Answers to Your Questions About the COVID-19 Vaccine

The COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be safe and effective in their protection. Although the Delta variant has caused “breakthrough” infections among fully vaccinated people, vaccines have generally prevented severe symptoms, hospitalizations, and even deaths.

For this reason, physicians and public health experts recommend that those who are unvaccinated choose to get the vaccine sooner rather than later. More fully vaccinated people would mean more protection for everyone and less pressure on our healthcare system (especially hospitals). If you have not yet been vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, we invite you to do so as soon as possible. We understand that you may have some concerns, so here are answers to many of your questions about the vaccine.

• How does the vaccine work? Is it safe?
  • The COVID-19 mRNA vaccine trains your immune system to recognize the presence of the virus in your body and fight against it. Although the COVID-19 vaccine was completed in record time, its development was based on research that was already underway to develop mRNA vaccines for other diseases such as influenza, rabies, and Zika, among others. In addition, the vaccine trial results have been extensively analyzed by experts in order to attest to its safety.

• Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccine?
  • No, the vaccine cannot give you the disease because it does not contain the attenuated virus.

• If I get vaccinated, can I get COVID-19?
  • Yes, you can get infected. However, the vaccine can protect you by making your symptoms mild enough to avoid hospitalization.

• Is the healthcare system on the brink of collapse due to the Delta variant being much more contagious?
  • It is difficult to make predictions in a pandemic. However, one factor in Puerto Rico’s favor is that the percentage of fully vaccinated people is higher than in the United States, where we are seeing a hospital crisis. Scientific evidence indicates that states with high vaccination rates have not experienced the collapse of their healthcare system.

• When should the vaccine be released for children ages 2 and older?
  • There are already several studies underway in the pediatric population. It is expected that in the next two months we will have definitive information, at least for children ages 6 and older.

• Why are children ages 12 and under not vaccinated?
  • Vaccination studies in children are more complex. In addition, children’s immune system takes years to mature, so they respond differently to some vaccines.

• Is it safe to get vaccinated if you are pregnant?
  • The CDC recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for all individuals who are aged 12 and older, including persons who are pregnant. If you are pregnant, you may want to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine with your doctor.

• Are antibodies passed to babies through breast milk?
  • COVID-19 vaccines are effective in protecting against the virus in persons who are breastfeeding. Recent reports have shown that persons who breastfeed and have received COVID-19 mRNA vaccines have antibodies in their breast milk, which could help protect their babies.

• Can a person previously infected become infected again? How long do COVID-19 antibodies remain in the system after testing positive?
  • Yes, you can become infected again. With the data we have available so far, we know that a person still has neutralizing antibodies at least 9 months after becoming infected.
  • Because it has not been that long since the beginning of the pandemic, there is no data to indicate exactly how long immunity lasts. It is estimated to last about 12 to 18 months, but this is not known for certain.

• How effective is the vaccine against the Delta variant?
  • The vaccine is very effective against the Delta variant in terms of preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death.

• What is the effectiveness of the vaccine after 6 months? Is there any data on whether there will be a booster shot? Will vaccinations be required every year?
  • At the moment, a third dose is recommended for patients with compromised immune systems if they live in areas with high transmission rates. The CDC is expected to comment soon on whether a third dose is recommended for fully vaccinated people in the general population.

• How do we avoid becoming infected with this highly contagious variant?
  • This can be done by keeping up with the prevention and hygiene practices we have followed so far: frequent hand washing, use of masks, and social distancing.

• Can anyone who is vaccinated with Janssen (the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) be vaccinated with Moderna or Pfizer in the future?
  • Studies on this subject are currently underway. However, we understand that there is no contraindication for doing so.

• If a person received the first dose, but missed the date for the second dose,should they get the first dose again?
  • Yes, they must start the process again.

• How does the Delta variant impact those who are fully vaccinated people with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
  • There are no Peer Reviewed Journals published studies on this topic. On the positive side, we do know that the response in terms of antibody production against the Delta variant is robust with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This indicates that its effectiveness remains adequate against this variant.

• What is the best or safest vaccine?
  • This is a difficult question to answer, as there have been no scientific studies comparing one vaccine to another, and the studies for each vaccine were conducted at different times during the pandemic. For example, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was studied at a time and in populations where the virus was more aggressive. Therefore, scientifically, to say that one vaccine is better than the other is not realistic. Any of the available vaccines on the market in the United States and Puerto Rico are recommended as excellent options for patients. If we review individual studies, the Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer vaccines show significant effectiveness against this virus. However, we can recognize that AstraZeneca’s vaccine is less effective.

• What is the minimum distancing in enclosed areas? 6 or 3 feet?
  • For fully vaccinated patients wearing a mask, 3 to 4 feet is considered a reasonable distance. All others should keep a distance of 6 feet.

• Once a person is infected with the Delta variant, would the person be kept in isolation for 14 days as with the original virus?
  • Yes, the same 14-day isolation period recommendation remains in place for this variant.