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People with cancer, severe allergies and other health conditions may have additional questions about getting the COVID-19 vaccine even as it promises to end the coronavirus outbreak.
Healthcare workers and residents of nursing homes are already receiving the Pfizer vaccine, while the Moderna version is expected to get clearance for emergency use soon.
The data from clinical trials “looks great,” said Dr. Larry Corey, an expert in virology, immunology and vaccine development, and professor in the division of vaccines and infectious diseases at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 95% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 after the second dose, with Moderna reporting similar results for its candidate.
“Right now we’re looking to get everyone in the country to justify the vaccination,” Corey said TODAY.
“Ultimately, the entire adult population, and… once the dose and safety are established in children – the entire child population.”
The people most at risk are the first, the general population having access to the vaccine in the months to come. It is intended for people with underlying illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease, which could lead to the severe form of COVID-19.
At the moment it’s unclear who should do not get the vaccine, Corey noted. Some patients need to consider the benefit / risk balance and discuss it with their doctor. Some may have to wait or proceed with caution.
Here’s what to keep in mind:
Allergic people
A healthcare worker in Alaska was among several people who had a severe allergic reaction to the Pfizer vaccine.
Anyone who experiences such a reaction to any component of the vaccine should not be vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have warned.
Dr.Anthony Fauci also recently said that people with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological reaction to the flu or the flu vaccine, should not be given the COVID-19 vaccine “because you might trigger a response. similar and serious. a very small number of people, Fauci added.
GBS is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s immune system damages nerves, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. The exact cause is not known, but researchers have studied vaccines as a possible trigger in rare cases.
Fauci’s recommendation was made out of a lot of caution, Corey noted.
People who have had a history of severe allergic reactions to any other vaccine or injectable drug can still get the COVID-19 vaccine, but should be made aware of the risks and weigh them against the benefits, the CDC advised. If they decide to fire, they must be observed for 30 minutes afterwards.
“If you have allergies, you want to get the shot somewhere that knows how to take care of someone who has an allergic reaction,” Corey said.
Those who have mild allergic reactions to any other vaccine or have food, animal, venom or latex allergies are given the green light to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but should be monitored for 15 minutes afterwards, said the CDC.
Since the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are similar, the precautions will likely be the same for both, noted Corey.
People with weakened immune systems
People who are immunocompromised, including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and people living with HIV, may still receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but should be informed that doctors do not yet know how safe or effective the vaccine is for them, the CDC advised.
They may have a reduced immune response and should continue to take measures, including wearing masks and social distancing.
The National Cancer Institute is starting to study this group, noted Corey, advising these patients to wait or proceed with caution. “Whether they qualify or someone gives them the vaccine is another issue,” he added.
People with autoimmune diseases
Again, the risks and benefits must be taken into account. One of Corey’s older parents has lupus, an autoimmune disease, and he still recommends vaccination.
“The risk of COVID, due to its circulation and attack rate, is very high, so I think it’s worth the risk-benefit, but recognize that we all have to make these kinds of informed choices,” he said. he declared.
Pregnant and lactating women
The COVID-19 vaccine has not been tested in pregnant women but studies in this population are planned, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Experts believe that messenger RNA vaccines – like the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines – are unlikely to pose a risk to pregnant women, so they can choose to be vaccinated, the CDC noted.
Pregnant women “should be free to make their own decisions in conjunction with their clinical care team,” ACOG agreed.
Both agencies had the same advice for breastfeeding women.
“It’s an individual choice,” Corey said. “Women should discuss this with their doctors.”
Children
Fewer children get sick with COVID-19 than adults, but they can pass the virus on to others.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is authorized for persons 16 years of age and older. Healthy teens in this range would not be qualified to get vaccinated for a period of time because they are prioritized for the most vulnerable populations, Corey said.
Pfizer has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to test its vaccine in children as young as 12, and Moderna plans to do a study of its vaccine in children 12 to 17.
The results for teens may be in the spring. Young children need their own tests, with results possibly coming later next year.
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