What does FDA Approval of the COVID-19 Vaccine Mean to Me?
With news of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granting its formal approval to Pfizer pharmaceuticals for the company’s COVID-19 vaccine, we have received a number of questions from patients concerning the significance of this approval.
Here are the answers to common questions, as answered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Does this approval mean that the vaccine is now safer than before?
No. The vaccine has always been safe based on test results and clinical trials. Previously, the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines had only been granted emergency use authorizations based on the need for a vaccine during a global pandemic. Now, the FDA has evaluated the most current data and has granted its approval for the Pfizer vaccine, with approvals for the other vaccines and related drugs to follow.
“The FDA’s approval of this vaccine is a milestone as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. While this and other vaccines have met the FDA’s rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D.
Is the approved vaccine effective in treating the Delta Variant of COVID-19?
The CDC still asserts that, “the best way to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to prevent infection by Delta or other variants is to get vaccinated. The bottom line: COVID-19 vaccines protect people against severe illness, including disease caused by Delta and other variants circulating in the U.S.”
Can vaccinated people still get infected with COVID-19?
COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing infection, serious illness, and death. Most people who get COVID-19 are unvaccinated. However, since vaccines are not 100% effective at preventing infection, some people who are fully vaccinated will still get COVID-19. An infection of a fully vaccinated person is referred to as a “breakthrough infection.”
What’s important to note is that breakthrough infections are expected. “COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing most infections. However, like most vaccines, they are not 100% effective.” The significance of the vaccine lies in its ability to lessen symptoms and hospitalizations. “Even when fully vaccinated people develop symptoms, they tend to be less severe symptoms than in unvaccinated people. This means they are much less likely to be hospitalized or die than people who are not vaccinated.”
Will the Delta Variant still show up on a traditional COVID-19 test?
Yes. A traditional COVID-19 test and a COVID-19 PCR Test (Rapid Test) will both detect if someone is currently infected with the COVID-19 virus.
If you suspect that you or a member of your team has been exposed to COVID-19, Jet Medical Center is your COVID-19 resource. We provide PCR Antigen Testing that will help detect infection in minutes, not days. Our experienced staff has been helping businesses around Tallahassee care for their teams for years, and you can put our expertise to work for you – all you have to do is call, click, or select the “contact us” option on this website.
Who is Jet Medical Center®?
Jet Medical Center® is a leading provider of occupational medicine services in the Tallahassee area. We develop, with our client partners, a customized health care plan to fit your companies needs today and into the future.
Our experienced staff of clinicians provide excellent medical care and understand the Worker’s Compensation system and its impact on your company’s financial health. Your employees will have less downtime with less complications reducing overall medical costs.