What you should know about vaccines against covid-19 3:40
(CNN) -
The COVID-19 vaccine is coming to the United States, and front-line healthcare workers have already started getting vaccinated, some on camera.
While these developments mark a historic moment and are very promising, that does not mean that Americans can stop wearing face masks any time soon.
Dr. Leana Wen, CNN Medical Analyst, Emergency Physician, and Visiting Professor at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, explains why.
CNN: Does the vaccine protect people from contracting the coronavirus?
If so, why do I still have to wear a mask?
Wen:
This is a good question!
It is important to be clear about what we know and what we don't know about what the vaccine does.
What we do know is that the Pfizer vaccine is very effective in preventing symptomatic illness and serious illness.
That means the vaccine appears to prevent people from getting sick enough to develop symptoms and, more importantly, it prevents people from getting so seriously ill that they end up in the hospital.
This is really great news.
Now, what the studies still don't show is this: They haven't looked at whether the vaccine prevents someone from being a COVID-19 carrier and transmitting it to other people.
Someone may be able to get the vaccine but still be an asymptomatic carrier.
They may not show symptoms, but they have the virus in their nasal passage, so if they talk, breathe, sneeze, etc., they can still pass it on to other people.
This is the main reason we cannot stop wearing masks immediately after receiving the vaccine.
The vaccine will protect you from getting sick and then ending up in the hospital.
But you may still be able to carry the virus and spread it to other people.
Therefore, those who receive the vaccine should continue to wear masks and practice physical distancing.
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CNN: Does that mean we will need to wear masks in public forever?
Wen:
No, not forever, but for a while longer.
It is estimated that about 70% of Americans must be vaccinated before we achieve herd immunity through vaccination.
That is the point where enough people have immune protection so that the virus does not spread further.
This means that about 230 million Americans should receive the vaccine.
It will take time to produce that many vaccines, and remember that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are two-dose vaccines, so you will need twice as many doses as people.
The vaccine must then be distributed and administered effectively to people.
If all goes well, the best estimates are that it will be late spring or early summer for most Americans to receive the vaccine.
At that point, we could probably see each other without masks, but not before.
CNN: Can this timeline be sped up?
Wen:
Vaccine development has progressed at incredible speed.
The fastest a vaccine was developed before this pandemic was four years.
We now have a licensed vaccine in less than a year.
How quickly we achieve herd immunity will depend on production, distribution, and the willingness of the American people to receive the vaccine.
There is concern that many Americans will not be able to receive the vaccine, even if it is available.
We need to have a thoughtful public education campaign that is tailored to different communities.
And we need everyone's help!
When it's your turn, get the vaccine.
Help spread the word and convince your family and friends about the importance of the vaccine to save lives and end this pandemic.
CNN: What about people who can't get the vaccine?
Do they need to keep wearing masks?
Wen:
For now, everyone should continue to wear masks.
There will be a small number of people who will not be able to get vaccinated.
At first, children will not be able to receive vaccines because they have not yet been tested in children.
It is also possible that there are some medical conditions that make certain people unable to get the vaccine or that the vaccine is less effective for them.
That's why the rest of us have to get vaccinated, to protect them.
Herd immunity is also called community immunity - the community is getting vaccinated to protect everyone.
That is why we also continue to use masks.
We do it to protect ourselves and to protect others.
Remember that even after receiving the vaccine, we can pass the virus to other people.
Also, the vaccine is very effective but not 100%.
The mask also protects you.
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CNN: Will you continue to wear a mask after receiving the vaccine?
Wen:
Yes. I will do it to protect others and to protect myself as well.
Here's another way to think about the importance of wearing a mask.
The vaccine protects you if the virus gets into your nose and mouth.
Your body detects the virus and instead of the virus attacking your body, your body's immune system kicks in and gets rid of the virus.
It is very important to prevent the virus from reaching your body in the first place.
Wearing a mask does that.
So does physical distancing.
These are really important steps to avoid contracting coronavirus and transmitting it to other people.
You will no doubt see the use of masks among healthcare workers, who will be among the first groups to receive the vaccine.
The vaccine is an important layer of protection for us, but we will use these other measures to protect ourselves and those around us.
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CNN: With the number of covid cases at its highest in the United States, the vaccine might not arrive too soon.
However, with only a small percentage of the US population receiving the vaccine to get started, it appears that most people will not directly enjoy the benefits of this first release, right?
Wen
: Absolutely.
It is truly amazing that we have a vaccine that appears to be 95% effective and very safe.
We can end the pandemic.
But this will take time.
The initial vaccine allocation will reach just over 1% of the population.
It will take time to scale to 70%.
We need everyone to follow the precautions we've been talking about all along: Wear a mask.
Maintain physical detachment.
Avoid meetings indoors.
Wash your hands.
I'll add one more: Get the vaccine when it's your turn.
We can get through this winter, and spring and summer are very promising.
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