Category Archives: Covid-19

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The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions has developed a list of financial resources for Washington consumers impacted by the Coronavirus. We will add to this list as more resources become available.

If you are out of work, Washington State's Employment Security Department provides support services to individuals affected by COVID-19 in Washington.

The Employment Security Department has adopted a series of emergency rules to relieve the burden of temporary layoffs, isolation and quarantine for workers and businesses.

Washington State Employment Security DepartmentUnemployment benefits and filing.

If you do not have enough money to cover your mortgage payment, contact your lenderimmediately. Homeowners in distress may call DFIs toll-free number 1-877-RING-DFI (746-4334) to talk to a member of our team and to get assistance in how best to contact their mortgage servicer, and to learn more about their options.

Assistance for Washington HomeownersCoronavirus mortgage assistance available to Washington homeowners.

If youre having trouble making payments, there may be assistance available to you. TheCARES Actprovides relief for most federal student loan borrowers.

Federal and Private Student Loan Relief OptionsFederal and private student loan relief options.

Private Student LoansIf you have private student loans you should call your loan servicer to ask what relief options are available for you.

If you are unable to make your full rent payment, contact your landlord immediately and try to work out an agreement.

Emergency Rental AssistanceFor emergency rent assistance you may also call 2-1-1 or search the 2-1-1 website to find rent assistance near you.

If you have seen a reduction in pay due to COVID-19 and are struggling to make your credit card or loan payments, contact your credit card company rightaway. Explain your situation and ask about hardship programs that may be available. Regulatory agencies have encouraged financial institutions to work with customers impacted by the coronavirus.

Credit card companies and lenders may be able to offer you a number of options to help you. This could include waiving certain fees like ATM, overpayments, and late fees, as well as allowing you to delay, adjust, or skip some payments.

What Should I Do If I Cant Pay My Credit Card Bills?Information from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Debt Assistance: Find A Credit CounselorA credit counselor may able to assist you with your debt problems. Contact one near you.

Local Community Services Offices (CSO) provide many DSHS services. Your local CSO can provide you with details about these services and how to apply for them.

Resources for Cash, Food and Medical AssistanceDepartment of Social and Health Services

Governor Jay Inslee has called on all public utilities in Washington state to ensure the health and safety of their employees and the public by suspending disconnection tariffs for nonpayment during this emergency; waiving late fees for customers who are out of work or offering customers payment plans; and expanding bill assistance programs for customers who are economically impacted by this emergency. Many utility companies are already doing this. For assistance, contact your utility company.

Utility COVID-19 response pages:

PSE

Avista

Cascade Natural

Pacific Power

Northwest Natural

Washington Water

City of Seattle

Tacoma Public Utilities

Additional Resources:

Utilities and Transportation CommissionWashington Utilities and Transportation Commission.

Consider your options before taking out a high cost short term loan. Talk with your creditors to negotiate more time to pay bills, borrow from friends or family, or explore low interest loans offered by local banks and credit unions.

If you do take out a short term loan, make sure the lender is licensed with the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions and borrow only what you can afford to pay back.

While the COVID-19 outbreak has closed many businesses, your local banks and credit unions remain committed to providing access to banking services.

As social distancing has been implemented across our state, here are some things to consider:

Coronavirus.wa.govWashington State Coronavirus Response

COVID-19 resource list for impacted Washington businesses and workersInformation from the Governors office.

Employment Security Department Information for Workers Impacted by COVID-19Resources and information from the Washington Employment Security Department.

Protect Yourself Financially from the CoronavirusInformation from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Job Interrupted A To-Do List for Tough TimesInformation from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Financial Peace of Mind in the Age of CoronavirusInformation from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Avoiding Coronavirus ScamsInformation from the Federal Trade Commission.

More:

Financial Resources for Washington Residents Impacted by ...

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) Maryland reported 1,067 new COVID-19 cases and twelve new deaths, according to state health department data released Sunday morning.

This marks the fifth consecutive day of more than a thousand new cases.

Doctors say the new cases are fueled by dangerous strains targeting the unvaccinated. During an August press conference, Gov. Larry Hogan said the Delta variant, a strain that is reportedly two to four times more contagious than the original virus strain, accounts for nearly every new confirmed case in Maryland.

Hogan also saidless than 0.01% of vaccinated Marylanders have been hospitalized with COVID-19, and less than 0.001% of vaccinated Marylanders have died from the virus.

The vaccines are without a doubt our single most effective tool to mitigate the threat of COVID-19 and the surging Delta variant, and Marylands vaccination rate continues to outpace the nation, Hogan said.

Equally as important as getting a vaccine yourself is helping someone you know to get a vaccine. The vaccines are very safe, they are very effective, they are completely free, and they are widely available nearly everywhere.

More than 3.8 million Maryland adults are fully vaccinated. State officials also reported that the state positivity increased by 0.05 to 4.9%.

Hospitalizations decreased by 11 to 679. Of those hospitalized, 505 remain in acute care and 174 remain in the ICU.

Since the pandemic began, there were 494,982 total confirmed cases and 9,772 deaths.

There are 3,714,076 Marylanders fully vaccinated. The state has administered 7,518,231 doses. Of those, 3,804,155 are first doses with 7,737 administered in the past 24 hours. They have given out 3,430,557 second doses, 7,534 in the last day.

The state began to administer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine again in April after the CDC and FDA lifted their pause on the vaccine due to a rare blood clot found in some women.

A total of 283,519 Marylanders have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, 308 in the last day.

The state reported 80.7% of all adults in Maryland have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

In August, the state launched a post-vaccination infections dashboard that is updated every Wednesday. There have been 9,079 total cases among fully vaccinated Marylanders as of last Wednesday, August 25.

Of those cases, 733 vaccinated Marylanders were hospitalized, representing 5.6% of all Covid cases hospitalized in the state. 76 fully vaccinated Marylanders have died, representing 5% of lab-confirmed Covid deaths in the state.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES:

Heres a breakdown of the numbers:

By County

By Age Range and Gender

By Race and Ethnicity

Excerpt from:

COVID-19 In Maryland: More Than 1K New Cases & 12 Deaths Reported Sunday - CBS Baltimore

WELLINGTON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - New Zealand reported its first recorded death linked to U.S. drugmaker Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, the health ministry said on Monday, after a woman suffered a rare side effect leading to inflammation of her heart muscle.

The news of the death comes as the country battles an outbreak of the Delta variant after nearly six months of being virus free. It followed a review by an independent panel monitoring the safety of the vaccines.

"This is the first case in New Zealand where a death in the days following vaccination has been linked to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine," the ministry said in a statement, without giving the woman's age.

The vaccine monitoring panel attributed the death to myocarditis, a rare, but known, side effect of the Pfizer vaccine, the ministry added.

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle that can limit the organ's ability to pump blood and can cause changes in heartbeat rhythms.

In response, Pfizer said it recognised there could be rare reports of myocarditis after vaccinations, but such side effects were extremely rare.

"Pfizer takes adverse events that are potentially associated with our vaccine very seriously," it told Reuters.

"We closely monitor all such events and collect relevant information to share with worldwide regulatory authorities."

The health ministry said other medical issues at the same time could have influenced the outcome after vaccination.

But the vaccine's benefit outstripped risks from side effects, it added.

"The benefits of vaccination with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine continue to greatly outweigh the risk of both COVID-19 infection and vaccine side effects, including myocarditis."

New Zealand has provisionally approved use of the Pfizer/BioNTech, Janssen and AstraZeneca vaccines, but only the Pfizer produced vaccine has been approved for rollout to the public.

Monday's 53 new cases took New Zealand's tally of infections in the current outbreak to 562, amid a nationwide lockdown enforced this month to limit spread of the Delta variant.

Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Clarence Fernandez

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Go here to see the original:

New Zealand reports first death linked to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine - Reuters

Posted: Aug 29, 2021 / 09:57 AM EDT / Updated: Aug 29, 2021 / 10:01 AM EDT

Caleb Wallace, the co-founder of the San Angelo Freedom Defenders and West Texas Minutemen State Coordinator has died from causes related to COVID-19, according to an update on gofundme by his wife, Jessica Wallace.

Caleb has peacefully passed on. He will forever live in our hearts and minds, reads the most recent update on the campaign that was set up to help Wallaces three children and his wife, a stay-at-home mother who is expecting a fourth child in late September.

This money is also going towards Calebs medical bills as they start coming in, reads an update to the campaigns description, Hes now been in the hospital since July 30th and I know I must prepare for them as well. Gotta pray for the best and prepare for the worst.

While Wallace had become a semi-regular feature in local news through his conservative activism, it was his battle with COVID-19 that garnered the national spotlight after his familys struggle was featured in an article published in the San Angelo Standard Times on Sunday, August 22, 2021.

His organization of the Freedom Rally, a protest against state and local mask requirements during the summer of 2020 made him a figure of some prominence among those in the community who were opposed to mask mandates.

This opposition to coronavirus mitigation measures like mask mandates lead Wallace to found the San Angelo Freedom Defenders with like-minded local, Coco Simpson. The Freedom Defenders held local rallies like the San Angelo Freedom Parade in July of 2020 and the October 2020 Rally to End COVID-19 Tyrrany.

Its pacifying the 1-2% speaking the loudest and leaving the rest of us behind, said Simpson in an interview about Governor Greg Abbotts July 2020 mask mandate, If you want to wear a mask feel free to do so. I dont choose to and I shouldnt wear one because it makes you feel better.

Wallace reportedly believed that vaccine mandates were also an infringement on peoples constitutional rights. In an article published in the New York Times on Friday, August 27, 2020, Wallaces father attested to his sons stance against vaccine and mask requirements, saying, After watching all of the governments efforts here, he decided he wanted to do something about it

I cant tell the difference if I have freedom to breathe free air or breathe it behind sucking air behind this thing, Wallace said while speaking to local officials at a COVID-19 Update held by the City of San Angelo on November 13, 2020.

My health has nothing to do with you. As harsh as that sounds, but our constitutional, fundamental rights protect that. Nothing else. said Wallace.

Im sorry if that comes off as blunt and that I dont care. I do care. I care more about freedom than I do for your personal health.

Wallaces most recent public action was in the form of an open letter, published locally on April 10, 2021, to the San Angelo Independent School District calling on the school board to rescind ALL COVID-related policies immediately!

More:

Texas anti-mask organizer dies of COVID-19 - WFLA

SINGAPOREA surge of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia, a little-known but critical link in the semiconductor supply chain, has opened a new front in the battle to fix manufacturing woes that have rippled across industries during a global shortage of computing chips.

The Southeast Asia nation is one of the worlds top destinations for assembly and testing of the devices that control smartphones, car engines and medical equipment. Disruptions in Malaysia threaten to prolong uncertainty over chip supply well into next year, dashing hopes of relief in the second half of 2021.

The supply crunch in Malaysia, caused primarily by staff shortages linked to virus-control measures combined with a sharp surge in global demand, poses a new problem for the auto industry. For the first half of this year, shortages largely stemmed from companies miscalculating the pace of economic recoveries and not ordering enough parts. Now they cant always get the parts they need because Covid-19 outbreaks are denting factory output.

Its a bit like a game of whack-a-mole, said Ravi Vijayaraghavan, a Singapore-based partner at the consulting firm Bain & Co. specializing in semiconductors. We think we have supply sorted out, and then a problem suddenly pops up somewhere else.

Some of the worlds leading car makers including Toyota Motor Corp. , Ford Motor Co. , General Motors Co. and Nissan Motor Co. have disclosed major production cuts due largely to chip shortages from factories in Malaysia. Ford suspended work for about a week at an F-150 plant in the Kansas City, Mo., area and a Fiesta factory in Cologne, Germany because of missing parts, while Toyota said it would cut global production by around 40% in September. General Motors said it expects to make 100,000 fewer vehicles in North America in the second half of the year.

Link:

Covid-19 Surge in Malaysia Threatens to Prolong Global Chip Shortage - The Wall Street Journal

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- One unvaccinated and unmasked California elementary school teacher in Marin, County California spread coronavirus (COVID-19) to half her class, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, underscoring the virulence of the delta variant that has caused a spike in national cases.

The outbreak occurred in late May after an unnamed teacher reported exhibiting symptoms on May 19. She allegedly continued to work for two more days before receiving a COVID-19 test, the study said. During that span, the teacher read aloud, unmasked, to the class despite the school requiring masks indoors.

Between May 23 and May 26, the teachers 24 students 22 of whom are ineligible to receive the vaccine because of their age were tested for COVID-19. Twelve students received positive tests, with 80% of those results coming from students seated in the first two rows closest to the teachers desk, according to the study.

Currently, children under the age of 12 are not currently able to be vaccinated.

Four children outside of the classroom, all of who were siblings of students in the unvaccinated teachers classroom, also tested positive for COVID-19. Additionally, four parents of students in the class were infected.

Six students from a different grade in the school also tested positive after one student hosted a sleepover with two other students from the same class, the CDC said.

While vaccines have seen diminished effectiveness against the delta variant compared to the original strain that launched the pandemic, experts and studies show vaccines still remain highly effective in preventing severe disease and death.

The contagiousness of the delta variant has led to findings that vaccinated people could carry enough viral load to spread the virus. Still, the CDC said the risk of transmission remains elevated among unvaccinated persons in schools without strict adherence to prevention strategies.

The agency said the study highlighted the importance for vaccination among eligible members of staff to protect students ineligible for vaccination.

In addition to vaccination for eligible persons, strict adherence to non-pharmaceutical prevention strategies, including masking, routine testing, facility ventilation, and staying home when symptomatic, are important to ensure safe in-person learning in schools, said the CDC.

New York City is requiring every public school city Department of Education employee to receive at least one dose of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine by the end of September. The mandate removes the test-out option for school staff that currently allows city workers to either be fully vaccinated or be subject to weekly coronavirus testing.

On Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYC Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter unveiled a 13-page handbook outlining the policies and procedures that families can expect to see this year as all students prepare to return to their classrooms for in-person instruction.

All students and staff members will be required to wear a mask anywhere on school property, whether it be indoors or outdoors, regardless of vaccination status. Masks will also be required on all school buses.

Excerpt from:

Unvaccinated, unmasked California teacher spread COVID-19 to 50% of class, says CDC study - SILive.com

MEDFORD, Ore-- Just this past weekend, Asante hit a new pandemic record with 182 people hospitalized with COVID-19 across all of their facilities.

But just in the last month, the organization has begun providing a detailed list on whether the people that are being administered into their hospitals are vaccinated or unvaccinated.

According to their latest update, on August 29 2021, of the 182 people that are in their hospitals with COVID-19, 170 of the 182 patients are unvaccinated while the other 12 patients are vaccinated.

In Asante ICU or IMCU beds, 51 out of the 53 patients are unvaccinated while on two are vaccinated.

For patients on ventilators across Asante hospitals, all 21 people are unvaccinated.

Over the last seven days Asante has reported 21 deaths as well. Of those 21 deaths, 15 of them were people who were unvaccinated with 6 people were vaccinated.

The numbers and the data show that those who were vaccinated are far less likely to be hospitalized, be put in an ICU bed or ventilator or die.

With this data Asante is once again asking people to get vaccinated as new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deahts continue to rise in Jackson and Josephine Counties. The organization once again stating that vaccines do help prevent hospitalizations and deaths.

Read the original here:

Asante providing better understanding of vaccinated and unvaccinated COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations - KDRV

August 29, 2021 | Austin, Texas | Press Release

Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), in partnership with local officials, will establish a new COVID-19 therapeutic infusion center in Tyler. The infusion center will begin accepting patients on Tuesday and has been provided with Regeneron's monoclonal antibodies to treat outpatient cases of COVID-19 who have a referral from a doctor. This treatment is available at no cost to the patient. Local partners include Smith County, Northeast Texas Public Health District, UT Health East Texas, and Christus Trinity Mother Frances Health System.The new infusion center in Tyler, which is the second currently operating in East Texas, will help us reduce the burden on hospitals as we continue to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, said Governor Abbott. COVID-19 antibody infusion treatment is available for free to all Texans who test positive for the virus and have a doctors referral. Texans can visit meds.tdem.texas.gov to find a therapeutic provider near them.Governor Abbott, TDEM, and the Texas Department of State Health Services have established and expanded antibody infusion centers in communities across the state over the past few weeks. COVID-19 antibody infusion treatment can prevent a patient's condition from worsening and requiring hospital care. These facilities also help increase bed capacity in hospitals so that resources are available for the most ill patients. The State deployed similar measures beginning in November 2020 to communities across Texas.These state sponsored Infusion Centers are in addition to the antibody infusion treatment that is provided by more than 200 private health providers across the state.Antibody infusion centers are currently operating in the following communities, with more coming online in the coming days: Austin (DSHS) Beaumont (TDEM) The Woodlands (DSHS) Corpus Christi (DSHS) Edinburg (TDEM) Fort Worth (DSHS) Harlingen (TDEM) Houston (DSHS) Laredo (DSHS) Lubbock (TDEM) Nacogdoches (TDEM) Odessa (TDEM) San Antonio (DSHS) Tyler (TDEM)The treatment is free and available to all Texans who test positive for COVID-19 and have a doctor's referral. Texans can visit meds.tdem.texas.gov to find a therapeutic provider near them.

See the rest here:

Governor Abbott, TDEM Open COVID-19 Antibody Infusion Center In Tyler - Office of the Texas Governor

August 29, 2021, 9:00 p.m. CDT

The most up-to-date COVID-19 guidance regarding campus procedures, testing, reporting and other helpful information can be found on this dedicated site. We update this site regularly and suggest you bookmark it.

Vaccines and Face Coverings

While Texas A&M does not require COVID-19 vaccinations, students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to get a COVID-19 vaccination and wear face coverings, especially indoors (vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals). Find out more details about getting the vaccine on campus at no cost here: tx.ag/VaccineInfo. Other vaccine locations across Brazos County are found on the Health District's website.

All Texas A&M students, faculty and staff - vaccinated and non-vaccinated - must take a COVID-19 test provided by Texas A&M before Sept. 10.

Find testing locations and times on campus: tx.ag/GetTested

If you TEST POSITIVE or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms:

More details: tx.ag/PositiveGuide

If you're EXPOSED to someone with COVID-19:

More details: tx.ag/ExposedGuide

Note: Vaccinated individuals would only have to self-monitor if exposed, whereas those who are not vaccinated will have to quarantine.

Aggies Living on Campus

On-campus residents who test positive for COVID-19, or are exposed to someone who tested positive, should submit the COVID-19 Report Form and inform their live-in residential staff. Residential staff are prepared to discuss available options and guide them through the next steps. Some residents may be able to isolate/quarantine in their own room or apartment, depending on their unique situation and where they live. Residents who are from a location beyond a five-hour drive from College Station might have the option to isolate/quarantine in an alternate location on campus.

Each case will be evaluated individually.

Contact the Department of Residence Life at 979-862-3158 or visit their website at reslife.tamu.edu for more information.

On-campus residents are strongly encouraged to be proactive and formulate a plan now for where they will go if they become ill or exposed, even those who are fully vaccinated. Residents who are able to return to their permanent residence to isolate/quarantine are strongly encouraged to do so and save the limited resources for residents who cannot logistically return home to isolate/quarantine.

Read all COVID-19 guidance for students for Fall 2021: tx.ag/StudentGuidance21

Read all COVID-19 guidance for staff/faculty for Fall 2021: tx.ag/SFGuidance21

While we had all hoped that the pandemic would not be an issue this fall, it is still a major factor, influencing how we live, work and study. Thank you for all you've done to keep Aggieland safe over the past last 1 1/2 years, and for your continued efforts in keeping yourself and your community healthy.

See original here:

Texas A&M University's Up-To-Date COVID-19 Guidance Regarding Procedures, Testing, Reporting And More - Texas A&M University

COVID-19 is the illness thats caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. To date, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided emergency use authorization to three different vaccines to help protect against COVID-19:

Read on to learn how each vaccine works, how safe and effective each one is, and how to decide which one may be the right choice for you.

The vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use in the United States so far use two different types of technology:

Lets break down how each vaccine uses one of these two technologies to help promote immunity against the coronavirus. Check out the infographic below to see a visual representation of how the mRNA and adenovirus vector vaccines work.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is also called BNT162b2 in the scientific literature and Comirnaty in some countries. Its given in two doses spaced 21 days (3 weeks) apart.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine uses mRNA technology, which develops immunity using the following process:

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must be stored at ultra-cold temperatures between -112F (-80C) and -76F (-60C) to keep the mRNA molecule in the vaccine stable.

Once diluted and prepared for an injection, it can remain at room temperature for up to 6 hours before it becomes unusable.

You may see the Moderna vaccine called mRNA-1273 in scientific papers. Like the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna vaccine is given in two doses spaced 28 days (4 weeks) apart.

The Moderna vaccine also uses mRNA technology that uses the same mechanism as the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to build immunity to the coronavirus spike protein.

Similar to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna vaccine must also be stored at very cold temperatures, between -58F (-50C) and 5F (-15C). Once a vial is opened and prepared for an injection, its stable at room temperature for up to 12 hours.

You may see the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine referred to as JNJ-78436735 or Ad26.COV2.S in scientific papers. Unlike the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, the J&J vaccine can be given as a single dose.

The J&J vaccine uses an adenovirus vector, which is a modified inactivated adenovirus (a type of virus) thats designed not to cause disease in people.

Once the vaccine delivers the adenovirus vector into a host cell, the vector is broken down and the adenovirus cannot cause any harm in the body.

Heres how the J&J vaccine works:

Unlike the two mRNA vaccines, the J&J vaccine can be refrigerated rather than frozen because its more stable at higher temperatures. Once a vial is opened and prepared for injection, it can be kept at room temperature for up to 2 hours.

Vaccine efficacy measures the percent reduction of COVID-19 in those who are vaccinated compared with those who have not been vaccinated.

Efficacy is one of the key metrics reported in clinical trials that the FDA reviews when deciding to grant emergency use authorization. Efficacy metrics are also more reliable when a higher number of participants are involved in a clinical trial or study.

Efficacy is measured in a trial or study about 2 weeks after an injection. This is because it takes about 2 weeks to build immunity after receiving one to two doses of any of these three COVID-19 vaccines.

This means youre considered fully vaccinated when its been:

Lets take a look at efficacy data from the large-scale clinical trials for these vaccines.

In the phase 3 clinical trial of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, 43,448 people participated. Each participant received two doses of the vaccine or two doses of a placebo spaced 21 days (3 weeks) apart.

Researchers assessed vaccine efficacy 7 days after the second dose of the vaccine. At this time, it was found that vaccine efficacy was 95 percent.

Heres some other important data from the trial:

In the phase 3 clinical trial of the Moderna vaccine, 30,420 people participated. In this trial, each participant got either two doses of the vaccine or two doses of a placebo spaced 28 days (4 weeks) apart.

Researchers evaluated vaccine efficacy 14 days after the second dose of the vaccine. At this point, vaccine efficacy was found to be 94.1 percent.

Heres some other important data from the trial:

In the phase 3 clinical trial of the J&J vaccine, 39,058 people participated. The trial tested a single dose of the vaccine.

Researchers evaluated vaccine efficacy 14 days after the single dose of the vaccine was given. The results also broke down efficacy by COVID-19 severity and location.

Overall, J&J vaccine efficacy was found to be 66.3 percent. Overall efficacy varied among countries:

J&J vaccine efficacy for severe to critical COVID-19 was:

Heres some other important data from the trial:

COVID-19 vaccines must be proven effective and safe before the FDA can grant emergency use authorization.

The Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and J&J COVID-19 vaccines have met safety and efficacy requirements. Well discuss some possible side effects in more detail later in this article.

People who have had severe allergic reactions to a COVID-19 vaccine or any of its ingredients should not be vaccinated.

Each vaccine manufacturer provides fact sheets with complete lists of vaccine ingredients:

The CDC states that people with an underlying health condition can get vaccinated as long as they havent had a serious allergic reaction to:

This includes people who have a weakened immune system. Specific safety data for people with compromised immune systems is limited. But since these authorized COVID-19 vaccines dont contain live virus, they can be safely given to immunocompromised people.

Vaccination is important for people with underlying health conditions. This is because many types of underlying health conditions can increase the risk of severe COVID-19.

Before getting vaccinated, talk with a healthcare professional and let them know about any underlying health conditions you have or medications youre taking.

The CDC states that people who are pregnant or breastfeeding can receive any of these three authorized COVID-19 vaccines. Theres limited safety data for pregnant and breastfeeding people, but evidence is growing that the vaccines pose minimal risk.

Pregnant people are also at an increased risk of serious illness as well as preterm birth and other pregnancy outcomes due to COVID-19.

If youre pregnant or breastfeeding and are concerned about COVID-19 vaccination, talk with a healthcare professional about:

Each COVID-19 vaccine is associated with side effects.

We dont yet know whether there are long-term side effects to these vaccines. But the CDC notes that long-term health effects are unlikely. These vaccines will be monitored for safety many years after emergency use authorization.

You may experience one or more of the following side effects after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine:

These side effects are typically mild to moderate and go away in a few days. Side effects felt throughout the body, like fever and aches and pains, are more commonly reported after the second dose.

More serious side effects include a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can include symptoms like:

The Pfizer-BioNTech clinical trial reported only four other serious side effects from the vaccine:

Researchers also reported no deaths due to receiving either the vaccine or the placebo during the trial.

Possible side effects of the Moderna vaccine include:

These side effects are often mild to moderate and go away in a few days. Systemic side effects like fever and aches and pains are more commonly reported after the second dose.

The Moderna vaccine is also associated with delayed pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site, sometimes called COVID arm. The Moderna clinical trial data found that this typically happens 8 or more days after either dose and lasts for 4 to 5 days.

Anaphylaxis has also been reported as a serious side effect of the Moderna vaccine. Clinical trial data also notes that treatment-related severe side effects were higher in the vaccine group than the placebo group.

Seventy-one (0.5 percent) of the 15,185 participants who got the vaccine reported severe side effects, including:

In this clinical trial, two deaths occurred in the vaccine group. One died by suicide, while the other died from cardiac arrest. Investigators could not confirm whether these deaths were related to the vaccine.

Side effects of the J&J vaccine are typically mild to moderate and disappear a few days later. They can include:

Anaphylaxis has also been reported with the J&J vaccine.

The J&J vaccine is also associated with the risk of a very rare blood clot condition called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). TTS was most often observed in females between the ages of 18 and 48.

After a brief pause to review TTS risk, J&J vaccinations resumed in the United States after it was determined that the benefits of the vaccine outweighed this and other risks. The CDC estimates that the risk of TTS is 7 per 1 million for females under age 50.

Other severe side effects observed during the clinical trial of the J&J vaccine only reported by 7 out of the 21,895 participants who received the vaccine, or about 0.03 percent included:

While researchers did observe blood clot events, most were in people with underlying conditions that increase blood clot risk. In total, 11 clotting events were reported in the vaccine group compared with three in the placebo group.

Lastly, the clinical trial of the J&J vaccine reported three deaths in the vaccine group. However, researchers concluded that none of these deaths were related to the vaccine.

Its completely normal for viruses to mutate. These mutations can sometimes harm the virus, making it weaker or less infectious. But new mutations can also provide a virus with an advantage.

So far, many virus variants have been detected for the coronavirus. Some are considered variants of concern because they may be associated with increased transmission or can break through the immune system, even in vaccinated people.

Some reported variants include:

Research into how effective each vaccine is against coronavirus variants is ongoing. Lets discuss what we know so far.

An April 2021 study assessed the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines activity against variants by using serum from people who had been vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Serum is the part of the blood that contains antibodies.

When this serum was tested against test viruses with spike proteins from different variants, researchers found that Alpha and Gamma test viruses were neutralized at a similar level to the original variant. Neutralization of Beta test viruses was still robust, but lower.

A July 2021 study from Qatar, where most cases of COVID-19 are due to Alpha or Beta, looked at vaccine efficacy in real-world circumstances. Researchers looked at confirmed COVID-19 cases in vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

The vaccine efficacy in people who had been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was estimated to be:

Additionally, research from public health officials in the United Kingdom indicates that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is also effective against Alpha and Delta. The vaccines efficacy in fully vaccinated people was:

A July 2021 study found that two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were about 88 percent effective against the Delta variant.

Similar serum studies have also been carried out for the Moderna vaccine.

One study observed that test viruses with spike protein from Alpha were neutralized similarly to the original coronavirus variant. But neutralization was about 6.4 times lower against test viruses with the Beta spike protein.

Another serum study from June 2021 looked at the Moderna vaccines effectiveness against Beta and B.1.429, a variant first detected in California.

Researchers found that the B.1.429 variant was two to three times less sensitive to neutralization, while Beta was 9 to 14 times less sensitive.

The clinical trial of the J&J vaccine was carried out at a different point during the pandemic than the trials for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. During the J&J trial, several variants were circulating or common in many parts of the world.

For example, researchers in the trial found that 95 percent of sequenced COVID-19 cases in South Africa were due to the Beta variant. The vaccine efficacy of the J&J vaccine in South Africa was 52 percent overall and 73.1 percent for severe to critical COVID-19.

In Brazil, 69 percent of the sequenced COVID-19 cases were caused by the P.2 lineage at the time of the trial. Here, the efficacy of the J&J vaccine was 66.2 percent overall and 81.9 percent for severe to critical COVID-19.

Overall, the J&J vaccine still appears to be quite effective at reducing the likelihood of developing COVID-19, particularly for severe to critical COVID-19, in locations with variants.

The U.S. federal government is providing all COVID-19 vaccines free of charge during the pandemic, regardless of a persons health insurance or citizenship status.

If you seek a COVID-19 vaccination during this time, you cannot be charged for:

Its unclear whether any of these three authorized vaccines will still be free after the pandemic ends, since all three are produced by for-profit pharmaceutical companies.

But its likely (though not yet confirmed) that youll have to pay for the COVID-19 vaccine after the pandemic is declared over by the World Health Organization (WHO) or other national public health agencies. Potential payment may include both receiving the initial vaccination or a booster shot.

The Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and J&J COVID-19 vaccines are currently authorized in the United States by the FDA under an emergency use authorization (EUA). This is a little bit different than a typical FDA approval.

Simply put, an EUA is a method through which the FDA can allow unapproved medical products to be used during a public health emergency, like a pandemic.

When reviewing a product for an EUA, the FDA must decide that the overall benefits of the product outweigh its potential risks.

Heres what happens during this process:

In addition to the United States, these three COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized or approved in a variety of other countries around the world.

Its important to note that additional authorizations or approvals may occur rapidly.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was authorized by the FDA on December 11, 2020, for emergency use in people 16 and older. It has since been authorized for use in adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 as well.

On December 31, 2020, the WHO listed the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use. Since then, many other countries have either authorized or approved the vaccine.

The Moderna vaccine was authorized by the FDA for emergency use in adults 18 and over on December 18, 2020.

Additionally, on April 30, 2021, the WHO listed the Moderna vaccine for emergency use. It has been approved for use in numerous countries worldwide.

The J&J vaccine was authorized by the FDA for emergency use in adults 18 and over on February 27, 2021.

It was listed by the WHO for emergency use on March 12, 2021. Many other countries have also authorized or approved the J&J vaccine.

Now, lets briefly discuss each company that produced the vaccine.

Pfizer is an American pharmaceutical company headquartered in New York City. Its mission is to develop drugs and vaccines that can help improve health and wellness.

Some of Pfizers more well-known products include:

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All About the Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson Vaccines - Healthline