The countdown has begun. The first corona vaccines are almost there. If the European authorities give the green light, then we can trust that they are safe. However, some questions will remain unanswered about its effectiveness.
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Even if I have been vaccinated, can I still be contagious?
The vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna protect us against (serious) symptoms, but perhaps not 100 percent against contamination with the coronavirus. They have not investigated that. Anyone who can be infected can also pass on the virus.
Oops, does a vaccine make sense?
Yes, because it prevents someone from ending up in the hospital. The virus will also have a harder time infecting you and others. Think of it as an extra line of defense that it must pass. Once 70 percent of the population is vaccinated, the virus will have little soil to grow and spread.
Does the vaccine also work in the elderly?
The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine has a 94 percent effectiveness in people over 65. So it works just as well for older people as it does for young people, although we have to keep a close eye on people over 85. The efficacy may still decrease. It remains to be seen whether other vaccines will work equally well.
And does it work in patients with chronic conditions?
The developers have not yet disclosed any details about this. The vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna do not work with attenuated virus, like the yellow fever vaccine. This also makes them safe for patients with a weakened immune system.
When are we going to know which vaccines work best for whom?
In the process it will become clear for whom which vaccine works best. Our country will set up a registration system, so that an alarm will ring if you still get sick after vaccination. Mind you, there is not yet a ‘bad’ vaccine and might not survive the competition.
How long does the immunity last?
It is too early to know. The studies have only been going on for a few months. The subjects are monitored for a long time. The developers will provide updates after six months and a year.
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