Will COVID-19 vaccination sites be able to catch up with appointments delayed by the winter storm? An infectious disease doctor explains what to expect
News 12's Elizabeth Hashagen was joined by Dr. Sharon Nachman, the head of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children's Hospital and the director of the Office of Clinical Trials, to answer your COVID-19 questions.
News 12's Elizabeth Hashagen was
joined by Dr. Sharon Nachman,
the head of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children's Hospital
and the director of the Office of Clinical Trials, to answer your COVID-19
questions.
Winter weather has disrupted many
COVID-19 vaccination deliveries across the US. Will vaccination sites be able
to catch up once they reopen again? Dr. Nachman says the amount of inoculations
given is actually expected to increase soon once current sites and new sites
are able to open.
The CEO of Pfizer shared new data
demonstrating the stability of the vaccine in temperatures more commonly found
in pharmaceutical freezers and refrigerators. Dr. Nachman says this could
be key to getting vaccinations more widely available.
Pfizer also shared new data
showing that just one dose is 92.6% effective after two weeks. Meanwhile,
Johnson and Johnson says its vaccine could have higher effectiveness when it is
given in two doses. Dr. Nachman says either way, everyone getting one dose is
the first step in creating community protection.
Pfizer launched a COVID-19 vaccine
trial in pregnant women. What is the data that will be collected in this
clinical trial? Dr. Nachman answers below.
Pfizer is undergoing COVID-19
vaccine trials in children. Dr. Nachman says Stony Brook is looking to get
involved in these trials.
Is it possible that children are
not spreading COVID-19 in schools? Dr. Nachman says there is still a risk.
Why do CDC guidelines say people
with second COVID-19 doses no longer have to isolate if exposed only within a
12-week period? Dr. Nachman says this guideline all has to do with the amount
of data currently available.
As COVID-19 vaccination appointments
are getting pushed back due to the weather, is it safe to delay your second
dose? Dr. Nachman says the delay will not change how effective the second dose
is.
Are vaccination sites planning to
remain open for 24 hours to relieve the backlog of appointments and supplies?
Dr. Nachman says she expects this may be the case for many sites soon.