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COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. The vaccines met the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization (EUA). By now two vaccines Pfizer and Moderna are fully approved for the use for adults. Pfizer is named as Comirnaty while Moderna is named as Spikevax.

It may appear that covid-19 vaccines have been developed very quickly and yes, it is indeed a record to have a vaccine made available in less than a year. Never in the past a vaccine was made available in such a short time. But researchers around the world have been working hard to develop COVID-19 vaccines from the earliest stages of the pandemic observing all safety steps.

The development and implementation planning phases have been run side-by side, instead of one after the other. This has been made possible because of unprecedented global funding.

Some people have side effects from the vaccine, which are normal signs that their body is building protection. These side effects may affect their ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Some people have no side effects, and allergic reactions are rare.

Side effects at the injection site include pain, redness and swelling and are common to most vaccines given intramuscular. Throughout the body side effects include tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea. These may not occur to everyone and usually disappears in two days.

here is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems (problems trying to get pregnant) in women or men. On the contrary, COVID-19 can make you very sick during pregnancy. Additionally, if you have COVID-19 during pregnancy, you are at increased risk of complications that can affect your pregnancy and developing baby.

It is true that Covid-19 vaccine is not 100% effective, and one may get the Covid-19 infection even after the vaccine. However, the vaccines are effective at preventing infection, serious illness, and death. Most people who get COVID-19 are unvaccinated. However, since vaccines are not 100% effective at preventing infection, some people who are fully vaccinated will still get COVID-19. Even when people who are fully vaccinated develop symptoms of COVID-19, they tend to be less severe than in people who are unvaccinated.

As of January 2022, Arizona data suggested that as compared to vaccinated and boosted person, non-vaccinated person was 11 times more likely to get infected with Covid-19, 67 times more likely to be hospitalized with Covid-19 and 180 times more likely to die due to Covid-19.

Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are similar and novel vaccines called mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccines. Messenger RNA vaccines, or mRNA vaccines, are a newer type of vaccine. This vaccine teaches our cells to make a protein that mimics the one on the surface of the virus. Once our body creates this protein, the immune system learns to recognize it as a target and gets ready to fight against the real virus when it comes along. Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a traditional vaccine called viral vaccine. Viral vector vaccines work by using a changed, harmless virus. This is called the “vector.” A vector is like a vehicle that carries instructions to our cells on how to fight against a particular disease.

Currently Moderna and Pfizer are fully approved by FDA while J&J is approved under Emergency Use Authorization only as of now. Preference is to be given for mRNA vaccine but if there is some allergy or other reasons that needs not to use mRNA vaccine, J&J is an alternative.

With the passage of time, the immunity response weakens and therefore it is important to get a booster dose of the vaccine. It is recommended for all ages above 5 years. Booster dose should be taken 5 months after the second dose of vaccine in case of two dose-mRNA vaccine or five months after single dose of J&J. Only Pfizer (Comirnaty) is approved for 5 years and above while Moderna (Spikevax) is approved for 18 and above and J&J is also approved for emergency use for 18 years and above. Boosters are an important part of protecting yourself from getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19.

Wearing a mask is additional protection even when you are vaccinated.

Wearing a mask is helpful for your protection and for preventing transmission from you to the community. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask to prevent transmission to the family and community members.

Masking is a critical public health tool, and it is important to remember that any mask is better than no mask at any time and all the time. Wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently.When you are in a crowded place, or a get-together where you meet people whom you do not see regularly, you must wear a mask.

People who are older, have critical medical conditions like cancer or diabetes or having a pregnancy, it is recommended that they use masks all the time when they go out in public places. During traveling in the airplane, or public transportation like trains and buses, wearing a mask is safer and a few places mandatory in many parts of the world. In short, when in doubt whether to wear a mask or not, please wear a mask.

Children 2 years and older are recommended to wear masks and can be trained to wear masks.

Please use a better-quality mask that fits well and covers your mouth and nose properly. Wearing it correctly and disposing of it after each use is equally important.

There are a number of recommendations when you should get tested for Covid.

• If you have symptoms suggestive of Covid-19, like cough, fever, runny nose, body ache, headache or any other symptoms getting tested is a good step for you and for the community and the family.
• If you are exposed to a known case of Covid-19, it is a good idea to isolate yourself and get tested for Covid-19 after 5 days of exposure where your probability to get test positive is very high if you were infected.

Get yourself tested as part of screening at workplace if it is necessary.

It is always nice to get tested before travel to ensure that you are not going to transmit to others and after travel to ensure you have not been infected during travel. As and when you are advised by your doctor or public health official recommends you get tested.

If you do test positive and have Covid infection there are several things you need to observe for your safety and also for preventing community and family transmission.

• Stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home to ensure you do not pass on the infection to others.
• Tell your contacts from the last few days that you tested positive. They all should get tested since you may have got the infection from them, or you may have given them the infection.
• Wear a well-fitting mask when around others. If available, a N95 mask is better.
• Watch for symptoms. If you have any emergency warning signs like difficulty in breathing or oxygen level drops less than 95%, seek emergency care immediately.

Tell your healthcare provider. Contact them as soon as possible if:

• Your symptoms get worse.
• You are more likely to get very sick because you are an older adult or have an underlying medical condition. Possible treatment may be available for you.
• You have questions about your isolation.