The vaccines licensed for use in the United States do not contain the virus that causes COVID-19, meaning that they will not be able to give you the virus, although their side effects may include flu-like symptoms, which are completely normal.

Although there are different types of vaccines, all vaccines licensed to date have the function of teaching the immune system how to recognize and fight the disease. This process can take a couple of weeks, so for a period of time after receiving both doses of the vaccine, you should maintain the current biosecurity protocols.

If I have already had COVID-19, should I be vaccinated against the virus?

Currently, there is no exact data on the protection time that people who have been infected with COVID-19 may have, since this natural immunity may vary according to each person’s organism.
Thus, considering the serious consequences for the health of a patient associated with the virus and the possibility of re-infection, all people should be vaccinated whether or not they have been infected, in the order of priority established by the CDC.

Please note that the federal government purchased millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine to ensure free access to the entire population, including those who are uninsured or undocumented.

If you are over 65, please contact us to access the vaccine. If you are younger, you can get on our waiting list and we will inform you in a timely manner when it is your turn.

At Formé, your health is our mission!