We thought 2020 was all about positivity and calmness and for the betterment in general. But it was all about chaos, havoc and disappointments. COVID-19 is one of the biggest pandemics to have hit us in decades. We have seen emergencies, lockdowns, quarantines, mysterious diseases with symptoms similar to COVID and much more. The economical crises were global, as the pandemic.

Within the chaos, the unsung heroes emerged and new researches have started surfacing for the vaccines and prevention of the disease. Waves of relaxation come to light when UK finally became the very first country in the world to get the approval for the COVID-19 vaccine usage produced by Pfizer BioNTech.

The distribution of the first vaccines for COVID-19 has raised everyone’s hopes that the end of the pandemic may be in sight, but it has also sparked some concerns about its side effects.

Is the Vaccine safe?

Pfizer has run several tests that include more than 44,000 people. An analysis by FDA approves that vaccine’s safety and effectiveness on people aged 16 and older are under “no specific safety concerns.” READ: CAN TAKING ANTIBIOTICS FOR COVID-19 KILL YOU?

Who will get the Covid-19 vaccine first?

According to CDC advisory groups, it is recommended that health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities should be the first to receive a vaccine when it receives Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The first shipment of the vaccine would be limited so this will be distributed on priority basis.

Essential workers including people working in fields in food and agriculture, manufacturing, law enforcement, education, transportation and sectors related, will be given topmost priority. Adults with underlying health conditions including people over 65 will be given special attention with the vaccine.

Can patients with Covid-19 take the vaccine?

According to health experts, it is considered safe and probably even beneficial for patients who have contracted the disease at some point. Although people who did contract the virus do have the immunity it is too soon to speculate how long it is going to last in the effected body.  But they still can get the shot. The question is when. Some members of the C.D.C. advisory committee have suggested people who have had COVID in the past 90 days should be toward the back of the line.

When will Covid-19 vaccine be available for common people?

It is most likely that the vaccine will be available for general public in April. The shots will be scheduled in Doctor’s offices and other pharmacies. The same way people receive medical shots. The final plans are yet to be approved from other medical companies who can make the vaccine, other than Pfizer and Moderna.

Side effects of the Covid-19 Vaccine?

Results from final-stage clinical trials of two of the frontrunner vaccines were published recently and both are considered safe for the use. The peer-reviewed scientific journal New England Journal of Medicine released that the vaccine released under Pfizer and BioNTech is authorized in several countries now. The rate of short-lived side effects does appear higher than a flu shot. Some mild to moderate side effects are common that includes swelling, pain, chills, muscle pain redness at the injection site, fatigue and sometimes including fever.

Some 80 percent of those vaccinated in the past during the trials felt pain at the injection site. Some had temporarily swollen lymph nodes. These side effects were more frequent and intense for young people. Early reports from vaccine trials suggest some people might need to take a day off from work because they feel drowsy after receiving the second dose. The side effects will eventually fade within 24 hours. These early doses might not be very pleasant at first but it will be a good sign that your immune system is creating a dominant response to the vaccine, and it will provide long-lasting effects on the immunity.

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