No denying that 2020 was a rough year, especially with COVID-19 being literally everywhere, and many are looking for 2021 to be a better year.
There is one question looming over many whose answer should make 2021 better: “When and where can I get my COVID-19 vaccination?”
While this is not as simple as most would like, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
As of press time, Texas is set as Phase 2B, meaning that anyone over 65 or with a chronic health condition should be able to receive the vaccine.
Local Vaccine
Texas will be receiving approximately 333K first dose vaccines this week to the various hubs and clinics around the state.
Navarro County will receive 600 doses at LHD Corsicana-Navarro Public Health District (RE) and Leon County will receive 100 doses at Healthpoint Centerville.
Freestone County and surrounding counties do not have a hub, but there are two located in McLennan County and four in Smith County.
Visit https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine-hubs.aspx for more information about vaccination hubs in Texas.
Brookshire Brother Pharmacies have received doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine, but doses that show on the website are already scheduled to be given to residents who are currently in phases 1a and 1b, and who are on their waiting list, according to Laura Edmundson, Director of Clinical Pharmacy Programs for Brookshire Brothers.
Residents can visit Brookshirebrothers.com/COVID-19 to sign up for their waiting list at the preferred pharmacy and receive up-to-date information about their vaccine rollout plan.
Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Infectious Disease, told the CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, that the “ordinary” person should be able to get the first dose by April.
Distribution Plan
Last week, President-Elect Joseph Biden announced his plans for COVID-19 Vaccine distribution going forward after he is inaugurated, on Wednesday of this week.
“This will be one of the most challenging operational efforts ever undertaken by our country,” Biden said on Friday, January 15, 2021, “You have my word that we will manage the hell out of this operation.”
He intends to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) to, “order private industry to accelerate the making of the materials needed for the vaccines.”
DPA gives the President significant emergency authority to control domestic industries.
Jeffrey Zients, financial advisor and Biden’s pick for Coordinator of the COVID-19 response, explained during a press briefing that their preparation has four main segments.
First, will be to loosen restrictions on who can get vaccinated and when.
Second, to set up significantly more sites where vaccinations can be given.
Third, to mobilize more medical personal to deliver the vaccine.
Fourth, to use the Federal government to increase the vaccine supply by manufacturing what is needed, when it is needed.
“We’re going to throw the full resources and weight of the federal government behind this emergency,” Zients promised.
This includes using the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to set up vaccination sites where possible, such as community centers, stadiums or even gyms.
The National Guard could be used to staff the effort and ensure that states do not have to bear the whole cost.
Also, there are plans to call retired medical personnel to help in the campaign as they attempt to expand who can deliver the vaccine.
Vaccine Information
The Moderna Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech are quiet similar, yet different vaccines that both build immunity against COVID-19.
They both use the mRNA to ‘teach’ our bodies to defend themselves against COVID-19.
Each vaccine has an extremely high effective rate of around 95%, and they both require two doses.
It is not until our bodies receive the second dose that the immunity truly begins according to Naor Bar-Zeev, PhD, associate professor of international health and vaccinology and deputy director of the International Vaccine Acess Center at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
That is where the similarities begin changing.
Pfizzer-BioNTech
Stored at -94F
Refrigerated five days
Room Temp. 30 minutes to 2 hours
Needs dilution with Saline
16 years and older
2 shots, 21 days apart
Moderna
Stored at -4 F
Refrigerated thirty days
Room Temp. 12 hours
No Dilution necessary
18 years and older
2 shots, 28 days apart
What to Expect After Being Vaccinated
As with almost anything medical, the vaccines are not without side effects.
The injection site will most likely be red and swollen, as with most injections, and you could experience fever, chills, fatigue or a headache afterwards.
Make sure and use your arm to help with the pain, and a cool wet rag can help as well. Make sure you dress lightly, and drink plenty of fluids.
These might be a bit worse after the second dose, but if they do not go away in a few days or the injection site is more red and/or swollen after 24 hours contact your doctor.
Anaphylaxis has happened in an extremely rare number of cases, around 11 out of 1 million doses, with no fatalities.
If you have ever had a severe reaction to a vaccine, speak to your doctor before receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Those giving the vaccination may ask you to wait thirty minutes, if you are at risk of an anaphylaxis reaction.
Those with pet, food, and other allergies may still be vaccinated.
This includes people with a history of allergies to oral medications and those with a milder reaction to vaccines, according to CDC guidance.
Other Vaccines
Globally more vaccines are available, including the AstraZeneca vaccine which has received authorization in the United Kingdom and other countries.
It is a two dose vaccine, requiring the second dose to be between four and twelve weeks after the first.
This vaccine uses an adenovirus, a weakened version of the common cold that infects chimpanzees, but it has the spike protein from COVID-19 attached that will build the immunity.
Reportedly, this may be approved and available in the United States around April of 2021.
Johnson & Johnson are closer to requesting approval for their vaccination, a single dose vaccine.
It is also an adenovirus vaccine, but they are testing this as a two-dose vaccine and a one-dose vaccine.
It is assumed that they will be seeking approval for their one-dose vaccine before the end of January with approval coming in February.
Because of how vaccines work and science, these are estimated dates and not a promise.
In a country of over 330 million citizens, there would be around 660 million vaccinations needed to be sure everyone is vaccinated (assuming all vaccines are two-dose).
