Vaccines are on the way.

So why do we have to continue to wear masks, social distance, and not have social gatherings?

The only way we can avoid getting and giving COVID-19 to those around us is by achieving herd immunity. If about 75-85% of the population gets the vaccine, we’ll have herd immunity and be safe.

You’ll be able to get a vaccine, but those at higher risk will get theirs first.

Are these vaccines safe?

Short answer: Yes, both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are thoroughly tested and approved by the FDA.

Longer answer: 

  • Both vaccines are almost 95% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID.
  • A small number of people who received the vaccine still get COVID-19. Those people  ended up getting much less sick than those who hadn’t gotten the vaccine.
  • Over 35,000 volunteers have received the approved vaccines during trials, and tens of thousands more have been vaccinated in the past week across the USA. A small number of people who took the vaccine had minor side effects, including mild pain or redness where they got the shot, chills, and/or body aches, similar to how some people feel after the flu shot
  • The vaccine cannot give you COVID-19.
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After I get the vaccine, can I stop wearing my mask, and be physically close to my friends and family who live outside my household?

Unfortunately, no, not yet. For 2 reasons:

  1. We don’t yet know if getting vaccinated prevents you from getting the virus in your nose (without symptoms) and spreading it to others.
  2. Until about 75-85% of the population receive the vaccine, we won’t have herd immunity.