Covid-19 vaccines Archives - Business RadioX ®

Medication Errors and How to Avoid Them

October 14, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Medication Errors and How to Avoid Them

00:00 /

Medication Errors and How to Avoid Them – Episode 62, To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow

On this edition of To Your Health, Dr. Jim Morrow shared a personal story about medication errors, and how patients can ensure they understand their medications to avoid errors which might cause serious health consequences. Dr. Morrow also provided an update on Covid vaccines and answered commonly asked questions he’s received from patients on boosters. To Your Health is brought to you by Morrow Family Medicine, which brings the care back to healthcare.

About Morrow Family Medicine, A Member of Village Medical

Morrow Family Medicine, a Member of Village Medical, is an award-winning, state-of-the-art family practice with offices in Cumming and Milton, Georgia. The practice combines healthcare information technology with old-fashioned care to provide the type of care that many are in search of today. Two physicians, three physician assistants and two nurse practitioners are supported by a knowledgeable and friendly staff to make your visit to Morrow Family Medicine, A Member of Village Medical one that will remind you of the way healthcare should be. At Morrow Family Medicine, a Member of Village Medical, we like to say we are “bringing the care back to healthcare!” The practice has been named the “Best of Forsyth” in Family Medicine in all five years of the award, is a three-time consecutive winner of the “Best of North Atlanta” by readers of Appen Media, and the 2019 winner of “Best of Life” in North Fulton County.

Village Medical offers a comprehensive suite of primary care services including preventative care, treatment for illness and injury, and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease. Atlanta-area patients can learn more about the practice here.

Dr. Jim Morrow, Morrow Family Medicine, and Host of To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow

Dr. Jim Morrow is the founder and CEO of Morrow Family Medicine. He has been a trailblazer and evangelist in healthcare information technology, was named Physician IT Leader of the Year by HIMSS, a HIMSS Davies Award Winner, the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce Steve Bloom Award Winner as Entrepreneur of the Year and he received a Phoenix Award as Community Leader of the Year from the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. He is married to Peggie Morrow and together they founded the Forsyth BYOT Benefit, a charity in Forsyth County to support students in need of technology and devices. They have two Goldendoodles, a gaggle of grandchildren and enjoy life on and around Lake Lanier.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorrowFamMed/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/7788088/admin/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/toyourhealthMD

The complete show archive of To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow addresses a wide range of health and wellness topics, and can be found at www.toyourhealthradio.com.

Dr. Morrow’s Show Notes

Covid-19Vaccine Booster Update

What is a third dose of the coronavirus vaccine?

• A third dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna) is identical to the first two doses.

o It can help protect people with weakened immune systems who did not have a strong enough response to the first two doses of one of the mRNA vaccines.

o Such people can get a third dose as soon as 28 days after a second dose.

o The FDA has authorized, and the CDC recommends, that those with

certain medical conditions that suppress the immune system get a third dose of the same brand of COVID-19 vaccine that they initially received.

Who can get a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine?

Based on CDC recommendations, third vaccine doses are available now for people who are considered moderately or severely immunosuppressed. These would include those who:

Receive active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood.
Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system.
Have either had a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system.
Were diagnosed with DiGeorge syndrome or Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

Are diagnosed with HIV and have a high viral load or low CD4 count, or are not currently taking medication to treat HIV.
Are taking drugs such as high-dose steroids or other medications that may cause severe suppression of the immune system. If you are not sure whether you fit into any of these categories, please contact your medical provider.
When can I get a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine?

People who have an eligible medical condition that causes a suppressed immune system can receive a third dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine as soon as 28 days after the second dose.
Johns Hopkins Medicine is offering a third dose to those who are eligible. Why is the third shot of a COVID-19 vaccine needed?
The CDC recommends a third dose of the two-shot vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) for people with certain health conditions to help further protect them from getting severely ill or dying due to COVID-19.

o Some people have conditions or take specific medication doses that can cause them to have a decreased immune system.

o Data suggest that two doses of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine may not have a strong enough response in these individuals and that they may benefit from a third dose.

How do I know if I need a third dose of COVID- 19 vaccine?

If you are unsure about whether your health condition or treatment affects your immune system, discuss it with your health care provider, who can help determine if you would benefit from a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
People eligible for Pfizer’s booster include

o those 65 and older and those who live in long-term care facilities,
o have underlying medical conditions
o or are at higher risk of exposure to the virus because of their jobs or institutional settings, or a group that includes health care workers, teachers and prisoners.

Would a third COVID shot have to be the same brand of vaccine I got originally?

Ideally, yes:
o Your third vaccine dose should be the same type (Pfizer or Moderna) you received when you were first vaccinated.
§ The third shot can be given to you when it has been at least four weeks (28 days) since your second shot if you are considered immunosuppressed based on the criteria determined by the CDC. Can I get an additional COVID-19 shot if I received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
Data are still emerging as to whether an additional dose is necessary for individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

o There is no current recommendation for an extra dose for people who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, even if they have a qualifying medical condition.

o Watch for information from the CDC. www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Medication Errors

I started using electronic health records on December 18, 1998. At the stroke of midnight, pretty much, we made that change. We did it for financial reasons, not quality reasons. If you had asked me, I would have adamantly told you that I was practicing quality medicine, that I was taking great care of all my patients.

Then in a few months, a report was published: The Institute of Medicine’s report “To Err is Human”. Published in 1999

98,000 deaths are attributable to medication errors every year.
Launched the movement to computerized medical records. It was a slow, laborious process.

Started the move to improve care by sharing records with the entire “care team”. It took years to really start making headway.

Multiple people testified to multiple congressional committees, in and around the Washington DC area.

I had started using electronic records in December 1998, and around 2005 was asked to testify to one such committee.

One of the main points in the report, To Err is Human, was about medication errors. Even to this day, this is a huge problem and people die all too often, or have some bad outcomes all too often, because of changes that doctors make in prescribing and those changes are not accurately relayed to the patient or the caregiver.

Doctors might change things like dosage, drug, instructions as to when and how often they are to be taken.

Pharmacies, especially mail-order pharmacies, will purchase the next cheapest drug equivalent they can on any given day so that when a patient receives a refill, the look and size of the pill or capsule is completely different.

Patients become numb to the fact that medications look different from one fill to the next. Therefore, if a doctor changes a medication or a strength of a current medication, the patient might very well NOT realize that change has been made.

And then drug manufacturers change the way their pills or capsules look because they got a better deal on a blue one versus the brown one they have used for years.

And then my recent experience with medication errors . . .

Exercise in a Pandemic, with Andrew Abernathy, Focal Fitness – Episode 50, To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow

February 12, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Exercise in a Pandemic, with Andrew Abernathy, Focal Fitness - Episode 50, To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow

00:00 /

Exercise in a Pandemic, with Andrew Abernathy, Focal Fitness – Episode 50, To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow

Focal Fitness Owner Andrew Abernathy is welcomed by host Dr. Jim Morrow to discuss exercise and physical fitness challenges and solutions for a pandemic. Dr. Morrow also offers a Covid-19 update on the new vaccines and the latest information on Covid-19 mutations. “To Your Health” is brought to you by Morrow Family Medicine, which brings the care back to healthcare.

Andrew Abernathy, Owner, Focal Fitness

At Focal Fitness their goal is to inspire people to change their lives by becoming passionate about their health, having a positive attitude, and implementing fitness into their everyday lives.

Andrew Abernathy is the owner and operator of Focal Fitness. He grew up in Gainesville, GA, and attended the University of Georgia where he received a B.S. in Exercise Science. Andrew is a certified Personal Trainer with extensive work with post rehab, sports specific, and weight reduction clients. He also is a certified Super Slow© instructor. Andrew’s intensive academic study of anatomy, exercise physiology, kinesiology, biomechanics, fitness screening and testing, training principles and techniques, sports injury, and motivation, allow him to offer clients highly researched and tailored fitness programs.

Andrew chose to become a trainer because he has a passion for educating and helping people achieve healthy, active lifestyles, and creating real and lasting change. This work is the culmination of a life of athletic training, a tailored college education, and his entire work experience. Some of his objectives are to encourage people to make exercise a part of their lifestyle, through motivation, teaching correct technique and improving strength, coordination and balance. The professional challenge of creating effective workout routines that fit in with a person’s unique lifestyle, schedule, and needs is what he strives to achieve for each client.

Outside of Focal Fitness, Andrew enjoys running, camping, hiking, golf, Univ. of Georgia football, just about anything on water or in water, and socializing with friends and family. Andrew and his wife Melissa live in Cumming GA, located in beautiful Forsyth County. They have a daughter, Tatem, son, Myles, and one dog, “Neo”. They both attend Mountain Lake Church.

Focal Fitness Company website

About Morrow Family Medicine, A Member of Village Medical

Dr. Jim Morrow, Morrow Family Medicine, and Host of “To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow”

Dr. Jim Morrow is the founder and CEO of Morrow Family Medicine. He has been a trailblazer and evangelist in the area of healthcare information technology, was named Physician IT Leader of the Year by HIMSS, a HIMSS Davies Award Winner, the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce Steve Bloom Award Winner as Entrepreneur of the Year and he received a Phoenix Award as Community Leader of the Year from the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. He is married to Peggie Morrow and together they founded the Forsyth BYOT Benefit, a charity in Forsyth County to support students in need of technology and devices. They have two Goldendoodles, a gaggle of grandchildren and enjoy life on and around Lake Lanier.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorrowFamMed/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/7788088/admin/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/toyourhealthMD

The complete show archive of “To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow” addresses a wide range of health and wellness topics, and can be found at www.toyourhealthradio.com.

Show Notes

Covid-19 Vaccines and Mutations

Why does the coronavirus change?

Variants of viruses occur when there is a change (mutation) to the virus’s genes.
- it is the nature of RNA viruses such as the coronavirus to evolve and change gradually.
Mutations in viruses —
- including the coronavirus causing the COVID-19 pandemic —
  - are neither new nor unexpected.
  - All RNA viruses mutate over time, some more than others.
  - For example, flu viruses change often,
  - which is why doctors recommend that you get a new flu vaccine every year.
We are seeing multiple variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that are different from the version first detected in China
one mutated version of the coronavirus was detected in southeastern England in September 2020.
- That variant, now known as B.1.1.7, quickly became the most common version of the coronavirus in the United Kingdom, accounting for about 60% of new COVID-19 cases in December.
- Other variants have emerged in South Africa, Brazil, California and other areas.

COVID-19 Variants: How are they different?

There are 17 genetic changes in the B.1.1.7 variant from England.
There’s some preliminary evidence that it’s more contagious.
- Scientists noticed a surge of cases in areas where the new strain appeared.
some of the mutations in the B.1.1.7 version seem to affect the coronavirus’s spike protein,
- which covers the outer coating of SARS-CoV-2 and give the virus its characteristic spiny appearance.
- These proteins help the virus attach to human cells in the nose, lungs and other areas of the body, causing COVID-19 illness.
Researchers have preliminary evidence that some of the new variants, including B.1.1.7, seem to bind more tightly to our cells
- This appears to make some of these new strains ‘stickier’ due to changes in the spike protein.
- Studies are underway to understand more about whether any of the variants are more easily transmitted.

Is there a new variant of the coronavirus that is more dangerous?

so far, the news is somewhat reassuring.
- Although mutations may enable the coronavirus to spread faster from person to person,
  - and more infections can result in more people getting very sick,
  - overall, there is not yet clear evidence that any of these variants are more likely to cause severe disease or death.
it may be more advantageous for a respiratory virus to evolve so that it spreads more easily.
- On the other hand, mutations that make a virus more deadly may not give the virus an opportunity to spread efficiently.
  - If we get too sick or die quickly from a particular virus, the virus has less opportunity to infect others.
One of the main concerns is whether any of the variants could affect treatment and prevention.
- Mutations may allow the coronaviruses to escape the antibodies in currently available therapies and those induced by vaccines.
  - More data are needed to investigate this possibility.

Will there be more new variants of the coronavirus?

Yes.
- As long as the coronavirus spreads through the population, mutations will continue to happen.
  - in 2020, several mutations caught researchers’ attention and raised concern, but further study revealed no major changes in how the coronavirus behaves.
New variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are detected every week
- Most come and go — some persist but don’t become more common; some increase in the population for a while, and then fizzle out.
- When a change in the infection pattern first pops up,
  - it can be very hard to tell what’s driving the trend:
    - changes to the virus,
    - or changes in human behavior.
    - It is worrisome that similar changes to the spike protein are arising independently on multiple continents.”

Will the COVID-19 vaccine work on the new strains?

There is new evidence from laboratory studies that some immune responses driven by current vaccines could be less effective against some of the new strains.
Whether that means that people who have gotten the COVID-19 vaccines could get sick with the new variants is not yet known.
- The immune response involves many components,
  - and a reduction in one does not mean that the vaccines will not offer protection.”
People who have received the vaccines should watch for changes in guidance from the CDC ,and continue with coronavirus safety precautions to reduce the risk of infection, such as mask wearing, physical distancing and hand hygiene.”
“We deal with mutations every year for flu virus, and will keep an eye on this coronavirus and track it,” says Bollinger. “If there would ever be a major mutation, the vaccine development process can accommodate changes, if necessary, but we’re not yet at the point when we need to consider that,” he explains.

Regarding coronavirus variants, how concerned should we be?

“Most of the genetic changes we see in this virus are like the scars people accumulate over a lifetime — incidental marks of the road, most of which have no great significance or functional role,” Ray says. “When the evidence is strong enough that a viral genetic change is causing a change in the behavior of the virus, we gain new insight regarding how this virus works.”
“As far as these variants are concerned, we don’t need to overreact,” Bollinger says. “But, as with any virus, changes are something to be watched, to ensure that testing, treatment and vaccines are still effective. The scientists will continue to examine new versions of this coronavirus’s genetic sequencing as it evolves.”
“In the meantime, we need to continue all of our efforts to prevent viral transmission and to vaccinate as many people as possible, and as soon as we can.”

Source: Johns Hopkins

Morrow Family Medicine Affiliates with Village Medical – An Interview with Andrew Thompson, Village Medical

January 29, 2021 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Morrow Family Medicine Affiliates with Village Medical - An Interview with Andrew Thompson, Village Medical

00:00 /

Morrow Family Medicine Affiliates with Village Medical – An Interview with Andrew Thompson, Village Medical (Episode 49, To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow)

Dr. Morrow welcomes Andrew (Andy) Thompson to the show to discuss Morrow Family Medicine’s affiliation with Village Medical and the enhancements to patient care this partnership will bring. Dr. Morrow also addresses several myths on the Covid-19 vaccine. “To Your Health” is brought to you by Morrow Family Medicine, which brings the care back to healthcare.

Village Medical

Village Medical believes healthcare should be personal, accessible and coordinated. They treat your relationship with your primary care provider as the foundation to your health. Their doctors and staff partner with you to understand your needs, and work together to focus not just on treatment, but also education and preventative care. They combine the tools, technology and people needed to help create healthier, happier patients. More connected care means more complete care. Their clinics located at Walgreens pharmacies are bringing their vision of exceptional and compassionate primary care even closer to you. With several clinic locations throughout Houston and Phoenix, they are in your neighborhood. And that network means you can visit a doctor at any of their locations, and they’ll have your records available. With Village Medical at Home, they provide at-home visits designed to give eligible patients the attention they need, in a way that’s best for them and their caregivers. At Village Medical, the future of healthcare is more personal than ever. To learn more, go to their website.

Andrew Thompson, National COO, Village Medical

Andy Thompson is National Chief Operating Officer at Village Medical based in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is an experienced Chief Operating Officer with a successful history of working in integrated delivery systems. Andy has also worked in healthcare consulting, nonprofit organizations, budgeting, performance improvement, and Medicaid.

Andy has a Masters in Healthcare Administration from Missouri State University.

About Morrow Family Medicine, A Member of Village Medical

Dr. Jim Morrow, Morrow Family Medicine, and Host of “To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow”

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorrowFamMed/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/7788088/admin/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/toyourhealthMD

The complete show archive of “To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow” addresses a wide range of health and wellness topics, and can be found at www.toyourhealthradio.com.

The Status of Covid-19 Vaccines – Episode 45, To Your Health With Dr. Jim Morrow

November 30, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

The Status of Covid-19 Vaccines - Episode 45, To Your Health With Dr. Jim Morrow

00:00 /

The Status of Covid-19 Vaccines – Episode 45, To Your Health With Dr. Jim Morrow

Three different Covid-19 vaccines are in late stage development, and the companies who have developed them may be seeking approval for distribution very soon. On this edition of “To Your Health,” Dr. Morrow examines each of these vaccines and discusses whether they are safe and effective. “To Your Health” is brought to you by Morrow Family Medicine, which brings the CARE back to healthcare.

About Morrow Family Medicine and Dr. Jim Morrow

Morrow Family Medicine is an award-winning, state-of-the-art family practice with offices in Cumming and Milton, Georgia. The practice combines healthcare information technology with old-fashioned care to provide the type of care that many are in search of today. Two physicians, three physician assistants and two nurse practitioners are supported by a knowledgeable and friendly staff to make your visit to Morrow Family Medicine one that will remind you of the way healthcare should be. At Morrow Family Medicine, we like to say we are “bringing the care back to healthcare!” Morrow Family Medicine has been named the “Best of Forsyth” in Family Medicine in all five years of the award, is a three-time consecutive winner of the “Best of North Atlanta” by readers of Appen Media, and the 2019 winner of “Best of Life” in North Fulton County.

Dr. Jim Morrow, Morrow Family Medicine, and Host of “To Your Health With Dr. Jim Morrow”

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorrowFamMed/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/7788088/admin/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/toyourhealthMD

The complete show archive of “To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow” addresses a wide range of health and wellness topics, and can be found at www.toyourhealthradio.com.

Dr. Morrow’s Show Notes

How Vaccines Work

The Immune System—
- To understand how vaccines work, it helps to first look at how the body fights illness.
- When germs, such as bacteria or viruses, invade the body, they attack and multiply.
- This invasion, called an infection, is what causes illness.
- The immune system uses several tools to fight infection.
- Blood contains red blood cells, for carrying oxygen to tissues and organs, and white or immune cells, for fighting infection.
  - These white cells consist primarily of macrophages, B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes:
    - Macrophages are white blood cells that swallow up and digest germs, plus dead or dying cells.
      - The macrophages leave behind parts of the invading germs called antigens.
      - The body identifies antigens as dangerous and creates antibodies to attack them.
    - B-lymphocytes are defensive white blood cells.
      - They produce antibodies that attack the antigens left behind by the macrophages.
    - T-lymphocytes are another type of defensive white blood cell.
      - They attack cells in the body that have already been infected.
    - The first time the body encounters a germ, it can take several days to make and use all the germ-fighting tools needed to get over the infection.
      - After the infection, the immune system remembers what it learned about how to protect the body against that disease.
      - The body keeps a few T-lymphocytes, called memory cells, that go into action quickly if the body encounters the same germ again.
      - When the familiar antigens are detected, B-lymphocytes produce antibodies to attack them.

Current State

In the United States, there is not yet an authorized or approved vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
- The federal government, through Operation Warp Speed, has been working since the pandemic started to make one or more COVID-19 vaccines available as soon as possible.
- Although CDC does not have a role in developing COVID-19 vaccines,
  - CDC has been working closely with health departments and partners to develop vaccination plans for when a vaccine is available.
- With the possibility of one or more COVID-19 vaccines becoming available before the end of the year, here are some things you need to know about where those plans currently stand.
  - The safety of COVID-19 vaccines is a top priority.
    - The U.S. vaccine safety system ensures that all vaccines are as safe as possible.
  - Many vaccines are being developed and tested, but some might be ready before others—CDC is planning for many possibilities.
  - At least at first, COVID-19 vaccines might be used under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
  - There may be a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines before the end of 2020, but supply will continually increase in the weeks and months that follow.
    - The goal is for everyone to be able to easily get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as large quantities are available.
      - The plan is to have several thousand vaccination providers available, including doctors’ offices, retail pharmacies, hospitals, and federally qualified health centers.
    - If there is limited supply, some groups may be recommended to get a COVID-19 vaccine first.
    - Experts are working on how to distribute these limited vaccines in a fair, ethical, and transparent way.
  - At first, COVID-19 vaccines may not be recommended for children.
    - In early clinical trials for various COVID-19 vaccines, only non-pregnant adults participated.
      - However, clinical trials continue to expand those recruited to participate.
      - The groups recommended to receive the vaccines could change in the future.
    - Cost will not be an obstacle to getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
      - Vaccine doses purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars will be given to the American people at no cost.
        However, vaccine providers will be able to charge administration fees for giving or administering the shot to someone.
        Vaccine providers can get this fee reimbursed by the patient’s public or private insurance.

The Possibilities

Pfizer and Moderna used the same basic design to build their vaccines. Both vaccines contain a genetic molecule called messenger RNA, which is wrapped in an oily bubble. The bubble can fuse to a muscle cell and deliver the RNA. Encoded in that molecule are instructions for building a single coronavirus protein called spike protein. When a vaccinated cell releases copies of the spike protein, the immune system learns to make antibodies against it.
While scientists have investigated mRNA vaccines for years, no vaccine has yet been licensed as safe and effective to use in people. When Moderna and other vaccine makers began designing mRNA vaccines for coronaviruses, skeptics wondered how well they would work. The two preliminary reports from both Moderna and Pfizer suggest this type of vaccine may work very well. Neither trial has uncovered serious side effects from the vaccines, although studies on their safety are continuing.

Moderna Vaccine

Covid-19 can lead to a mild illness, or it can lead to a severe case that requires hospitalization and oxygen support. Out of the 95 people who got sick in the Moderna study, 11 experienced severe disease. None of those 11 people were vaccinated. In other words, the five vaccinated people who got sick experienced only mild symptoms, and all of the severe cases were participants from the placebo group.
“It couldn’t be a more favorable split,” said Natalie Dean, a biostatistician at the University of Florida.
The split suggests that Moderna’s vaccine doesn’t just block the virus in most cases, but also shields the people who do get sick from the worst outcomes of the disease. It also eases concerns that a vaccine for Covid-19 may make the disease worse, not better.
Moderna took a billion dollars from Operation Warp Speed.
Pfizer did not take money from OWS, but they do have a distribution agreement with the government.

Pfizer – BioNTec Vaccine

The drug maker Pfizer said on Wednesday that its coronavirus vaccine was 95 percent effective and had no serious side effects — the first set of complete results from a late-stage vaccine trial as Covid-19 cases skyrocket around the globe.
The data showed that the vaccine prevented mild and severe forms of Covid-19, the company said. And it was 94 percent effective in older adults, who are more vulnerable to developing severe Covid-19 and who do not respond strongly to some types of vaccines.
Pfizer, which developed the vaccine with its partner BioNTech, said the companies planned to apply to the Food and Drug Administration for emergency authorization“within days,” raising hopes that a working vaccine could soon become a reality.
The trial results — less than a year after researchers began working on the vaccine — shattered all speed records for vaccine development, a process that usually takes years.

Astra Zeneca – Oxford Vaccine

AstraZeneca’s vaccine is a different type. It uses a virus from chimpanzees, an adenovirus, to carry protein into the cells to make them produce spike proteins.
Developed by the University of Oxford, this vaccine is effective at stopping people developing Covid-19 symptoms, a large trial shows.
Interim data suggests 70% protection, but the researchers say the figure may be as high as 90% by tweaking the dose.
The results will be seen as a triumph but come after Pfizer and Moderna vaccines showed 95% protection.
However, the Oxford vaccine is far cheaper, and is easier to store and get to every corner of the world than the other two.
So, the vaccine will play a significant role in tackling the pandemic, if it is approved for use by regulators.

The Bottom Line

A vaccine is on the way.
- It will be safe when released and
- apparently will be much more effective than we first thought it might be.
- People need to have an open mind about this and realize that politicians did not make these vaccines.
- When the time comes, and you are offered the vaccine, TAKE IT!

Source: www.cdc.gov