The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) will meet this Thursday to discuss Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. Next Thursday, they will meet again to discuss Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. It is very likely that at least one COVID-19 vaccine will be available this month, and probably two. Should you get a COVID-19 vaccine, and if so, how long will it be until you can get one? Read on for my thoughts.
First, should you get a COVID-19 vaccine? Sadly, I don’t have a definitive answer for you yet, but I hope to have a stronger recommendation after this week’s VRBPAC meeting. I am, however, leaning strongly toward “yes” based on the preliminary information that Pfizer and Moderna have shared.
Will you be eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine? If you’re a healthy adult and not pregnant or breastfeeding, then probably. My Magic 8 Ball is a bit hazy on a few groups of people, though.
- Kids and teens: Probably in a few months. Pfizer’s Phase 3 study originally included people age 16 years and older. In October 2020, they expanded to include teens age 12 to 15 years, but this week they only asked for approval for ages 16 and older. Depending on how long it takes for them to sign up enough teens for their study, it will probably take several months they can prove whether the Pfizer vaccine is safe and effective in younger teens. Meanwhile, Moderna’s Phase 3 study only included adults age 18 years and older. Moderna just announced a study of teens age 12-17 years last week, but they haven’t even started signing up teens yet. It’s unclear how long it will be before either COVID-19 vaccine is tested in kids younger than 12.
- Pregnant people: Probably not for a while, but I could be wrong. Neither study included pregnant people, and usually vaccines and medicines aren’t approved for pregnant people until their safety in pregnancy has been studied. On the other hand, pregnant people are at high risk of severe COVID-19 infection. Some obstetricians and vaccine experts are saying that pregnant people should be given the chance to decide for themselves whether they want COVID-19 vaccine; others say that it shouldn’t be given in pregnancy until its safety for the developing baby has been proven. I’m honestly not sure which way the FDA will go on this one; stay tuned.
- People who are breastfeeding: Probably yes, but I could be wrong. Once again, neither study included people who were breastfeeding. On the other hand, there’s no logical medical reason why a vaccine that is safe in healthy adults wouldn’t be safe in breastfeeding adults, nor any reason to suspect that the vaccine or any side effects could be passed to babies through breast milk. I think the FDA will approve the COVID-19 vaccines for use in breastfeeding people, but it’s possible they might limit initial use to groups included in the studies to date.
- People with weak immune systems: Maybe yes, but I could be wrong. Neither study included people with weak immune systems (immunocompromise or immunosuppression). However, like pregnant women, people with weak immune systems are at high risk for severe COVID-19 infection. I think it’s possible that the FDA will approve the COVID-19 vaccines for people with weak immune systems, but it’s also possible they might ask for more proof of safety first.
How soon will you be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine? It depends. Last week, the CDC recommended that healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities get COVID-19 vaccine first. State and city health departments usually follow CDC recommendations, but it’s possible some might go their own ways. All states and some large cities have released COVID-19 vaccine plans; check yours to find out which groups will be vaccinated first in your local area.
Better yet, the New York Times recently posted a quick and easy quiz to estimate “your place in the vaccine line.” I recommend you try it for yourselves!
If you have any other questions about COVID-19 vaccines, let me know in the comments! And watch this blog – I expect to have more details on Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine after this Thursday’s meeting!
Stay well and keep wearing those masks!
š Dr. B