Getting vaccinated? Here's a brief summary of each vaccine so you can make an informed decision.
People are lining up to receive their COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines help our bodies develop an immunity to the virus without us having to contract it. If we are exposed to COVID-19 after the vaccination, our bodies will remember how to fight it and produce the necessary protection to fight off the virus.
Currently, we have 3 vaccines available in the United States. All of them work to prevent hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Below is a brief explanation of each so that you can understand how they work and choose which one you would like—if given the option.
Do keep in mind that there is no bad option and all of the vaccines will protect you from contracting a life-threatening version of the virus. Also, while I may be a NASM certified personal trainer, I’m not a doctor and am sharing the information I’ve researched.
This is an mRNA vaccine. If you are 16 or older, you will receive 2 shots in your upper arm 3 weeks apart and it is 95% effective.
The Moderna vaccine is also an mRNA vaccine. If you are 18 or older, you will receive 2 shots in the upper arm 4 weeks apart and it is 94% effective.
The J&J vaccine is a viral vector vaccine. If you are 18 or older, you only need one shot in the upper arm in order to complete your vaccination and it is 72% effective.
While the J&J vaccine has a lower percentage of efficacy than the other two, the single shot dose does not have a demanding freezer requirement, which makes it much easier and more affordable to distribute around the world quickly.
For those of you traveling outside the country, you may have heard of the AstraZeneca vaccine. If you are 18 or older, you will receive 2 shots in the upper arm 8 to 12 weeks apart and it is 63% effective. I’m personally interested in it as I’ve been spending time in Anguilla, an Island in the British West Indies, designing a spa, gym, and programming for a major resort.
Getting vaccinated does not mean you are 100% protected from getting COVID-19. You should still take the necessary precautions and wear a face mask, stand six feet apart, avoid crowds, and wash your hands frequently.
You may also feel certain side effects from the shot, such as fatigue, body aches, injection site soreness, and headaches. They are reported to be very much like that of your annual flu shot. You can feel these from any of the shots, but it is more common with the second shot of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine. These side effects should dissipate in about 3 days.
- Anyone older than 16 or 18 (depending on the vaccine)
- People who have had COVID-19 already as the vaccine will lower their risk of contracting it again
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- People younger than 16 or 18 (depending on the vaccine)
- People who have had serious allergic reactions to past vaccinations
- People who are allergic to any ingredient in the vaccine
- People with weak or compromised immune systems