General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDo we know yet if the Covid vaccine is a one-and-done vaccine? Or...
... as the virus continues to mutate, will we need an annual Covid vaccine that helps to protect against the latest strain of the virus?
hlthe2b
(102,099 posts)Mike 03
(16,616 posts)One of the issues with rushing the vaccines is that it's not clear if immunity wanes as it does with the virus itself.
I've heard it said that COVID is more like the common cold.
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)soothsayer
(38,601 posts)Unknown is whether theres a lasting effect even for a non-mutated strain. Or how they affect the old and young. Or if they for real for real work.
LisaL
(44,967 posts)However, OP seems to be asking how long the immunity from the vaccine is going to last.
soothsayer
(38,601 posts)LisaL
(44,967 posts)Johnson and Johnson is working on traditional one dose vaccine, but it's not known if they are successful yet.
soothsayer
(38,601 posts)My guess is, both will be used at least initially, since each company can produce a limited number of doses.
NRaleighLiberal
(60,006 posts)will end up like.
My view is that understanding the COVID virus is still in its infancy - good science takes time.
Unless one is a republican - for them, there is no science. just what their cult leader tells them.
njhoneybadger
(3,910 posts)Both vaccines, which require two injections, appear to elicit few severe side effects. Modernas can result in fatigue, headache, and joint pain; for Pfizers, side effects are more flu-like and can include muscle pain and fever. Both vaccines caused patients to have injection-site pain.
LisaL
(44,967 posts)My guess it's not one and done. We will probably get one every year, like for flu. But that's just a guess.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Along with the "it's a hoax" cult who won't want to receive the vaccine. I'll have a hard time mustering a tear of sympathy for them.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,315 posts)NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Jirel
(2,012 posts)The Moderna and Pfeizer vaccines are not truly "vaccines" like older tech such as polio, etc., where a person is innoculated with a weakened or deactivated form of the illness that triggers an immune response. It's a mRNA (messenger RNA) scheme that describes the shape of the spiky proteins on the outside of the COVID-19 virus. OUR OWN BODIES then produce copies of that spike protein, which doesn't belong there, and our immune system goes after it and learns to recognize it. That means that if the virus mutates but keeps the same spike profile, the vaccine would work anyway. But, since it's brand new, we have no good idea how long the vaccine will last at this point. I suspect that we'll be finding that out months or years after the vaccine is common in the general population, based on actual results.
genxlib
(5,518 posts)Although without any specific knowledge or expertise.
I assumed the yearly booster for Corona (if needed) would simply be put into the mix of the typical flu shot.
Of course a double dose would prevent that but who knows at this point whether that would need to be the case.
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)Does ANY vaccine provide provide immunity for a year? Don;t know
Do individuals who recover from Covid have immunity for a year? Don;t know.
Will COVID mutate? 100% likely
usajumpedtheshark
(672 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)which of them will become widely administered not just in the beginning but over time, and in various geographic regions. Last week Pfizer's was talked about, this week Moderna's also. Our government alone is officially sponsoring six. (Pfizer refused Warp Speed financing and interference during initial development but now has an advance-purchase agreement with the government.)
Plus, a certain vaccine may be better for an individual than others and prescribed by a personal physician.
My usual long-winded way of saying I'm waiting on the details. Since my husband and I don't have to work, a guess is we won't be offered the first rounds, but that notion could already be completely wrong. Maybe entire cities and counties will be targeted.