mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine.  Facts?

February 19, 2021

For the last 3 weeks I have been researching pros and cons of Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA vaccine.  How does the mRNA vaccine work?  Why do some say it’s not a vaccine? Why after many years of research has it not been used to date?  What is the efficacy of the vaccine?  Who should or should not get the vaccine? How is the US doing in vaccine distribution?  What happens if the rest of the world doesn’t vaccinate as many people as the US?  How does that affect the number of Covid vaccinations proposed to be given in the US to create herd immunity?  Is the vaccine better than getting the disease itself?  Is the vaccine safe both short term and long term? Why do some say it may create autoimmune diseases?  How long does immunity last with the vaccine?  How long does immunity last if you had Covid-19? Do we have immunity from other strains of Covid-19? What are the adverse side effects?  Have people died from the vaccine?  Where are the facts to support or not support answers to all these questions?

And then…knowing Ivermectin has been shown to protect people from Covid-19 as well as help treat Covid disease, does this knowledge change your decision about getting the vaccine?  What would happen if we didn’t have the vaccine and only had Ivermectin? Would Ivermectin also create herd immunity? Lots of answered and unanswered questions remain.

Everyone needs to assess their own health risk-benefit ratio before deciding whether or not to get the vaccine.  It may be different than the person sitting next to you.  It is a personal decision. We have the freedom to decide.

Next week’s blog will describe how mRNA vaccines work, why some people are calling it a genetically modified shot versus vaccine, how it could cause auto-immune responses, and could there be transgenerational effects from it.

Bottom Line mRMA Vaccine Facts:

  • mRNA Covid-19 vaccines are highly effective, more effective than the flu vaccine, approximately 94% vs 40%.
  • To date, the vaccines are effective against other strains of Covid-19, as opposed to flu vaccines that are not.
  • The FDA authorized emergency use of mRNA vaccine in individuals 16 and older to prevent Covid-19.
  • mRNA Covid-19 vaccines are still experimental.
  • When a vaccine is experimental, you cannot be forced to get it because it has not yet been approved by the FDA.
  • Phases 1, 2, and 3 clinical trials have been completed by Pfizer and Moderna. These phases included animal trials running parallel to human trials to advance the use of the vaccine in this state of pandemic emergency.
  • Those who get vaccinated with mRNA vaccines are part of a worldwide clinical trial which is comprised of people who have volunteered to get the vaccine and will be followed for 2 years via VAERS government tracking system.
  • Reporting adverse effects to VAERS, Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, is the responsibility of those individuals having side effects from the vaccine and/or healthcare providers.
  • No one knows long term side effects of mRNA vaccines because that time-line does not exist.
  • As of February 10, 2021, the CDC stated, “Fully vaccinated persons….will no longer be required to quarantine following an exposure to someone with Covid-19.”

Moderna vs Pfizer Phase 3 Clinical Trials

  • Phase 3 randomized, observer-blinded, placebo controlled trial of Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine was conducted at 99 centers across the US. The goal was no Covid-19 illness 14 days after the second vaccine
    • 30, 420 volunteers enrolled.
    • 2% of 15,210 (345) of the vaccinated group were excluded because they were Covid positive
    • 14, 875 received 2 doses of vaccine 28 days apart
    • 15, 210 received placebo.
    • A total of 196 cases 0.64%, got Covid illness.
    • 11 participants, or  07%, got Covid illness in the vaccinated group.
    • 185 participants or  56%   got Covid illness in placebo group.
    • Efficacy is 94.1%.
    • Demographics included: 47% female, 24.8% older than 65, 7% high risk under 65 yr old, 37% of color
    • 30 severe cases of Covid and 1 death in the placebo group after 2 doses, during 9 weeks of collected safety data after the second dose.
    • It should not be administered to individuals with known history of severe allergic reactions to any component of the vaccine.

https://investors.modernatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/moderna-announces-publication-results-pivotal-phase-3-trial

 

  • Phase 3 randomized, observer-blinded, placebo controlled trial of Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccine was conducted at 150 centers across the US, Germany, Turkey, South Africa, Brazil and Argentina. The goal was no Covid-19 illness 7 days after the second vaccine
    • 41,135 volunteers enrolled.
    • Approximately half received 2 doses of vaccine 21 days apart, and half received placebo
    • 8 cases of Covid in vaccinated group within 7 days after second dose
    • 162 cases of Covid in placebo group within 7 days after second dose
    • Efficacy > 94%
    • Demographics: 41% global and 30% US had racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, 45% of US participants were 56-85 years old. No mention was made of high-risk patients being enrolled.
    • 10 Severe cases of Covid and no deaths after 2 doses = 0.02% of total participants:
      • 1 severe case in vaccinated group (0.005%), and 9 in placebo group (0.04%). The exact amount of time after vaccine for collection of safety data was not disclosed in the initial press release.
    • Serious adverse effects were rare. No safety concerns were identified. No deaths.
    • 5 billion doses expected to be given by the end of 2021

https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-announce-publication-results-landmark

Vaccine Distribution as of 2-14-21

  • As per Johns Hopkins Cornoavirus resource center https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/vaccines/international
    • Approximately, 52 million first doses of Pfizer or Moderna have been given as of February 14, 2021
    • Approximately, 14 million second doses have been given.
    • 3% of the US population has been vaccinated vs 0.37% of the world
    • US has given the third highest number of vaccines given per population.
    • Israel and Gibralter have vaccinated a higher percent of their population than the US
    • Israel has vaccinated 28.53% of their 6 ½ million people
    • Gibralter has vaccinated 28.24% of their 25,000 people
  • The goal of 80 million US citizens being vaccinated in order to eradicate Covid-19 was set by the CDC. This is approximately 24% of the US population.
  • Oklahoma has vaccinated 44% of its population! Pennsylvania, 2.95%. Florida 4.82%. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/vaccines/us-states

Whew, a lot of numbers to wrap your head around!

Have an awesome day!  Dr. D

Posted in Covid19